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Air pollution in Africa is coming to the forefront and must not be ignored. For example, in South Africa the mercury levels are severe due to coal combustion and gold mining. Mercury is absorbed from the air into the soil and water. [19] The soil allows the crops to absorb the mercury, which humans ingest.
Black carbon is in the air and circulates the globe. Black carbon travels along wind currents from Asian cities and accumulates over the Tibetan Plateau and Himalayan foothills. Black carbon (BC) is the light-absorbing refractory form of elemental carbon remaining after pyrolysis (e.g., charcoal) or produced by incomplete combustion (e.g., soot).
There are a range of environmental issues in Southern Africa, such as climate change, land, water, deforestation, land degradation, and pollution.The Southern Africa region itself, except for South Africa, [1] produces less carbon emissions but is a recipient of climate change impacts characterized by changes in precipitation, extreme weather events and hot temperatures.
Soot, particularly diesel exhaust pollution, accounts for over one-quarter of the total hazardous pollution in the air. [ 12 ] [ 22 ] Among these diesel emission components, particulate matter has been a serious concern for human health due to its direct and broad impact on the respiratory organs.
Air pollution can cause diseases, allergies, and even death; it can also cause harm to animals and crops and damage the natural environment (for example, climate change, ozone depletion or habitat degradation) or built environment (for example, acid rain). [3] Air pollution can occur naturally or be caused by human activities. [4]
A Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) is a class of organic compounds that is composed of multiple aromatic rings.Most are produced by the incomplete combustion of organic matter— by engine exhaust fumes, tobacco, incinerators, in roasted meats and cereals, [1] or when biomass burns at lower temperatures as in forest fires.
The California Air Resources Board found in studies that 50% or more of the air pollution in Southern California is due to car emissions. [ citation needed ] Concentrations of pollutants emitted from combustion engines may be particularly high around signalized intersections because of idling and accelerations.
The reduction of open burning can drastically change the air pollutants in the local area, therefore having a transformational impact on human health in that particular region. [12] The Global Review on Safer End of Engineered Life suggested that the health of tens of millions of people worldwide was impacted by the disposal practice, with up ...