4 August 2006
  Health
Study Proves that Communities in South Durban Face Increased
Health Problems Due to Industrial Pollution
The eThekwini Municipality released the findings of the South
Durban Health Study today, which confirms an increased rate
of respiratory problems and cancer risk in south Durban, South
Africa. The study was undertaken after years of civil society
mobilising against industrial pollution in the south Durban
residential area, which has a legacy of heavy apartheid industrial
development on its doorstep [1].
The study had two components to it:
1) Exposure Assessment and Health Risk Assessment and
2) an Epidemiological Study.
The epidemiological study shows strong evidence that school
children in the south Durban area (and their families) are
more likely to have increased persistent asthma and bronchial
hyper reactivity (BHR) compared with the reference (comparison)
study groups in North Durban [2].
The exposure assessment and health risk assessment study
also found that air quality in south Durban was generally
poorer and more heavily polluted than air in the comparison
population locality. In addition, air quality in Durban City
[Warwick Triangle] was further dangerously elevated due to
the existence of Durban’s main public transport node
and high traffic volumes within the area.
The researchers also tested whether specific periods with
higher air pollution levels in south Durban impacted on health
of children with respiratory problems and found that adverse
effects on pulmonary function were statistically significantly
when associated with increased ambient levels of Nitrogen
Dioxides (NO2), Nitrogen Oxide (NO), Particulate Matter of
the size 10 ug (PM10) and Sulphur Dioxide (SO2).
The research findings support that the major sources of pollution
are arising from the petrochemical and associated industries
as well as other significant fossil fuel energy uses, such
as motor vehicles.
The research also estimated what the probable lifetime risk
of contracting cancer would be following exposure to the accumulative
pollutants in south Durban. Using this methodology they estimate
this to be 25 in 100 000 people, well above acceptable international
guidelines levels. What is of particular concern is that this
cancer risk estimate used averaged data which means that this
might be not reflect a worst case scenario!
In light of these findings we strongly encourage the eThekwini
Municipality to attend to the variety of actions which are
recommended by the report in order to ensure the protection
of people’s health in south Durban. SDCEA and groundWork
believe that the following should be concentrated on:
There is an urgent need to get a more systematic understanding
of what cancers affect people living in the south Durban area.
A baseline of cancers in the area needs to be understood in
order that the eThekwini Municipality can improve its monitoring
of governance by comparing present data with long term trends.
A cancer registry is one example of this, while a systematic
review of health providers servicing south Durban community
is another.
There is concern that ambient concentrations of metals such
as cadmium, chrome and manganese, which are found in the area,
present a further risk. The eThekwini Municipality needs to
undertake urgent action to find these emission sources in
order to better regulate and stop these emissions.
Considering the reality that “relatively modest”
increases in concentration of NO2, NO, PM10 and SO2 adversely
affects pulmonary function of people living in this areas,
the present standards proposed by the Department of Environmental
Affairs and Tourism [3] need to be made more
stringent in south Durban because of the evidence presented.
There is clear evidence that air pollution that affects
the community exists in south Durban. What is critical now
is for government to review all permits of the industries
in the area which emit these identified problematic chemicals
in order to start a process of reducing the sources of these
chemicals, and that this is undertaken in conjunction with
increased enforcement and monitoring.
Desmond D’Sa, the Chairperson of SDCEA states: “The
results support community concerns that have been expressed
over the last 30 years that an air pollution problem exists
in the south Durban area and that it affects the health of
local residents. This is a victory for community campaigning
for environmental justice in the south Durban area and the
eThekwini Municipality must be commended for taking such a
bold step for supporting and undertaking this research. We
now have proof validating community struggles.”
Rico Euripidou, resident environmental epidemiologist at
groundWork states: “We expected the findings of this
study would show increased levels of respiratory illness in
people living in south Durban as a result of the industrial
pollution in the area. This evidence provides government with
a unique opportunity to act to protect the citizens of south
Durban.”
End:
For more information call:
- Desmond D’Sa – SDCEA: 083 982 6939
- Rico Euripidou – groundWork: 083 519 3008
- Bobby Peek – groundWork: 082 464 1383
Footnotes:
[1] The health study was proposed by government
in November 2000, after air samples taken by groundWork and
SDCEA on 20 May 2000 indicated elevated levels of industrial
pollutants such as methylene chloride, carbon disulphide,
2-butanone, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and x-ylenes. Subsequent
media investigations indicated leukaemia levels in the area
being 24 times the national average, and the Settlers School
Study undertaken by Michigan University indicated respiratory
problems in the learners at Settlers School as being at 52%
of the population.
[2] The reference group with the same social
economic standings as the south Durban community were drawn
from Newlands East, Newlands West and KwaMashu. These communities
do not have the extensive industrial pollution that is found
in south Durban.
[3] See http://www.info.gov.za/gazette/notices/2006/28899a.pdf |
