The African Pollution Crisis: Understanding The Root Causes

Africa is facing a pollution crisis. From contaminated water to poor air quality, the continent is grappling with a range of environmental issues that are severely impacting the health and well-being of its people. With increasing industrialisation, urbanisation, and population growth, Africa's natural resources are under threat, and pollution levels continue to rise. This paragraph will explore the various causes of pollution in Africa and the subsequent effects on its people and environment.

Industrial activities and motor vehicles

Industrial emissions caused an estimated 182,398 deaths in Africa in 2016, according to a modelling study by researchers at NASA. The same study found that emissions from burning biomass, largely driven by agricultural practices, caused 43,374 deaths.

In Nigeria, Lagos generates 1.5 million square meters of domestic, agricultural, and industrial wastewater every day, with most of it ending up untreated in the Lagos Lagoon. This industrial waste contains harmful chemicals, heavy metals, and other pollutants that not only affect aquatic life but also pose risks to human health through the consumption of contaminated water.

Similarly, in South Africa, acid mine drainage from a working open-pit coal mine in Witbank has been identified as a source of water pollution. Mercury emissions are also very high in South Africa due to coal combustion and gold mining.

The increase in motor vehicle use across Africa is another significant contributor to air pollution. Cities like Onitsha in Nigeria have been identified as having some of the worst air quality in the world due to high levels of particulate matter (PM2.5) concentration.

Population growth and urbanisation

Africa's population is projected to more than triple in this century, from 1.3 billion in 2020 to 4.3 billion by 2100. This rapid population growth is accompanied by urbanisation, with over 65% of the population expected to live in urban areas by 2060. By the end of the century, Africa will host five of the world's ten largest megacities. This exponential expansion of cities is drastically increasing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

The primary sources of air pollution in Africa include increased motor vehicle use, industrial growth, and dust storms. The continent's growing population and urbanisation are expected to further worsen air quality as industrial, agricultural, and anthropogenic activities increase. A recent study from NASA found that pollution from industrial sources and motor vehicles caused high mortality rates in Nigeria and South Africa, with emissions from burning biomass and poor air quality due to dust storms increasing premature deaths in West and Central Africa.

South Africa, for instance, has extremely high mercury emissions due to coal combustion and gold mining. Meanwhile, Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, suffers from air pollution worse than any other country on the continent. Onitsha, one of Nigeria's economic hubs, has 30 times more particulate matter (PM2.5) concentration in the air than the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommended levels.

In addition to air pollution, population growth and urbanisation are also contributing to water pollution in Africa. As more people move to cities, water scarcity becomes an increasingly pressing issue. Furthermore, inadequate sanitation infrastructure in rapidly growing urban areas can lead to water contamination, exacerbating water scarcity and contributing to the spread of waterborne diseases.

The combination of population growth and urbanisation is driving Africa's transition from traditional to modern sources of pollution. Without deliberate intervention and bold policy changes, the continent risks increased morbidity and mortality, diminished economic productivity, and impaired human capital formation. However, the current growth presents an opportunity for African nations to transition rapidly to wind and solar energy, minimising pollution and avoiding a reliance on fossil fuel-based economies.

Agricultural activities

Agriculture is a major contributor to water pollution in Africa. The use of pesticides, chemical fertilizers, antibiotics, and other agrochemicals in farming leads to the contamination of both groundwater and surface water sources. This, in turn, affects the quality of water used for drinking, cooking, and hygiene, causing illnesses and deaths among communities throughout the continent.

In Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), soil pollution from agricultural activities is particularly prominent. The region faces significant land degradation due to the haphazard disposal and mismanagement of pollutants generated within and outside SSA. This pollution reduces the ability of the soil to support crop growth and yield and jeopardizes the safety and security of agricultural produce.

Agricultural practices also contribute to air pollution in Africa. Burning fields and bushes in the post-harvest season for fertilization, land management, and pest control are common practices that release aerosol particles into the atmosphere. This, coupled with increased motor vehicle use, industrial growth, and dust storms, results in poor air quality, leading to respiratory diseases and premature deaths.

While agriculture is a significant contributor to pollution in Africa, it is also a victim. The unsafe use of non-conventional water sources, such as wastewater, in agriculture can lead to the accumulation of pollutants in crops, livestock, and soil. This, in turn, can have severe health impacts on consumers and farm workers, as well as exacerbate antimicrobial resistance. Therefore, it is crucial to address the pollution caused by agricultural activities and to promote sustainable practices that minimize the impact on the environment and human health.

Mining and manufacturing

Africa is rich in natural and mineral resources, but the exploitation of these resources has led to severe environmental pollution. Industrial activities, such as mining and manufacturing, are crucial to economic development, but they are also significant contributors to water pollution in Africa.

Many industries release untreated or inadequately treated wastewater, which contains harmful chemicals, heavy metals, and other pollutants, into bodies of water. For instance, Lagos in Nigeria produces 1.5 million square meters of domestic, agricultural, and industrial wastewater daily, with most of it ending up untreated in the Lagos Lagoon. This industrial waste not only harms aquatic life but also endangers human health through the consumption of contaminated water.

Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) from a working open-pit coal mine in Witbank, South Africa, is another example of mining causing water pollution. Additionally, mercury emissions in South Africa, due to coal combustion and gold mining, contribute to air and water pollution. Mercury, along with emissions like sulfur dioxide and particulate matter, has caused over 2,000 deaths from respiratory diseases, strokes, and heart attacks in South Africa.

The effects of water pollution from industrial activities are far-reaching. It disrupts ecosystems, kills aquatic life, and poses risks to human health. The consumption of contaminated water can lead to life-threatening diseases, such as cholera, typhoid, and dysentery, which are prevalent in Africa due to poor sanitation and limited access to clean water.

To address this issue, governments must implement and enforce stricter regulations for industrial waste disposal. Without proper regulation of environmental pollutants, the benefits of economic development through mining and manufacturing will continue to come at the cost of severe environmental and public health consequences.

Poor sanitation

The lack of access to safe toilets and proper sanitation facilities forces many people in Africa to defecate in the open, near water sources, or in areas where children play. This exposes them to dangerous bacteria, viruses, and parasites, which can cause a range of waterborne diseases, including cholera, typhoid fever, dysentery, and diarrheal illnesses. Poor sanitation also increases the risk of other diseases such as trachoma, an eye infection that can lead to blindness, as well as plague and typhus.

Inadequate management of urban, industrial, and agricultural wastewater further contributes to the problem. Hundreds of millions of people in Africa rely on drinking water that is dangerously contaminated or chemically polluted due to poor sanitation practices. This is particularly concerning in healthcare facilities, where patients and staff are placed at additional risk of infection and disease when water, sanitation, and hygiene services are lacking.

The issue of poor sanitation is closely linked to poverty, which is a significant barrier to accessing clean water and sanitation facilities in Africa. Many people in low-income communities cannot afford safe toilets or proper waste disposal methods, leading to environmental pollution and an increased risk of disease transmission. This is evident in low-cost housing settlements in Cape Town, South Africa, where studies have found a direct link between inadequate sanitation and diarrheal diseases.

Additionally, population growth, rapid urbanization, and natural disasters are exacerbating the water and sanitation crisis in Africa. Two-thirds of sub-Saharan Africa relies mostly or completely on surface water, which is often highly polluted and unsafe for drinking. The lack of infrastructure to pipe water from fresh, clean sources forces communities to resort to dangerous alternatives, further contributing to the cycle of poor sanitation and water pollution.

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