Summary: The quality of air in the Durban Metropolitan Area (DMA) appears to be generally good although there is currently very little information on air quality throughout the metropolitan area. There are important areas of local concern, including the Durban South Basin, where there are relatively high concentrations of pollutants such as sulphur dioxide in the air.

Read more about:

•   Air Pollutants in Durban (a description of how the different pollutants are formed) and
•   Air Quality Monitoring in Durban (information on the monitoring of various pollutants and graphs of typical results).

Sulphur dioxide SO₂

• Concentrations of sulphur dioxide increase during the winter months of the year due to unfavourable climatic conditions.
• Sulphur dioxide levels in the  Durban South Basin generally peaked in the late 1980s and early 1990s, then decreased until the mid 1990's and then increased again.
• The highest levels of sulphur dioxide in the DMA are recorded at Wentworth, Merewent and Hollesley Road in the Durban South Basin. These areas incorporate a mix of residential and industrial development.
• In the case of Wentworth, these are on average close to reaching the South African Annual Air Quality Guideline levels.
• Specific exceedances of some of the guideline values have been recorded at Wentworth, Southern Works and Athlone Park.
• WHO Guidelines for sulphur dioxide have been exceeded in the region from the Southern Wastewater Treatment Works to Merebank West. These exceedances occur with respect to the annual average and daily WHO guidelines. All other stations in the DMA have fallen below the 19 parts per billion standard set by WHO for annual average concentrations, for the past 5 - 10 years.

Click to view graphs of the following:

• Long term SO₂ trends within Durban Municipal area
• Annual Average SO₂ 1998 within Durban Municipal area
• Monthly average SO₂ 1999 within the Durban South Basin
• Monthly average SO₂ trends over 10 years - selected sites
• Typical annual cycle of SO₂

Nitrogen oxides NO_X

• Unconfirmed predicted concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2 ) in the Durban South Basin's air, coming primarily from motor vehicles, exceed South African Air Quality Guideline levels during summer mornings and evening peak traffic periods.
• Predicted concentrations of nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the Durban South Basin's air arising from industrial emissions do not exceed guideline levels.
• Data from the existing metrowide NO₂ passive sampler survey is not comparable to WHO standards due to different averaging (sampling) periods, but they will identify potential hotspot areas.
• Click here to view a graph of the typical daily cycle.

• Predicted levels of carbon monoxide in the Durban South Basin's air do not exceed the World Health Organisation guidelines.
• There are no South African guidelines for carbon monoxide levels.

Volatile Organic Compunds (VOC)

• Industrial areas have highest VOC levels followed by the CBD and Freeways.
• Residential areas have the lowest VOC levels.
• Click here for a graphical representation.

Lead (Pb)

• Phased reductions of lead (Pb) content in petrol have resulted in decreasing Pb concentrations in the air which continue to fall well below the South African Air Quality Guideline values.
• Annual average lead concentrations recorded at the Durban City Hall exceeded World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines in ten of the eleven years from 1987 to 1997.
• A decreasing ten year trend is, however, clearly evident in this graph.
• Increased use of unleaded petrol without the enforced use of catalytic converter exhaust control equipment will, however, increase levels of some organic compounds.
• Concentrations of Lead increase during the winter months of the year due to unfavourable climatic conditions as can be seen in this graph showing the typical annual cycle.

Smoke

• Annual average smoke levels within Durban are well below the South African limit as can be seen in this graph .
• Highest smoke levels occur in winter as can be seen in this graph showing the typical annual cycle.
• These graphs show the long term trends of smoke levels in the DMA.
  

Odours

• Odours from industrial processes are affecting neighbouring communities in the Durban South Basin. These include sulphur compounds, chlorine and oily odours as well as rotten cabbage and egg smells from a variety of organic compounds.

Pollen