Abstract
M.A.
The modern city dweller imagines himself that he can use a limitless amount of air. The
injudicious use of air as a resource leads to air pollution. Humans are polluting their own
bodies unwittingly. Studies must be administrated to determine the impact and extent of air pollution on humans. Similar earlier studies have been carried out in other countries. In New York (1953), mortalities were compared with the increase in sulphur-dioxide. The finding was made that if sulphur-dioxide concentrations increase in the atmosphere, more people died: In London (1952), between 5 and 9 December, the city was covered in smog and temperature inversions occurred. During this time more people died and many were taken ill.
South Africa is a country with both a first world and third world component. South Africa is
therefore experiencing typical air pollution problems of both worlds. The third world
component is the largest contributor to air pollution problems. These third world communities pollute air through household energy sources, for example the combustion of wood and coal.
It is estimated that 24 million people in South Africa are exposed to unhealthy levels of air
pollution. Air pollution is much higher in African (Black) residential areas. People living in these areas are more affected by air pollution. At certain levels of air pollution people become ill and may even die. Children, the elderly, women and people with respiratory diseases such as asthma, are more affected for their lung capacity and their resistance against illness is much lower.
For a scientific approach to determine the effect of air pollution on man, the following is
needed: An air pollution index, one or more effects, such as diagnoses, and the relation
between the two, e.g. whether a strong or no relationship. The goal of this study will be to
determine whether there is a relationship between levels of air pollution and the amount of
reports of respiratory illnesses at chosen clinics. Climatic data is also considered and factors such as rainfall, temperature and wind may influence the air pollution concentrations.
This study will determine if air pollution has an effect on humans and to what extent. The
hypothesis that will be researched, is whether air pollution has a direct effect on the health of people living in Soweto. All the data will be represented graphically and the Spearman Rank Correlation will be used to determine the relationship between the data. Reports on respiratory illnesses at clinics, climatic data and air pollution concentrations from February 1998 up to October 1998 were used. The study was therefore conducted over seven months. For the purpose of the study six areas in Soweto were used to describe the relation between air pollution concentrations and the amount of reports on respiratory illnesses at clinics. Each area has been focussed on respectively and factors such as housing and economic status, that may play a role were accounted for. The neighbouring air pollution sources were identified and the amount of reports at clinics on respiratory illnesses were calculated per area. The finding was made that air pollution does have a direct effect on humans and their health. The correlation between air pollution concentrations and the reports on respiratory illnesses is mostly strong. The hypothesis is therefore accepted. There is thus enough evidence that air pollution affect humans negatively.