{"id":86414,"date":"2018-10-29T10:12:23","date_gmt":"2018-10-29T08:12:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mobserver.co.za\/?p=86414"},"modified":"2018-10-30T15:28:54","modified_gmt":"2018-10-30T13:28:54","slug":"worlds-largest-air-pollution-hotspot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/middelburg-observer\/news-headlines\/2018\/10\/29\/worlds-largest-air-pollution-hotspot\/","title":{"rendered":"The world’s largest air pollution hotspot is here"},"content":{"rendered":"

Greenpeace analysis of the data points to coal and transport as the two principle sources of air pollution, with Mpumalanga topping the chart as the world\u2019s largest NO2<\/a> hotspot across six continents. Nitrogen Dioxide<\/a> (NO2) is a dangerous pollutant in and of itself and also contributes to the formation of PM2.5 and ozone, two of the most dangerous forms of air pollution.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt has been reported before that the eMalahleni area has the world\u2019s dirtiest air, and now this analysis of high tech satellite data has revealed that the Mpumalanga Province is the global number one hotspot for NO2<\/a> emissions. This confirms that South Africa has the most polluting cluster of coal-fired power stations in the world which is both disturbing and very scary,\u201d said Melita Steele, Senior Climate and Energy Campaign Manager for Greenpeace Africa.<\/p>\n

Also read: Air pollution linked to higher risk of dementia: study<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Mpumalanga is home to a cluster of twelve coal fired power plants with a total capacity of over 32 gigawatts owned and operated by Eskom.<\/p>\n

The satellite data further reveals that the cities of Johannesburg and Pretoria are also highly affected by extreme NO2<\/a> pollution levels which blow across from Mpumalanga and into both cities due to close proximity and regular eastwinds.<\/p>\n

The average wind directions over Johannesburg and Pretoria in the last 30 years on Meteoblue show that for about 28% of the year, the wind is blowing over Johannesburg from either ENE, E, ESE, SE, SSE, and S which are all directions where the winds would be blowing pollution from coal-fired power plants into the cities. This means that plumes of dangerous NO2<\/a> pollution regularly cover these cities and their eight million people.<\/p>\n

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\u201cBecause South Africa\u2019s coal-belts are hidden from view for the majority of South Africans, it can be easy to pretend that they don\u2019t actually exist. The reality is that coal extraction and burning has devastating impacts on the people living in the area. This satellite data now confirms that there is nowhere to hide: Eskom\u2019s coal addiction in Mpumalanga means that millions of people living in Johannesburg and Pretoria are also impacted by the pollution from coal,\u201d continued Steele.<\/p>\n

The list of the largest NO2<\/a> hotspots in the world includes well known coal-fired power plants in South Africa, Germany and India, and a total of nine coal power and industrial clusters in China. Cities such as Santiago de Chile, London, Paris, Dubai and Tehran also feature high in the ranking due to transport-related emissions.<\/p>\n

Also read: Nine out of ten people breathing polluted air: WHO<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAir pollution is a global health crisis, with up to 95% of the world\u2019s population breathing unsafe air. South Africa is a significant global hotspot with its high concentration of coal power stations and its weak air pollution standards. Our Government urgently needs to come up with an action plan that protects millions of people, instead of dirty coal power stations,\u201d continued Steele.<\/p>\n

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Fresh out the oven, \u521a\u521a\u51fa\u7089.<\/p>\n

As WHO gets ready to meet for its first conference on air pollution and health, Greenpeace analysis of new satellite data reveals world's largest NO2 air pollution hotspots.#CleanAir4Health<\/a>https:\/\/t.co\/F2U7H80Mfp<\/a><\/p>\n

— Tom Baxter \u767d\u777f (@TomBaxter17) October 29, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n