Introduction Sulphur dioxide (SO2) is still being monitored by some local municipalities, who continue their monitoring programmes after the "National Network for Monitoring Smoke and SO2" was terminated. As air quality monitoring of sulphur dioxide is performed by individual industries and associations, trends for this indicator are therefore not readily available and it is therefore not possible to provide a complete picture of the ambient air quality in Mpumalanga with regards to SO2 as these monitoring activities take place in isolation. The main monitoring activities in the province are listed below: Apolcom (Witbank) Eskom (Verykkop, Leandra, Elandsfontein, Kendal, Palmer, Majuba); and Sasol (Secunda, Bosjesspruit, Grootvlei and Springs Girls High School).

Assessment of Data

Eskom has however provided ambient air quality monitoring results for SO₂ concentrations at the following Eskom monitoring points. These results indicate that Leandra and Kendal consistently show the highest annual SO₂ concentrations over the period 1996 to 2001, all sites are within the national Department of Environmental Affairs & Tourism annual average guideline of 19 ppb (parts per billion) (Eskom, 2002; RSA, 2001).