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Overview of African water resources contamination by contaminants of emerging concern
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This review documented contamination of African water resources by pharmaceuticals, endocrine disruptors, pesticides, PFAS, and microplastics across all five continental regions, finding widespread contamination even in rural and groundwater sources. The authors highlighted major gaps in monitoring infrastructure and treatment capacity needed to protect African populations from these emerging contaminants.
This review look at several classes of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in conventional and non-conventional water resources across the African continent's five regions. According to the review, pharmaceuticals, endocrine-disrupting chemicals, personal care products, pesticides, per- and polyfluoroalkyl compounds, and microplastics were found in conventional and non-conventional water resources. Most conventional water resources, such as rivers, streams, lakes, wells, and boreholes, are used as drinking water sources. Non-conventional water sources, such as treated wastewater (effluents), are used for domestic and agricultural purposes. However, CECs remain part of the treated wastewater, which is being discharged to surface water or used for agriculture. Thus, wastewater (effluent) is the main contributor to the pollution of other water resources. For African countries, the prevalence of rising emerging pollutants in water poses a severe environmental threat. There are different adverse effects of CECs, including the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, ecotoxicological effects, and several endocrine disorders. Therefore, this needs the urgent attention of the African Union, policymakers, Non-Governmental Organizations, and researchers to come together and tackle the problem.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.