Mail & Guardian
Mail & Guardian
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The sulphuric stench that drifted over large parts of Johannesburg last week – described by residents as reeking of “rotten eggs”, “cat urine” and “burning sulphur” – has dissipated.
AIR POLLUTION

“Rotten egg” smell over Joburg highlights toxic air pollution risks

Air pollution in the Highveld Priority Area threatens lives and violates environmental rights, as hydrogen sulphide levels recently spiked over Johannesburg

  • Sheree Bega
9 min read
In South Africa, energy production contributes to 23% of the ambient PM2.5 levels. (Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
AFRICA

Africa’s silent killer: Solutions must be found to air pollution

Clean energy is crucial for the continent to determine its air quality future

  • Sheree Bega
7 min read
Emissions rise from the cooling towers of the Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd. Matla coal-fired power station in Mpumalanga. (Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
AIR POLLUTION

Eskom is the world’s worst-polluting power company by SO2

Eskom alone spews more sulphur dioxide into the air than the entire combined power sector emissions of any country except for India

  • Sheree Bega
6 min read
El Niño is expected to cause a loss of rainfall
AGRICULTURE

No country, rich or poor, is immune from the health effects of climate change

A changing climate threatens to undermine the past 50 years of gains in public health

  • Sheree Bega
6 min read
A baby who is suffering from respiratory disease receives treatment at Dhaka Shishu (Children) Hospital in Dhaka. (Photo by Munir Uz Zaman/AFP)
AIR POLLUTION

Dirty air kills 476 000 newborns

In 2019, two-thirds of infant deaths caused by pollution were in sub-Saharan Africa

  • Sheree Bega
4 min read