What are the key health issues caused by waste in South Africa?
BP: As a result of the amount of waste we produce, we accumulate a huge burden of toxins in our bodies, particularly dioxins and heavy metals. Those toxins have a negative effect on our immune, endocrine and reproductive systems. Mercury waste, for example, that is created by coal-fired power stations throughout the country, has a direct negative impact on foetuses and causes deformation. Lead pollution slows down the cognitive development of children. Air pollution in highly industrial areas, such as the South Durban Basin in KwaZulu-Natal, causes asthma, skin diseases and cancer. The instances of leukaemia in the area are 24 times higher than the national average.
