Abstract
Emerging chemical pollutants (ECPs) are defined as new chemicals which do not have a regulatory status, but which may have an adverse effect on human health and the environment. The occurrence and concentrations of ECPs in South African water bodies are largely unknown, so monitoring is required in order to determine the potential threat that these ECPs may pose. Relevant surface water sampling sites in the Gauteng Province of South Africa were identified utilising a geographic information system (GIS). The sites were identified by identifying potential sources of ECPs, including hospitals and clinics, sewage treatment plants, and areas with high population densities or areas that were vulnerable from an environmental point of view. Buffers were drawn around these areas to identify the water sources which have the highest probability of containing ECPs. Areas along the Klip River were identified as having a high likelihood of containing both anthropogenic ECPs and agricultural ECPs. Additionally, sections of the Hennops River were likely to contain anthropogenic ECPs, while the Blesbokspruit area had a high likelihood of containing agricultural ECPs.
Highlights
Challenges in terms of water quality and quantity can be expected throughout the 21st century (Jackson, et al 2005)
A holistic, multi-disciplinary approach is recommended to evaluate the potential threats posed by emerging chemical pollutants (ECPs) and with respect to the removal of these pollutants from a specific environment (Gavrilescu et al 2014)
The sites identified were located along the Klip River, Hennops River and in the Blesbokspruit area
Summary
Challenges in terms of water quality and quantity can be expected throughout the 21st century (Jackson, et al 2005). The development of novel chemicals is no exception to this statement as they hold benefits in fields such as agriculture (in the form of pesticides) or human health (in the form of pharmaceuticals). These novel and useful chemicals can have unintended negative effects if they end up in the environment, especially in water resources, after they have fulfilled their initial purpose. When these chemicals enter the natural environment they become known as emerging chemical pollutants (ECPs). ECPs have been defined to include regulated chemicals such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), as they can cause endocrine disruption (Diamond et al 2011)
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