The state of persistent organic pollutants in South African estuaries: A review of environmental exposure and sources

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety

Janine B. Adams¹  Gletwyn Rubidge²  Chijioke Olisah³ 

[1] DSI/NRF Research Chair in Shallow Water Ecosystem, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa;Department of Chemistry, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa;Department of Botany and the Institute for Coastal and Marine Research, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa;

关键词: Estuarine systems;    Environmental management;    Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs);    Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs);    Polybrominated diphenyls (PBDEs);    Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs);   

DOI  :  

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

The long-term health of many South African estuaries is impacted by pollutants entering these systems through industrial and agricultural runoff, sewage outfalls, contaminated storm water drainage, flows from informal settlements, and plastic materials in marine debris. Uncontrolled inputs combined with poor environmental management often result in elevated levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in affected estuaries. Data on POPs research from 1960 to 2020 were analysed in terms of their sources, environmental investigations, and health implications. The outcome showed polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and per- and poly-fluoroalkyl sulphonates (PFASs) to exceed the US EPA health advisory levels for drinking water. Concentration of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in water were below the WHO limits, while those in fish tissues from most estuaries were found to be below the US FDA limits. Although environmental compartments in some estuaries (e.g. Rooiels and uMngeni estuaries) seem to be less contaminated relative to other marine systems around the world, many others were polluted and critically modified (e.g. Durban Bay, Swartkops, Sundays, and Buffalo systems). Due to inconsistent monitoring methods coupled with limited data availability, temporal trends were unclear. Of the 290 estuaries in South Africa, 65 were prioritised and recommended for POPs evaluation based on their pollution sources, and a monitoring strategy was defined in terms of sampling. Government policies to curb marine pollution need to be enforced to prevent chronic contamination that leads to water quality deterioration and loss of ecosystem services.

【 授权许可】

Unknown