The reason behind the terrible smell in Gauteng
Did you experience the terrible “egg smell” in the air?
If you’ve been holding your breath in parts of Gauteng, you aren’t alone.
According to a recent feedback report by The City of Ekurhuleni’s Air Quality Management Unit, residents have been flagging a scent often described as resembling cat urine, ammonia, or rotten eggs (sulphur).
Source of the smell
They show that the smell is coming from further east. It turns out the smell is likely “attributed to transboundary air pollution” drifting in from industrial complexes in the Mpumalanga Highveld.
Back in January, the City of Johannesburg confirmed that these sulphur-like episodes are usually caused by dirty air making a long-distance trip from the Highveld Priority Area and Mpumalanga’s industrial hubs.
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These regions are home to massive coal-fired power stations and petrochemical plants. Under the right atmospheric conditions, the pollutants they release can easily travel hundreds of kilometres before settling over our streets.
The science behind the stink
So, what exactly are we smelling? The investigation highlighted two main culprits
- Amines: These nitrogen-based compounds usually come from refineries and are the reason for that “odour similar to cat urine or ammonia.”
- Hydrogen sulphide (H₂S): A byproduct of petrochemical and power plants, this gas is responsible for the “characteristic rotten egg odour.”
Why now?
It’s all down to the weather. The report notes that between January and March, “specific atmospheric conditions and wind patterns” create a perfect path for these pollutants to travel long distances straight into Gauteng.
However, it’s not always the factories’ fault. The City mentioned that in some cases, “similar odours have been linked to raw sewage spills or collapsing municipal sewer systems, resulting in sewer fermentation in wetlands and giving rise to a rotten egg smell.”
Is it dangerous?
The smell is enough to cause “nausea or headaches,” says the report.
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The report explains that even when the air smells terrible, the actual concentration of these gases remains “within authorised limits”.
What to do?
Residents are urged to keep their windows shut during the worst of it and to “avoid strenuous outdoor activity” until things clear up.
In the meantime, officials say they are keeping a close eye on air pollution levels and the weather conditions that keep bringing these odour events to our doorstep.
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Image: AFP