Harmful Effects of Polluted Air on Young Children Assessed in Doctoral Thesis

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A PhD degree in Environmental Science was awarded to Dr Siphiwe Gumede for his research on the potentially harmful effects suffered by young children who breathe in polluted air. 

Gumede’s study is the first to focus on the effects on the respiratory health of children aged between six and 12 who live within a 2km radius of Durban’s Bisasar Road landfill site, which is one of the biggest in Africa. 

‘I was interested in hearing the voices of the community which experiences the impact of the landfill site on a daily basis; voices of the sufferers which are often unheard,’ said Gumede. 

His interest in promoting social justice led him to do research among the most vulnerable in this community, the children who are susceptible to suffering as a result of particulate matter from the landfill. 

Gumede’s research revealed that in homes where fine particle concentration was high, most children reported respiratory health symptoms. Proximity to the landfill site placed children at greater risk of respiratory health conditions from wheezing and asthma to more serious conditions. 

This research re-emphasises the importance of establishing landfill sites away from communities to avoid negative repercussions. 

Gumede, who is Deputy Director and Senior Researcher of the Teaching and Learning Development Centre (TLDC) of the Mangosuthu University of Technology in Durban, completed his PhD part-time. 

He began his academic career with a National Diploma in Environmental Health, then later did a BTech, continuing to his master’s degree and PhD studies, which he believes are imperative for anyone considering work in academia. 

With his PhD complete, Gumede plans to write further articles for scientific journals and to do conference presentations, while continuing to promote justice. 

His supervisor, Professor Mike Savage of UKZN’s School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, commended Gumede for the enormous effort he put into gathering and analysing as much information as possible to assess air quality and human health. 

Gumede thanked his family and Professor Savage for their support. 

Christine Cuénod