Assessment of ambient air pollution in the Waterberg Priority Area 2012-2015

Abstract

The Waterberg Priority Area ambient air quality monitoring network was established in 2012 to monitor the ambient air quality in the Waterberg Air Quality Priority Area. Three monitoring stations were established in Lephalale, Thabazimbi and Mokopane. The monitoring stations measure the concentrations of PM(sub10), PM(sub2.5), SO(sub2), NOx, CO, O(sub3), BTEX and meteorological parameters. Hourly data for a 31 month period (October 2012-April 2015) was obtained from the South African Air Quality Information System (SAAQIS) and analysed to assess patterns in atmospheric concentrations, including seasonal and diurnal patterns of the ambient concentrations and to assess the impacts that such reported pollution concentration may have. Local source regions for SO(sub2), PM(sub10), PM(sub2.5) and O(sub3) were identified and trends in the recorded concentrations are discussed.