ADEKUNLE AGBETILOYE - Africa Business Insider

Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa have emerged as the most polluted countries in Africa in terms of air pollution and disease burden. These three major countries are faced with the profound health consequences of air pollution, which is further exacerbating the impacts of climate change on the continent.

• Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa have emerged as the most polluted countries in Africa in terms of air pollution and disease burden.
• Every year in Africa, as many as 1.1 million premature deaths have been linked to air pollution.
• The report found that Africa is home to some of the worst nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide hotspots in the world, all of which are primarily linked to thermal power plants.

This information is revealed in a report prepared by Greenpeace Africa and Greenpeace MENA.

Titled Major Air Polluters in Africa Unmasked, the report investigates the biggest human sources of air pollution across Africa, focusing on major industrial and economic sectors, including the fossil fuel industry.

Every year in Africa, as many as 1.1 million premature deaths have been linked to air pollution.

DON'T MISS THIS: 10 most polluted countries in Africa according to IQAir Dr. Aidan Farrow, Senior Scientist at the Greenpeace Research Laboratories, emphasized that in many regions of Africa, the absence of air quality monitoring has concealed the extent of pollution.

"However, there is abundant evidence that African nations face a serious public health crisis from air pollution. The root causes of this crisis are the air pollutant emitters," he said.

Key highlights from the report

The report found that Africa is home to some of the worst nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide hotspots in the world, all of which are primarily linked to thermal power plants.

Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa consistently exhibit large disease burdens, with the highest mortality linked to fossil fuel air pollution in these nations.

Six of the world’s ten largest NO2 emission hotspots identified were found in Africa, all in South Africa. Two of the world’s ten largest SO2 emission hotspots identified are in South Africa.

Of the ten largest SO2 point sources identified in Africa, nine are thermal power stations, and one is linked to a smelter complex in Mali. Four of the power plants are located in South Africa owned by Eskom, two in Morocco and Egypt, and one in Zimbabwe.

Health impact studies suggest that life expectancy could be improved by up to 3 years in some African nations if air quality met WHO guidelines.