Public perceptions of air quality status and suggestions for improvement: The case of Richards Bay and its surroundings, uMhlathuze Local Municipality, South Africa

Abstract

Whereas industrial growth is instrumental in unlocking poverty and advancing development, often, the effect of pollution on the environment, particularly air quality, is seldom accurately predicted. The effects, which include mortality, morbidity, and loss of productive time, are demonstrated later after the damage is done. The views of the pollution-exposed public in industrialised centres is important to ascertain if policy intervention is enhancing environmental protection for all and justice by extension. Through an online survey, 215 residents of the rapidly industrialising Richards Bay and surrounding areas in South Africa responded to the questions about their perceptions of air quality and recommendations to improve air quality management. Results indicate a concern over air quality with most residents perceiving the air quality as fair or poor. Industrial emission was cited as the leading cause of pollution followed by sugar cane and agrarian burning. Irritation of the ear, nose and throat, as well as sneezing and coughing, were the health effects experienced by residents for which air pollution can be partly attributed. The public recommends an improvement in air quality monitoring, consequence management, technology and public transport system. In addition, they recommended the introduction of air quality offsets, incentives schemes, more public involvement, coordinated planning and better collaboration as a recipe for success in air quality management.

Environmental conditions affecting air pollution dispersion over Richards Bay, South Africa

“…Atmospheric emissions of ~7000 Tons/day of CO 2 and ~100 Tons/day of CO, PM 2.5 , O 3 , SO 2 , NO 2 , hydrogen fluoride and ammonia tend to accumulate during the dry winter season (May-Aug) under weak westerly winds (Jury 2000, Petzer et al 2008. One-quarter of the 100,000 downtown residents make clinical visits every year for allergic and asthmatic reactions (Jaggernath 2013, Okello et al 2020. Airborne pollutants are monitored by the Richards Bay Clean Air Association and reported to the South Africa Air Quality Information System (SAAQIS).…”

Isolation and Characterization of Potential Lignin Peroxidase-Producing Bacteria from Compost Samples at Richards Bay (South Africa)

“…The Richards Bay environment, a central industrial hub in the Kwa-Zulu Natal province of South Africa, is characterized by loops of hemp of lignin-based wastes and untreated industrial wastewater, posing environmental hazards ( Okello et al 2022 ). Such an environment might serve as a reservoir for bacterial genome pool to exploit novel bacteria strains with excellent lignin-modifying enzymes.…”