Carbon monoxide emissions from cars are being tested in an effort to improve the air quality in Johannesburg.

The instrument that measures fumes emitted by a car's exhaust pip

THE City's environmental management department has initiated an air quality management survey to determine the levels of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide emitted from vehicles.

These gases contribute to air pollution and global warming. The primary aim of the survey is to improve air quality in the metro, minimise the effect of air pollution on public health and the environment, and support the City's climate change programmes.

"We are breathing a lot of carbon monoxide in this city but our people are not aware of it," said Mbedzi Maluta Pennington, a senior specialist in air quality.

Pennington spoke during an operation carried out at the Metro Centre in Braamfontein on Thursday, 24 April, to evaluate the amount of fossil fuel burnt by City staff's vehicles. "You may not feel the impact at the moment, but you will feel its detrimental effects in future," he noted.

The survey aspires to focus on reducing excessive carbon emissions in Joburg through drafting regulations and penalties for offenders. "We have to regularly measure the amount of carbon emissions within the city, from each and every source, and raise educational awareness to address this issue."

An extensive operation, it will be conducted throughout the city on a regular basis. It is tailored to prioritise pollutants that are a hazard to human health and the environment; and reduce emissions caused by domestic fuel burning and vehicles.

Mine dumps
"We need to minimise the impact of mine dumps on air quality within the city and enforce air quality legislations," Pennington noted.

The City is working on enacting legislation that would permit its officials to randomly stop vehicles on the road, when conducting inspections. Currently, the law only allows for environmentalists to conduct tests on drivers who volunteer to be tested.

Carried out at the Metro Centre's staff parking lot, today's operation entailed fitting an instrument on the cars' exhaust pipes. The instrument is connected to the Emission Testing Station, which reads and gives ratings on how much carbon is burnt by that particular vehicle.

"There is a need in Joburg to address air quality problems, which is often cause by vehicles, industries, wastewater treatment works and mine dumps," Pennington said.

Carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas produced when carbon burns within insufficient air. It can, in the long run, be detrimental to human health. Normal levels of carbon dioxide in the air are 300 parts per million; however, the figure has soared to 370 parts per million, resulting in a disturbance in the stratosphere and a depletion of the ozone layer.

"We need to keep raising awareness about this issue until we get people to comply with environmental legislation; this will help us achieve a solution," he emphasised.

According to Gideon Slabbert, another senior specialist in air quality, vehicle testing for carbon emissions should "ideally" be conducted frequently, at least once a week. "We need to conduct such operations on major roads within the city, mostly at inclination points - that is where one can spot the problem."

He said that the percentage level of emissions of a car should not be lower than 70 percent. "In the past we used to focus on the colour of the smoke emitted by the car, now we focus on analysis; we go into detail and measure every pollutant which cannot be seen in the natural air."

If a vehicle is found to be emitting under the radar, it is regarded as infringing stipulated legislation. The driver will be given less than three weeks to service their vehicles and return to the station where their car was initially tested, for a second test.

Solutions
Before the operation, the department had sent out a request to City employees to volunteer for their vehicles to be tested so that the amount of carbon emitted could be evaluated, and then a solution found. However, only a few participated.

Lebo Molefe, director of environmental compliance in the City had her car tested

"People need to bring in their cars. This will be able to determine whether they are eco-friendly or not," Slabbert advised.

In order to reduce the amount of fuel burnt by private vehicles, which ultimately leads to air pollution, the City advises motorists to:

• Reduce fuel costs and toxic air pollutants from vehicles by using taxis, buses or car-pooling, and "fight climate change";
• Use park and ride facilities;
• Keep tyres inflated and increase fuel efficiency by 3 percent;
• Avoid sharp acceleration and heavy braking, "be a smooth driver and roll Jozi's style"; and
• Regularly service and maintain your vehicle.

"All this will ensure that the city has clean air, which will be good for everyone's health, and save motorists R1 500 a year."

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