The assessment of cardiopulmonary health risks associated with PM₁₀ and PM₂.₅ exposure on the community of Kriel Town and Thubelihle Township in the province of Mpumalanga
Authors:   , Shezi Lucky 
Published: February 2022

In the wake of rapid industrialisation and urbanisation amongst developed and developing countries, there has been increasing awareness that air pollution, especially particulate matter (PM) and its components, is linked with a variety of adverse health effects. There is strong evidence suggesting that air pollutants originating from industrial/commercial facilities may cause adverse effects on human health. Objectives: To analyse the levels of PM10 and PM2.5 emissions for Kriel and Thubelihle during the year 2017, using the Kriel village air monitoring station and the Elandsfontein monitoring station; To determine the incidence of cardiopulmonary conditions amongst the town of Kriel residents (within a 10-kilometre radius of the Eskom-owned Kriel coal power station) and Thubelihle Township residents (residing outside a 14- kilometre radius of the Kriel coal- power station); and to establish the association, if any, between PM10 and PM2.5 emissions at each site. Methods: The study was a quantitative, cross-sectional and descriptive study conducted to provide information regarding particulate matter air pollution and the incidence of cardiopulmonary conditions in the town of Kriel and the Thubelihle Township in Mpumalanga province. The health records were obtained of all the people who were diagnosed or treated for cardiopulmonary conditions during the months of January 2017 to June 2017 at Kriel Community Health Centre (CHC) and the Thubelihle Township CHC. Data on the exposure to ambient PM levels was also obtained from January 2017 to June 2017. Results: This study established that there was a statistically significant difference between PM10 and PM2.5 emissions at the town of Kriel and Thubelihle Township. The mean PM10 emissions in the town of Kriel was 46.25±25.23 µg/m3 and 28.70±15.05 µg/m3 in Thubelihle Township (p < 0.005; Mann-Whitney U). The mean PM2.5 emissions in the town of Kriel was 24.31±13.21 µg/m3 and that of Thubelihle Township was 20.23±10.35 µg/m3 (p < 0.005; Mann-Whitney U). The study also established that the incidence of cardiopulmonary conditions amongst the town of Kriel residents and Thubelihle Township residents was significantly different (c2 = 146.60, df = 4; p˂0.05). This study revealed that there was a significant relationship between PM10 and PM2.5 concentration at the town of Kriel and Thubelihle Township. The town of Kriel PM10 and PM2.5 emissions were (p˂0.05; r=0.63 Spearman’s rho). Thubelihle Township PM10 and PM2.5 emissions were (p˂0.05; r=0.61 Spearman’s rho). Conclusion: This study has demonstrated the association between PM levels and the incidence of cardiopulmonary conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia and bronchiectasis amongst the community members of Kriel and Thubelihle who reside in the vicinity of the coal- power plant. The Emalahleni Municipality in Mpumalanga, the Department of Environmental Affairs and Eskom are urged to review environmental policies towards lowering PM pollution to acceptable levels