About This Project

Pesticides and pharmaceuticals threaten land and coastal-marine ecosystems. This study focuses on regions with Agriculture and urban activities aiming to understand the sources of these micropollutants, their movement, and distribution within the environment. Through sampling and analysis, the land-to-sea movement of these micropollutants will be assessed and compare findings globally. The goal is to inform policies for sustainable management and protection of coastal ecosystems.

Ask the Scientists

What is the context of this research?

The increasing use of pesticides and pharmaceuticals worldwide and in South Africa particularly combined with inadequate wastewater treatment systems has raised concerns about the presence and impact of these micropollutants on the environment and human health. These micropollutants have been documented to have negative effects on both continental and marine (aquatic) ecosystems. Ojemaye et al (2019) on the occurrence of emerging pollutants highlighted the presence of micropollutants in the South African ecological environment. Many other authors have discussed the presence of these micropollutants in the environment (e.g., Chow et al, 2023; Chetty Mhlanga et al. 2021, etc)

What is the significance of this project?

The significance of the project include:

Understanding the source-to-sink dynamics of micropollutants through the environment. This knowledge is crucial for targeted management and mitigation efforts.

Filling Knowledge Gap: This research focusing on South Africa with unique Agricultural and urban pressures will contribute to a broader understanding of micropollutants on a global scale.

Policy Making: The Data generated and the results obtained can guide regulations on pesticide and pharmaceutical use, water treatment standards and procedures, as well as environmental monitoring policies.

What are the goals of the project?

The goals of the project include:

Quantifying the concentrations of micropollutants (Pesticides and pharmaceuticals) in water, sediments and fish samples.

Understanding the transport fate of the micropollutants through mapping the transport pathways by identifying the pollution sources and dispersal mechanisms.

Global context and policy implications: Findings will be compared to international trends and potential lessons will be recommended in the way of policy to the South African context.