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What is Ambient Air?

The monitoring stations does not generate any noise,


2 and therefore, will not cause a disturbance. The equip-
ment is calibrated in accordance with ISO 17025 on a
Ambient air refers to any unconfined portion of the
quarterly basis, which is essential for accreditation pur-
atmosphere or outdoor air. It is a mixture of the gases:
poses.
 Nitrogen (78%)
 Oxygen (21% ) 6 Past, present and proposed future lo-
 Carbon dioxide (0.03% ) 7 8 cations for monitoring stations
 a small amount of Argon and other gases. 3
1 4 The first three monitoring stations were located in:
Air Pollution occurs if there is a change in the composition
of the ambient air caused by smoke, dust, gases, fumes, 5  Paarl — Cape Winelands District Municipality
aerosols and odorous substances. (2008-2009)
 Vredenburg — West Coast District Municipality
Why do we have to monitor ambient air? (2008-2010)
 Mossel Bay — Eden District Municipality
1. Rain gauge 5. VOC passive sampler (Diagram 3)
 It is a legal requirement in terms of National Environ- 2. Anemometer (measures wind
(2008-2010)
6. PM10 inlet
speed)
mental Management: Air Quality Act No.39 of 2004 3. Stevenson screen (temperature
7. Gas analyzer inlet
for the provincial authority to monitor ambient air. and relative humidity) 8. Air-conditioned Housing unit These have subsequently been moved to Worcester,
4. Radiometer (measures radia- Malmesbury and George; respectively.
 The Western Cape Department of Environmental tion)
The D: EA&DP is currently operating 8 monitoring sta-
Affairs and Development Planning (D:EA&DP) have tions and envisages to be operating 11 monitoring sta-
developed an Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP). Diagram 1: Monitoring station depicting the movable tions by the end of March 2012.
 The information obtained from the monitoring can be housing unit to the right and meteorological station to
used to determine the impacts of the air pollutants the left.
on the environment, as well as health impacts on the The current monitoring stations are located at:
community.
 This information provides an indication of the quality  Worcester- De Jong Sub-station
of the air in the Western Cape and thus aided in the  Malmesbury- Swartland High School
development phase of the AQMP as well as to moni-  Stellenbosch– Bird Street
tor the effectiveness of the Implementation Plan of  George- George Swimming Pool
the AQMP. 1  Oudtshoorn- Bongolethu clinic
2  St. Helena Bay- H.P. Williams Primary School
How does air pollution affect us?  Khayelitsha- Khayelitsha Training Center
 Dana Bay - Mossel Bay Water Reservoir
Possible sources of air pollution include transportation,
 Vissershok - Small holding, Morning Star
power generation, industries and domestic sources, etc.
Poor air quality can cause various health problems; pri-
marily respiratory and cardiac diseases. Some air pollu- The locations were chosen because it is downwind from
tants such as benzene are categorised as carcinogens major air pollution sources (e.g. industries and traffic)
(cancer-causing substances). and will be used to assess ambient air pollutant concen-
3 trations which the community is exposed to.

How do we monitor air pollution?


3
1
The D:EA&DP has installed Continuous Ambient Air Qual-
ity Monitoring Stations across the province. The monitor- 4
ing stations consist of mobile units containing instruments 1. PM10 Analyser 2
to measure certain air pollutants and would be placed in 2. O3 Analyser
3. SO2 Analyser
selected areas throughout the Western Cape for a period 4. NOx Analyser 1. Shelter
2. Radiello VOC passive sampler
of approximately one year.
Diagram 2: Analysers inside housing units.
Diagram 3: VOC passive sampler with shel-
Some monitoring stations also have Continuous Volatile
AREA YEAR Organic Compound (VOC’s) analysers, while VOC’s are
measured with VOC passive samplers at the other mon- INFORMATION BROCHURE:
itoring stations. Meteorological data (wind speed, wind
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 direction, temperature, relative humidity, radiation and
/09 /10 /11 /12 /13 rainfall) is also measured to better understand the pollu-
Cape Wine-
lands
Paarl
Worcester
X
X X X X
tion patterns in the area.
MOBILE
What are Ambient Air Quality Stand-
Stellenbosch
Mossel Bay
X X
ards? AMBIENT AIR QUALITY
X X

Eden
George X X X Air Quality Standards refer to the level of pollutants pre-
scribed by regulations that cannot be exceeded during a
MONITORS IN THE
Oudtshoorn X X X
Dana Bay X X
given time in a defined area. It is necessary to monitor
these pollutants to ensure compliance to the Air Quality
Standards.
WESTERN CAPE
Vredenburg X X
Malmesbury X X X What value does the data possess?
West Coast
St. Helena Bay X X X The monitoring data is analysed and compiled into daily,
monthly and annual reports that describe the status of
Overberg Caledon X X the air quality within the province.
Maitland The monitoring data can also be used for Atmospheric
X Dispersion Modeling to inform decision making.
Vissershok X X
City of Cape
How can the community get involved?
Town Khayelitsha X X X
Hout Bay You can become involved by reporting any air pollution,
X X or odour problems in your area and by attending public
participation meetings, which are advertised in your lo-
Table: Past, present and proposed locations of the monitoring cal newspaper.
stations
For more information, contact any of the
What is measured? following officials:

Western Cape Department of


Pollutants, commonly known as criteria pollutants, for which
Environmental Affairs and Development Planning
there are local and international standards to evaluate them
against, are measured. These are: Dr. Joy Leaner
Director: Pollution Management
 O3 (Ozone) Telephone: 021 483 2798
Cellphone: 084 409 6909
 PM10 (Particulate Matter less than 10 micron) E-mail: Joy.Leaner@pgwc.gov.za
 SO2 (Sulphur Dioxide)
 NOx (Oxides of Nitrogen) Mr. Kamaseelan Chetty
Deputy Director: Air Quality Management
 CO (Carbon Monoxide) Telephone: 021 483 2749
Cellphone: 074 502 8023
Other pollutants of concern that are being measured are:
 H2S (Hydrogen Sulphide) This brochure was produced and printed by the Directorate: Pollution Management, Sub-
Directorate: Air Quality Management.
 CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) Printed on organic glossy paper
 PM2.5 (Particulate Matter less than 2.5 micron)
 TRS (Total Reduced Sulphur)

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