
In line with its commitment to contributing and improving the Northern Cape community, Sol Plaatje University (SPU) recently conducted ground-breaking research led by SPU Professor Nhamo Chaukura on emerging contaminants in wastewater in the Sol Plaatje Municipality.
The occurrence of emerging contaminants (ECs) in water bodies is a source of environmental and public health concern globally, and the majority of ECs are not routinely monitored and regulated. However, the university’s researchers found that wastewater in Sol Plaatje Municipality contained a wide variety of ECs, including pesticides, recreational drugs, and analgesics. These pollutants pose ecotoxicological risks to the environment and public health.
The findings of the study have far-reaching implications for the management and regulation of wastewater in the region. The researchers created a comprehensive database of ECs in wastewater in Sol Plaatje Municipality, which will be useful in selecting suitable monitoring and control strategies at wastewater treatment plants.
This research work was funded through a Multi/Inter/Trans (MIT) Disciplinary Research Seed Funding provided by the university and was published in a high-impact journal, Environmental Pollution (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120275), with impact factor 9.988.
This study underscores SPU’s commitment to improving the environment and public health in the region while advancing international scholarship.