There has been outright loss of natural habitat, over 18 per. The total area of land formally conserved within the bionet. The report suggests that the primary sources of water pollution are untreated or partially treated effluents from municipal, industrial and mining wastewater discharges. The water pollution in south africa has affected water quality and impacted negatively on public health and functioning of ecosystems including the rising cost of water treatment. Air pollution in southern africa poses a serious risk to nature and human well. Environmental laws and legislation in south africa. More than 90% of south africas electricity is generated from the combustion of coal that contains approximately 1. Lesotho is surrounded by south africa it is in the middle of south africa. Air pollution kills 20 000 per year in south africa as. However, awareness of the problem and attitudes towards it have changed little over the past century. Large marine ecosystems of africa and the mediterranean.
What makes land pollution such a problem is that land is static, so land pollution stays exactly where it is until and unless someone cleans it up. In south africa, outdoor and indoor air pollution continues to be perceived as a serious problem, with emissions for. Result of survey about air pollution, water pollution, greens and parks satisfaction, light and noise pollution, etc. Land pollution is a result of dumping garbage, waste, and other toxins making the land contaminated or polluted. The chapter discusses the legal regime with respect to land pollution and waste management in south africa. Some of main causes of soil pollution include deforestation and consequent erosion, agriculture, industry, mining, landfills and illegal dumping of waste as well as urbanization and construction 8. With luck and the right atmospheric conditions, air and water pollution disperse and disappear. Angola, botswana, lesotho, malawi, mozambique, namibia, south africa, swaziland, zambia, and zimbabwe. Department of geography, university of the free state and hendrik smith, conservation agriculture facilitator, grain sa. The waste materials that cause land pollution are broadly classified as municipal. Pollution status of two river estuaries in the eastern. Lets have a look at these activities in detail to see. The source of land pollution comes from the human element such as littering, and waste that is washed ashore from boats, oil rigs, and sewage outlets.
Many water quality studies conducted in south africa revealed that this problem contributes to the pollution of. It is based on the national land cover 2000 supplemented with more recent data from provinces and other sources where available. Observations on environmental change in south africa. There are many different ways of permanently changing the land, from soil contamination poisoning by chemicals or waste to general. Land pollution is a major problem around the world and is caused by a variety of factors. This paper provides an overview of some of the significant environmental problems in the southern african region. Shocking pollution levels and how you can help south africa is considering an outright ban on certain plastic products. South africa one of the worst environmental polluters. How land reform and rural development can help reduce. Draft white paper on integrated pollution and waste management. The community structure of the benthic meiofauna of the swartkops estuary, with special reference to nematodes, was investigated in relation to contaminants in the estuary 15.
Of particular relevance are egypt, nigeria, south africa, algeria and morocco which are estimated to be among the top 20 countries around the world contributing to marine debris each year see fig. Land pollution often results in habitat loss, land degradation, littering and soil contamination. Pdf vulnerability of south african communities to air pollution. Sa air pollution an environmental threat the citizen. Estimation of pollution in south africa, using perception. Four of south africas main rivers are shared with other countries, which together drain about 60% of the countrys land area and contribute about 40% of its. Some of the international treaties to which south africa is a party impact specifically on pollution of the water, air and land environments. Water quality problems and management in rural areas of.
South africas scarce water resources are under threat due to extensive pollution. How mine dumps in south africa affect the health of. This type of land pollution not only can hurt animals and their habitats, but also is ugly and destroys the beauty of nature. The key problems highlighted are global warming and climate variability, loss of biodiversity, deforestation, desertificationland degradation, waste and littering, population growth, urbanization, pollution, poverty and health hazards. The pollution of rivers, lakes, and aquifers from domestic and industrial wastewater discharges, mining runoff, agrochemicals and other sources is now a growing threat to water resources in most countries in south africa. Only 10% of waste recycled in south africa statistics.
South africas air quality act of 2004 put in place various measures for the prevention of pollution and national norms and standards for the regulation of air quality in the country. Water pollution in south africa by jan lynzaad november 5, 2018 the pollution of rivers, lakes, and aquifers from domestic and industrial wastewater discharges, mining runoff, agrochemicals and other sources is now a growing threat to water resources in most countries in south africa. Pollution prevention is a multimedia approach that reduces waste generation and the emission of pollutants released to land, air, and water without transferring pollutants from one medium to another. South africa ranked as one of the 10 worst countries for its impact on the environment. Air pollution is not just a health risk but also a drag on development. Facts about land pollution that will make you sit up in. Land pollution is common, and it is important for us all to know about its crippling effects. Questionnaires and interviews were conducted to 375 randomly selected households in low, medium and high density residential suburbs. Today, we have brought you the causes and effects of it. A report by the world bank details which countries produce the most garbage every day and where south africa fits into the picture. South africans dispose of enough municipal solid waste to fill an entire football field 10 metres deep, every day.
Local researchers were not surprised by the reports findings. Environment pollution is a widereaching problem and it is likely to influence the health of human populations is great. This paper provides the insight view about the affects of environment pollution in the perspective of air pollution, water and land soil waste pollution on human by diseases and problems, animals and trees plants. It also authorizes the minister of environmental affairs to enforce its provisions. Chairman, south africa aligns itself with the statement made by pakistan on behalf of g77 and china. Challenges and emerging solutions to the landbased. Every single person of our total population of 57 million generates up to 2,5 kilograms of waste per day, on average, depending on his or her level of income. This dissertation examines the relationship between land pollution and population density resulting from solid waste generation in the city of kwekwe in zimbabwe. Chapter 6 land department of environmental affairs. Did you know that 90% of an estimated 59 million tonnes of general waste produced in south africa in 2011 ended up in landfills, while only 10% was recycled. In the wake of world environment day yesterday, the world health organisation who has placed south african cities levels of air pollution below internationally accepted standards, with coal.
Soil erosion is a major environmental problem confronting land and water resources in. Land degradation is currently a major concern in south africa. In other words, the contamination of water makes it unsafe for human use. Status of south africas ratification of atmospheric pollution related conventions. The maximum use of biodegradable materials and adopting methods such as recycling and reuse of resources are some ways of preventing land pollution. You see trash outside of buildings or on the side of the road. An overview of environmental issues in southern africa. Land pollution is the deterioration destruction of the earths land surfaces, often directly or indirectly as a result of mans activities and their misuse of land resources. Soil erosion and veld degradation are continually being depicted as acute problems, and overpopulation, overstocking and poor agricultural practices are viewed as the major causal. Water pollution involves the introduction of harmful, poisonous chemicals and other substances into waters both ground and surface making them undrinkable. It occurs when waste is not disposed of properly, or can occur when humans throw chemicals onto the.
Pollution prevention environmental impact reduction. And with the increased rate of water pollution in africa, so is the availability of clean water becoming limited. Air pollution kills 20 000 people in south africa every year, costing the economy nearly r300million. Most often it is forgotten that the land we live in forms part of our environment, together with the air we breathe and the water we drink. Science landbased pollution sources working group members. Kenyans also ranked well with the thirdlowest air pollution rates, while ghana had the lowest municipal waste level per person 0. Developing countries like south africa have a heavy reliance on fossil fuels, resulting in productivity losses and mortality due to high concentrations of air pollution, namely, fine particulate matter pm. Southern africa is the southern region of the continent africa. The industrial sector is the prime contributor to air pollution. Soil erosion in south africa its nature and distribution. It is high time we realize the importance of soil and devise and implement ways to curb land pollution. World bank 2002 found particulate matter is the most serious pollutant in large cities in south asia. Land conservation is another gain of this initiative considering that the digesters which are.
South african statement to the 15 th session of the commission for sustainable development theme. Land expropriation without compensation the loaded term which elicits varied fervent responses from the south african public will, once again, prove its sociopolitical impetus in 2019. Land pollution can be one of the most visible types of pollution. Land pollution causes us to lose 24 billion tons of top soil every year. Cost of air pollution in africa cost of air pollution in african cities can be as high as 2. In south africa, mining of gold, coal and other natural resources has played a significant role in the countrys economy, with both positive and negative consequences. Pdf an overview of environmental issues in southern africa. Air pollution and atmosphere united nations, new york may 2007 mr. South africas acid mine water pollution risks lives. Plastic pollution of the sea was a comparatively recent problem, he said, spawned by the throwaway society that developed in the mid1950s when manufacturers began to encourage people to use. This affects the resource directly by making the water less acceptable for consumption either for food production or any other identified use, depending on the extent, severity, and temporal nature of. The two major types of pollution in south africa are air and marine pollution. Water pollution in south africa and its public health impact.
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