Source apportionment of ambient fine and coarse aerosols in Embalenhle and Kinross, South Africa

Abstract

The South African Highveld is recognised as a region having significant negative ambient air quality impacts with its declaration as an Air Quality Priority Area in 2007. Such areas require the implementation of specific air quality intervention strategies to address the air quality situation. A greater understanding of the composition of the atmospheric aerosol loading and the contributing air pollution sources will assist with the formulation and implementation of these strategies. This study aims to assess the composition and sources of the aerosol loading in Embalenhle and Kinross located on the Highveld. Fine (PM2.5) and coarse (PM2.5-10) aerosol samples were collected during summer and winter, which were quantified using the gravimetric method. Wavelength-Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (WD-XRF) and Ion Chromatography (IC) analysis were used to determine the chemical composition of aerosols. Mean PM2.5 concentrations in Embalenhle and Kinross ranged from 16.3 to 34.1 µg/m3 during winter and 7.4 to 19.0 µg/m3 during summer. Mean PM10-2.5 concentrations ranged from 10.3 to 114 µg/m3 during winter and 5.9 to 11.2 µg/m3 during summer. Si, Al, S, Na (winter only), Ca (summer only), SO42- and NH4+ were the most abundant species in PM2.5 during both seasons. In PM10-2.5, Si, Al, Na (winter only), SO42- and F- were the most abundant species during both seasons. The elements S and Ca also had high abundances at Embalenhle and Kinross, respectively, during summer. Source apportionment was undertaken using Positive Matrix Factorisation, which identified five sources. Dust, secondary aerosols, domestic combustion, wood and biomass burning, and industry were determined to be the contributing sources. Any measures to mitigate particulate air pollution on the Highveld should consider these key sources.

South Africa’s electricity disaster is an air quality disaster, too

“…wood, coal, paraffin) to meet some of their energy needs, now become even more reliant on these. The use of these fuels greatly contributes to poor ambient and indoor air quality (e.g., Pauw et al, 2022;Walton et al, 2021;Wernecke et al, 2021;Wernecke et al, 2015, Hersey et al, 2015, Naidoo et al, 2014Moletsane et al, 2021). These generator and residential burning emissions are of course released in very close proximity to people, have a high inhalation intake fraction and represent an increased health risk to humans and the environment.…”

The inhibitors and enablers of emerging adult COVID-19 mitigation compliance in a township context

“…eMbalenhle, a township located in the Govan Mbeki municipality in Mpumalanga Province, is challenged by ongoing air quality and health issues relating to the nearby petrochemical industry, fumes from fuels, dust and meteorological factors. 36 In this regard, COVID-19 represented an additional layer of public health risk. Further, like many other South African townships, eMbalenhle is densely populated (6050 persons/ km 2 ); challenged by structural disadvantage (including poor quality housing and crowded living conditions) and widespread poverty; and under-serviced.…”

Ambient air pollution on the Highveld: An airshed at a watershed moment?

“…Numerous studies have reported widespread non-compliance with the PM and O 3 , as well as NO x and SO 2 National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) (Steyn and Kornelius 2018;Feig et al, 2019;Chindhindi et al, 2019;Morosele and Langerman 2020). There are a range of air pollution sources which contribute to the poor air quality in the HPA, including industry, roads, vehicles, mining, power generation, biomass burning, wind-blown dust, domestic fuel use practices and waste burning, to name a few (Ross et al, 2007;Nkosi et al, 2018;Walton et al, 2021). The negative impacts of the air pollution are felt by many who reside on the Highveld and even beyond.…”