The Sunday Mail
The continued growth of Zimbabwe’s vehicle population could lead to serious air pollution if vehicle emission restraining techniques are not advanced to match the huge fleet on the roads, environmentalists and engineering experts have warned.
This follows revelations by the Zimbabwe National Road Administration that there are 1,2 million vehicles in the country.
Experts say existing regulatory measures may not cope with modern challenges thereby leading to contamination of the environment.
Environmental Management Agency spokesperson Mr Steady Kangata said ever-increasing vehicular pollution compounded the contamination brought by industries.
“We have a policy on the prevention of air pollution which also encompass vehicular pollution,” he said.
“However, with the increasing fleet it means we are going to use more fuel, and more fuel means more emission. This puts the environment and human life in danger so we need to be adapting to these challenges and try to use lesser fuel.”
He said random emission checks by EMA at roadblocks this year showed that 320 out of 1 350 tested vehicles did not meet standards.
“A survey was conducted to ascertain the prevalence of high emitting vehicles in the country’s major highways in Midlands, Matabeleland as well as Bulawayo Metro,” Mr Kangata said.
“A total of 1 350 vehicles were inspected and 320 tickets were issued to those which did not comply with regulations.”
Anecdotal evidence suggests authorities in developing countries either neglect or are passive on vehicular pollution, as they do not deem it a developmental threat.
Scientific research shows that countries with large vehicle fleets are at risk of cardiovascular disease, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and diabetes. These have serious effects on livelihoods, the cost of healthcare to individuals and the state, and the efficiency of the labour force.
“Emissions that affect human health and create smog include ozone and carbon monoxide,” said public health expert Ms Madeline Saruchera.
“These toxins are harmful to humans and animals and can cause a number of respiratory illnesses, although here in Zimbabwe I do not believe that the risk is huge.”
According to a March 2014 report by the World Health Organisation, an estimated seven million people died — one in eight of total global deaths — as a result of air pollution exposure in 2012.
The report also said the risk of air pollution is much greater than previously understood.
“The risks from air pollution are now far greater than previously thought, particularly for heart disease and strokes,” said Dr Maria Neira, director of WHO’s department for Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health.
Experts say vehicle emissions do not only cause medical complications but can also cause damage to the natural ecosystem.
It is estimated that every gallon of petroleum burnt emits 24 pounds of carbon dioxide and other global-warming gases into the atmosphere.
Of particular concern are carbon dioxide, greenhouse gases, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, and tiny particles of solids, such as metal and soot.
Theses pollutants can be deposited on soil and surface waters where they enter the food chain, resulting in negative effects on reproductive, respiratory, immune and neurological health.
Research also shows that exhaust emissions contain motor oil, antifreeze, gasoline, air conditioning refrigerants, and brake, transmission, hydraulic and windshield-wiper fluids which can cause harm.
On the status of air pollution in the country, Mr Barnabas Chipindu — a Physics lecturer with the University of Zimbabwe said:
“The main problem associated with this rapid growth in vehicle population in the major cities is increased concentration of line and area emission sources due to road congestion at peak times.”
Experts fear that second-hand car imports are not entirely roadworthy with regards to emissions.
