Two brand new and modern air quality monitoring stations have joined the network already established in the South Durban Basin. The South Durban Basin, located on the eastern seaboard of South Africa, has a mix of heavy industrial activity and residential settlements in close proximity.
Two brand new and modern air quality monitoring stations based on Environnement S.A pollution monitoring systems have joined the network already established in the South Durban Basin. The South Durban Basin, located on the eastern seaboard of South Africa, has a mix of heavy industrial activity and residential settlements in close proximity.
The main objective of Durban’s air quality monitoring network is to provide a quantitative measure of air quality and provide a means of verification for the dispersion modelling system. The network was designed by an expert team from the eThekwini Health Department and have been turnkey-realized by Ansyco SA (exclusive Environnement S.A distributor in South Africa) under the technical guidance of NILU, the Norwegian Institute for Air Research.
One of the stations has been installed in a prominent place right in front of the town hall and continuously measures : ozone (O342e analyzer), CO & CO2 (CO12M analyzer), SO2 (AF22M analyzer), NO, NO2 & NOx (with the AC32M analyzer), benzene and VOCs (with VOC72M gas chromatograph) and PM10 & PM2.5 real time concentration and counting with MP101M + CPM particulate monitor as well as and meteorological parameters.
The second station carries MP101M particulate monitor, AF22M for SO2 monitoring, AC32M for NO, NO2 & NOx continuous measurement and O342M ozone monitor and meteorological parameters.
“The air quality monitoring network, whilst is primarily focussed in the South Durban basin, also extends into the City centre and two background sites. Each of the stations measures a range of pollutant and meteorological parameters. The two main sources of air pollution that the network aims to target are industrial and traffic pollution. Measurements are performed for pollutants like sulphur dioxide, total reduced sulphur, the oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter (PM10), ozone and carbon monoxide. Within the web site the user will find objective data that has been collected from the network on an hourly basis. The data is subjected to various levels of quality control at the station level and at the information processing stage. In addition to air quality data, this web site will also provide air quality data gathered through other means, relevant information like reports, legislation, standards and by-laws.
The web site is an opportunity for the public to access information generated from the network and to make a comparative assessment of air quality data between stations and against targeted air quality objectives.”
Source: eThekwini Municipality.