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04 June 2019 | Story Valentino Ndaba | Photo Charl Devenish
Prof Cathryn Tonne
Air pollution not only costs lives, it costs money too. Pictured is Prof Cathryn Tonne presenting a guest lecture on air pollution at the Bloemfontein Campus.

Health effects associated with ambient air pollution (AAP) have been well documented. Subsequently, the relationship between pollution and financial outcomes have also become a focus for case studies globally. An Environmental Research journal article revealed that “low and middle-income countries are disproportionately affected by the global burden of adverse health effects caused by AAP”. 

A high price to pay

In 2012, high concentrations of air pollution caused 7.4% of all deaths, costing South Africa up to 6% of its Gross Domestic Product. According to the recent International Growth Centre study conducted by senior University of Cape Town researchers, this is a direct consequence of the country’s heavy dependence of fossil fuels, a source of health-damaging air pollution and greenhouse pollutants.

Stunted human and economic growth

These South African statistics are attested to by Prof Cathryn Tonne who recently presented a guest lecture on air pollution which was hosted by the University of the Free State (UFS) Business School.

“Air pollution can affect economic development through several pathways, and health is an important one. Air pollution is linked to shorter life expectancy, chronic disease, asthma exacerbation and many other health outcomes that result in absenteeism from work and school. These have large direct costs to the health system.” 

Prof Tonne says that air pollution exposure in children is linked to reduced cognitive development, with important impacts on human capital. As a result, children are not reaching their full potential in terms of neurodevelopment, which has an effect on their income prospects and the economy as a whole. 

Resolving a looming disaster

Technology may be employed to radically clean the air. Cities need to lead in the reduction of air pollution by promoting renewable energy, using active transport such as walking or cycling, and investing in infrastructure to make this safe and attractive. 

With researchers playing a major role in strengthening the case for aggressive air pollution control, the government needs to implement policies in order to control sources of air pollution. This global health and economic issue also requires individuals and communities to play their part to improve air quality.

News Archive

Achievement for Accounting students
2013-05-08

 

Infront: Richard Yang (2013 Academic Clerk), Raymond Cramer (2013 Academic Clerk), Me Jana Lamprecht (Lecture), Prof RonellBritz (Chairperson: Centre for Accounting), Me LizelleBruwer (Lecture), Prof HendriKroukamp (Dean: Faculty of Economic and Management Science), ThembiKganane (2013 Academic Clerk).
Back: Prof CobusRossouw (Lecture), Mr KobusSwanepoel (Lecture), Prof Hentie van Wyk (Program Director: Centre for Accounting) and Robert Bode (2013 Academic Clerk)

08 May 2013

The B Acc Honours students of the Centre for Accounting have done very well in the Initial Test of Competence (ITC) examination of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA), when 60 out of 65 students passed. It represents a pass rate of 92%. The overall average pass rate nationally is 74% and 86% for those who wrote the professional examination for the first time.

The Centre for Accounting achieved an average pas s rate of 81% over the last three years. Up till now it is the largest number of UFS students that passed the professional examination in one year. The highest pass rate was achieved in 2008 when 95% of the UFS students passed.

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