EDITORIAL

Celebration of the 80th Issue

Gregor Feig; Rebecca Garland; Kristy Langerman; Caradee Y. Wright; Gerrit Kornelius

Editors and former Editors

In celebration of the 80th issue of the Clean Air Journal (CAJ) it is worth looking back on where the Journal started and where it provides value to the African air quality research, and air quality management communities.

The first issue of the CAJ was published in 1971 when air quality management was governed in South Africa by the newly promulgated Air Pollution Prevention Act (APPA) of 1965. The first articles published largely focused on the difficulties of coming to terms and complying with a new regime of air quality management. The lead article by the Chief Air Pollution Control Officer (Boegman, 1971) described the difficulties in implementing the APPA. Difficulties in the implementation of smoke control programmes were discussed (Tucker, 1971) while the occupational health concerns of air pollution in South African industrial settings were discussed by the State Health Department (van Rooyen, 1971). On a more optimistic note, the manager of the Vegetation Unit of the Chamber of Mines opined on how the covering of the mine dumps around Johannesburg would provide valuable open space for recreation and other activities (Cook, 1971). These themes of implementing an air quality management regime, addressing the technical aspects of means of reducing air pollution, and the health and environmental impacts of air pollution have continued through the last 80 issues.

The CAJ has in 80 issues (over nearly 50 years) provided a space to engage with the major air quality management issues in South Africa, and has served as a vehicle for the air quality research and management communities to discuss their findings, raise questions and build their knowledge. The CAJ has been able to maintain a high quality of publications from its earliest editions. This has all been done through the voluntary work of a small number of editors, the efforts of the research and management communities, and the dedication of reviewers.

We have recently focused on increasing the visibility and number of articles published, and on ensuring the quality of the articles published. This has been done through improving the publication procedures and has been rewarded through recognition by SCOPUS, SciELO-SA and the DHET. These are achievements of which we are immensely proud.

Moving forward, the scope of the CAJ has broadened to a continental focus. Across the continent, there is a tremendous amount of development with high rates of economic growth and rapid urbanisation. This presents an opportunity for a Journal that is based in Africa and that is focused on the air quality concerns and needs of the African continent.

References

Boegman, N. (1971) 'Problems in the application of Part II of the Atmospheric Pollution Prevention Act (45), 1965', Clean Air Journal, 1(1), pp. 9-11.         [ Links ]

Cook, B. (1971) 'Growing vegetation on mine residue dumps', Clean Air Journal = Tydskrif vir Skoon Lug, 1(1), pp. 21-26.         [ Links ]

Rooyen, V. (1971) 'Atmospheric Pollution in special Environments', Clean Air Journal = Tydskrif vir Skoon Lug, 1(1), pp. 27-33.         [ Links ]

Tucker, L. E. (1971) 'Practical difficulties in implementing a smoke control programme', Clean Air Journal, 1(1), pp. 12-20.         [ Links ]