Publications by authors named "Mirriam Mogotsi"
Article Synopsis
- Air pollution poses significant public health risks, particularly for adolescents, yet its impact on their respiratory health in high pollution areas like Secunda and eMbalenhle, South Africa, remains under-researched.
- This study gathered air quality data from 2005 to 2019, compared it to national and WHO standards, and surveyed adolescents on health symptoms related to air pollution, revealing a high prevalence of respiratory issues.
- Key findings showed that particulate matter and ozone frequently surpassed air quality standards, with reported respiratory symptoms ranging from 2% for bronchitis and pneumonia to 42% for allergies, indicating a notable public health concern among the youth in these areas.
Classroom Temperature and Learner Absenteeism in Public Primary Schools in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.
Int J Environ Res Public Health
October 2021
Children spend a significant proportion of their time at school and in school buildings. A healthy learning environment that supports children should be thermally conducive for learning and working. Here, we aimed to study the relations between indoor classroom temperatures and learner absenteeism as a proxy for children's health and well-being.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Measuring national progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) enables the identification of gaps which need to be filled to end poverty, protect the planet and improve lives. Progress is typically calculated using indicators stemming from published methodologies. South Africa tracks progress towards the SDGs at a national scale, but aggregated data may mask progress, or lack thereof, at local levels.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHeavy metal pollution in soil poses a serious health threat to humans living in close proximity and in contact with contaminated soil. Exposure to heavy metals can result in a range of adverse health effects, including skin lesions, cardiovascular effects, lowering of IQ scores and cancers. The main objectives of this study were to (1) use a portable XRF spectrophotometer to measure concentrations of lead (Pb), arsenic (As), mercury (Hg) and cadmium (Cd) in residential soils in rural Giyani in the Limpopo province of South Africa; (2) to assess the spatial distribution of soil metal concentrations; and (3) to assess pollution levels in residential soils.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To determine the use of lead-based paint in public playgrounds in the municipalities of Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni.
Methods: Forty-nine public parks were selected from the municipalities of Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni. Lead levels in paint on playground equipment were measured in situ using a hand-held Thermo Scientific NITON XLP 700 Series X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyser.