Air pollution is a mixture of natural and man-made substances in the air we breathe. It is typically separated into two categories: outdoor air pollution and indoor air pollution.
OUTDOOR AIR POLLUTION
Outdoor air pollution involves exposures that take place outside of the built environment and these may include;
- Fine particles produced by the burning of fossil fuels (i.e. the coal and petroleum used in energy production)
- Noxious gases (sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, chemical vapors, etc.)
- Tobacco Smoke
- Ground Level Ozone
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
Indoor air pollution involves exposures to particulates, carbon oxides, and other pollutants carried by indoor air or dust. Examples include:
- Gases (carbon monoxide, radon, etc.)
- Household products and chemicals (Aerosols)
- Building materials (asbestos, formaldehyde, lead, etc.)
- Outdoor indoor allergens (cockroach and mouse dropping, etc.)
- Tobacco smoke
- Mold and pollen
AIR POLLUTION IMPACTS
Air pollution has significant impacts on our health, environment and economy. Every day, air pollution causes respiratory, cardiovascular diseases, adverse pregnancy outcomes and even death.
REDUCING EXPOSURE TO AIR POLLUTION
Matsapha Town Council uses various forms of risk reduction measures to ensure occupants of buildings, pedestrians and the general environment is not being polluted through air as a medium. Such activities include;
- Conformity assessments – Compliance enforcements through Inspections
- Building Plan Scrutiny
- Landfilling of waste either than burning of waste
- Environmental conservation Inspections
- Identification and cutting of overgrown properties
The activities conducted by Matsapha Town Council assist in ensuring that buildings are well ventilated to avoid indoor air pollution, buildings are constructed using materials that do not induce harm to occupant’s health, waste is not burnt to ensure Unintentional Persistent Organic Pollutants (U-POP’s) are not formed and overgrown vegetation is not burnt but cut.
LEGISLATION
The following legislations assists the Town in ensuring compliance in combating air pollution;
- Public Health Act 1969
- Urban Government Act 1969
- The Grass Fires Act 1955
- The Environmental Management Act 2002
- The Waste Regulations 2000
- The Building Act 1968
- Town Planning Scheme
These above stated legislations assist Matsapha Town in ensuring Matsapha Town Council is a liveable and Sustainable Town.