dc.contributor.author |
Nkosi, Vusumuzi
|
|
dc.contributor.author |
Wichmann, Janine
|
|
dc.contributor.author |
Voyi, K.V.V. (Kuku)
|
|
dc.date.accessioned |
2017-02-01T08:31:38Z |
|
dc.date.available |
2017-02-01T08:31:38Z |
|
dc.date.issued |
2017-01-06 |
|
dc.description.abstract |
BACKGROUND : Few studies in South Africa have investigated the exposure of asthmatic learners to indoor and
outdoor air pollution at schools. This study compared outdoor PM10 and SO2 exposure levels in exposed (1–2 km
from gold mine dumps) and unexposed schools (5 km or more from gold mine dumps). It also examined exposure
of asthmatic children to indoor respirable dust at exposed and unexposed schools.
METHODS : The study was conducted between 1 and 31 October 2012 in five schools from exposed and five from
unexposed communities. Outdoor PM10 and SO2 levels were measured for 8-h at each school. Ten asthmatic
learners were randomly selected from each school for 8-h personal respirable dust sampling during school hours.
RESULTS : The level of outdoor PM10 for exposed was 16.42 vs. 11.47 mg.m−3 for the unexposed communities
(p < 0.001). The outdoor SO2 for exposed was 0.02 ppb vs. 0.01 ppb for unexposed communities (p < 0.001).
Indoor respirable dust in the classroom differed significantly between exposed (0.17 mg.m−3) vs. unexposed
(0.01 mg.m−3) children with asthma at each school (p < 0.001).
CONCLUSION : The significant differences between exposed and unexposed schools could reveal a serious potential
health hazard for school children, although they were within the South African Air Quality Standards’ set by the
Department of Environmental Affairs. The indoor respirable dust levels in exposed schools could have an impact on
children with asthma, as they were significantly higher than the unexposed schools, although there are no published
standards for environmental exposure for children with asthma. |
en_ZA |
dc.description.department |
School of Health Systems and Public Health (SHSPH) |
en_ZA |
dc.description.librarian |
am2017 |
en_ZA |
dc.description.sponsorship |
The Mine Health Safety Council
of South Africa (MHSC) and National Research Fund – Deutscher Akademischer
Austausch Dienst (NRF – DAAD). |
en_ZA |
dc.description.uri |
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcpublichealth |
en_ZA |
dc.identifier.citation |
Nkosi, V, Wichmann, J & Voyi, K 2017, 'Indoor and outdoor PM10 levels at schools located near mine dumps in Gauteng and North West Provinces, South Africa', BMC Public Health, vol. 17, art. no. 42, pp. 1-7. |
en_ZA |
dc.identifier.issn |
1471-2458 |
|
dc.identifier.uri |
http://hdl.handle.net/2263/58774 |
|
dc.language.iso |
en |
en_ZA |
dc.publisher |
BioMed Central |
en_ZA |
dc.rights |
© The Author(s). 2017. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
International License. |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Mine dumps |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Schools |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Air pollution |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Asthma |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Gauteng Province, South Africa |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
North West Province, South Africa |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Outdoor PM10 exposure level |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Outdoor SO2 exposure level |
en_ZA |
dc.title |
Indoor and outdoor PM10 levels at schools located near mine dumps in Gauteng and North West Provinces, South Africa |
en_ZA |
dc.type |
Article |
en_ZA |