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Klip River, Gauteng.
A researcher at the University of Johannesburg has expressed concerns about the impact on human health of high levels of cancer-causing chemicals in the Klip River.
A study led by Dr. Mathapelo Seopela has identified high concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the river, a crucial water source in Gauteng. This poses a significant threat to aquatic life, livestock, and human health.
Dr Seopela has called on the government to improve its waste management services and to put better measures in place.
“But also, at the same time, it would be good for the Department of Water Affairs as well as the Department of Environment to also start looking at how are we doing with monitoring in the environment as well. Are we just looking at basic water quality perimeters or are we expanding our contaminant list to include emerging contaminants, which we have seen have very toxic effects even at very low concentration?,” says Seopela.
