Endocrine disruptive activity and occurrence of pharmaceuticals and viral content in selected water sources in Melusi, Pretoria

Abstract

The quality of drinking water is a global concern. The increase in ineffective Waste Water Treatment Plants (WWTP) and increased human activity contribute to water pollution, resulting in adverse health effects in various populations dependent on these water sources. Water sources are often contaminated with chemicals and pollutants, some of which have endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) properties. The p study site Melusi is a non-sewage informal settlement in Pretoria North, home to over 3000 inhabitants, dependent on external water sources for daily water use and consumption. Thus it is imperative to screen water contaminants, particularly EDCs, to protect the drinking water source and decontamination to ensure drinking water supply security and resilience. This study aimed to determine the occurrence of endocrine-disrupting chemicals, pharmaceuticals and viral content in drinking water sources and WWTP in Melusi, Pretoria. The study is novel in that although these contaminants have been noted in an array of literature; however, not much has been reported in a South African context. Thus the results are critical to investigating the extent of the problem from these contaminants.