Zuko Komisa
- Smell is caused by elevated hydrogen sulphide (H₂S) levels transported by wind from Mpumalanga to Gauteng.
- Potential eye irritation, headaches, and nausea; the public is advised to avoid prolonged exposure.
- New legislative measures are being implemented to tighten emission standards and formalise air quality limits.
Residents across Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, and Pretoria have recently been greeted by a pungent, “rotten egg” smell, sparking widespread concern and health complaints.
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has confirmed that the culprit is likely hydrogen sulphide (H₂S).
“For hydrogen sulphide, monitoring data also showed elevated peaks, especially in Secunda, Springs, Irene (Pretoria), Midstream and Buccleuch air quality monitoring stations.
“Although there are no National Ambient Air Quality Standards for hydrogen sulphide for now, these pollution levels were all significantly higher than the World Health Organisation recommended threshold for ambient nuisance odour of 5.02 parts per billion. Based on these observations, it is highly likely that complaints raised by the public were prompted by elevated levels of hydrogen sulphide,” the department explained.
While the odour is unmistakable, officials noted that atmospheric conditions specifically south-easterly winds carried the pollution from Mpumalanga’s industrial hubs into the heart of Gauteng.
Although monitoring stations in areas like Springs and Buccleuch recorded levels significantly higher than the World Health Organisation’s “nuisance” threshold, the department is currently hamstrung by a lack of local legal standards for this specific gas.
In response, the government is fast-tracking new legislation to categorise hydrogen sulphide as a criteria pollutant, which will allow for stricter enforcement and better protection for vulnerable groups, particularly children, who are more sensitive to respiratory irritants.
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