Section B: Case study – (compulsory) [50 MARKS] Refer to the following article and answer the questions that follow: Wright, C.Y., Mathee, A., Kapwata, T. and Street, R., 2024. The impact of rolling blackouts on environmental health in South Africa. Journal of Health and Pollution, 14(1), pp. 1–12. Available at: University of Pretoria Research Repository [Accessed 10 October 2026]. doi:10.1289/JHP1090. Question 1 [10] With reference to the article The Impact of Rolling Blackouts on Environmental Health in South Africa, analyse the environmental, social and economic consequences of load shedding in South Africa. Your answer must demonstrate how disruptions to electricity supply can affect environmental quality, human well-being and the operations of businesses. (5 x 2)

Load shedding in South Africa has severe environmental, social, and economic consequences:

1. Environmental (Air Quality Degradation): Disruptions to electricity supply force households and businesses to rely on alternative energy sources like diesel generators, paraffin stoves, coal braziers, and wood fires. This leads to a significant increase in harmful air pollutants such as particulate matter ($\text{PM}_{2.5}$), carbon monoxide ($\text{CO}$), nitrogen oxides ($\text{NO}_{\text{x}}$), and sulfur dioxide ($\text{SO}_2$), contributing to outdoor and indoor air pollution.
2. Environmental (Water and Sanitation Contamination): Load shedding severely impacts the operation of critical water infrastructure, including water pumping stations and wastewater treatment plants. Without consistent power, these systems fail, leading to untreated sewage discharge into rivers and oceans, contaminating water sources, and posing risks of waterborne diseases.
3. Social (Public Health Impacts): The increased use of polluting alternative energy sources indoors directly harms human health, leading to respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular problems, and carbon monoxide poisoning. Furthermore, food spoilage due to refrigeration failures and contaminated water supplies contribute to foodborne and waterborne diseases, exacerbating public health crises.
4. Social (Disruption of Essential Services and Well-being): Frequent power outages disrupt essential services such as healthcare facilities (affecting medical equipment and cold chains for vaccines), education (hindering learning), and communication networks. This creates significant stress, anxiety, and safety concerns for communities, impacting overall human well-being and quality of life.
5. Economic (Business Losses and Increased Costs): Businesses across all sectors experience substantial financial losses due to lost productivity, damaged equipment from power surges, and increased operational costs associated with purchasing and running generators. This leads to reduced profitability, potential job losses, and hinders economic growth and investment in the country.