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The concentrations, distribution and health risk assessment of suspected endocrine disrupting chemicals (phenols, phthalates and heavy metals) in freshwater systems of Cape Town, South Africa

Thesis (DTech (Environmental Health))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2012. / Environmental pollution with persistent organic chemicals and inorganic trace metals is
an increasingly important issue. Recently, a variety of chemicals are introduced in a very large
scale on the surface water network. The main pathway of these pollutants into the environment
was identified as wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). The extended use of chemicals in many
product formulations and insufficient WWTPs has lead to an increase in the levels of the detected
micro-pollutants wastewater effluents. The majority of these compounds are characterized by a
rather poor biodegradability. A large spectrum of pollutants present in waste as traces has been
reported to exert adverse effects on human and wildlife. Even though compounds are found in
wastewater in a very small amount, they may have the undesirable capability of initiating health
effect on various high forms of life.
This survey constitutes the first study in the City of Cape Town to report data for a
variety of priority substances (phenols and phthalate esters) in WWTP effluents and receiving
rivers. These results are of critical importance since the data generated are used to generate
potential health risk associated with both the organic and inorganic compounds analyzed.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:cput/oai:localhost:20.500.11838/2009
Date January 2012
CreatorsOlujimi, Olanrewaju Olusoji
ContributorsFakoti, Olalekan S., Prof, Odendaal, JP
PublisherCape Peninsula University of Technology
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis
Rightshttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/za/

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