A time series analysis of the ambient air pollution in the Govan Mbeki district, Mpumalanga Province

Abstract

Background: Atmosphere protects and supports earth’s life from dangerous ultraviolet solar radiation, global warming, and high temperatures. However, human activities pose a pivotal threat through introduction of pollutants into the atmosphere. Continuously breathing in clean, safe air is necessary for maintaining health. It has been difficult to measure the extent of air pollution on the African continent and how it impacts the environment and human health, according to earlier studies. All Sub-Saharan African countries lack continuous air quality monitoring and well-maintained, easily accessible data on environmental and health indices. The assessment of the health risks posed by airborne pollutants, such as fine particulate matter in an industrial region, and the possibility that exposure to particulate matter (PM2.5) could be harmful to the health of vulnerable populations, is of paramount importance. In contrast, there is a critical need for more epidemiological research to better understand the link between exposure to PM2.5 and harmful impacts on human health, particularly in South African settings, which would necessitate ongoing monitoring. The overall aim of the study was to conduct a time series analysis of ambient air pollution of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the industrial communities of the Mpumalanga Highveld, Govan Mbeki Local Municipality.With the objectivesto determine the seasonal variation in the mass concentration of PM2.5 in the study area, to elaborate on the health effects of exposure to PM2.5 to assess possible relations between the weather parameters and PM2.5 and to recommend possible particulate matter management strategies that will be more effective in addressing public health. Methods: This research employed a descriptive design, utilizing a desktop study approach which allows for an in-depth exploration of the activities of one or more individuals of the variables. The desktop or secondary research design is bounded by time. The researcher relies on the already existing data which was provided. Data was collected between 2015 to 2020 as part of Sasol and Eskom’s air quality offset study sampling campaigns of Govan Mbeki Local Municipality in Mpumalanga, South Africa, to formulate a logical informative analysis of the available data. Results: Weather conditions are an uncontainable factor but also an exceptionally crucial element that affects air pollutant concentrations in the atmosphere. Air movements influence the fate of air pollutants. So, any study of air pollution should include a study of the local weather patterns (meteorology). These weather patterns include temperature, wind speed and rainfall. Therefore, the results revealed that, PM2.5 concentration and meteorological factors such as temperature, and wind speed and rainfall have indicated that the correlations are all inversely associated. Therefore, when the temperature, rainfall, wind speed increases, the average PM2.5 concentration decreases and vice versa. It has also been revealed that these meteorological factors, become higher in summer while the PM2.5 concentration reduces and, they are lower in winter while PM2.5 increases in winter. Moreover, Govan Mbeki Local Municipality PM25 concentration is not above the acceptable concentration on air quality standards of South Africa, but above the 24-h concentration under the World Health Organisation standards. Therefore, exposure the pollutant is still as dangerous to one’s health. Conclusion: The findings of the study revealed that the PM2.5 concentrations during a period of 2015 to 2022 were still observable at a low concentration. Meaning, based on the primarily of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) set thresholds for health-harmful pollution levels, the PM2.5 concentration was still under the acceptable amount. The results of the current study determined a spatial seasonal trend for PM2.5, with levels commonly increasing during the winter season and decreasing during the summer season in Govan Mbeki Local Municipality. Reading through the results and previous studies, a conclusion can be made, in Govan Mbeki Local Municipality to be specific, the assessment of the correlation between PM2.5 concentration and meteorological factors, temperature, and wind speed have indicated that the correlations are all inversely associated. However, there are variety of PM2.5 problems, including, premature death in people with heart or lung disease, not forgetting its influence in causing environmental damage more especially on the air quality. Thus, monitoring station needs to be added as well as more studies on that will attentively address air quality versus health issues, because there is still huge number of human beings including infants suffering from the emissions of PM2.5.