The use of long-term datasets for informing and evaluating air quality policy initiatives

Abstract

Political institutions generally desire to use the best available scientific evidence when formulating policy. In South Africa, the declaration of the Priority Areas where ‘ambient air quality standards are being, or may be, exceeded’ (according to the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act, 2004) is an example of a policy initiative that was prompted by quantitative evidence – measurements of ambient air pollution levels. National Priority Areas have been declared in the Vaal Triangle in 2006, in the Highveld in 2007 and in the WaterbergBojanala region in 2012.