Impact of informal settlements and wastewater treatment plants on helminth egg contamination of urban rivers and risks associated with exposure

Isaac Dennis Amoah; Sheena Kumari; Poovendhree Reddy; Thor Axel Stenström; Faizal Bux

doi:10.1007/s10661-020-08660-0

journal article Open Access Oct 19, 2020

Impact of informal settlements and wastewater treatment plants on helminth egg contamination of urban rivers and risks associated with exposure

Isaac Dennis Amoah

Sheena Kumari Poovendhree Reddy Thor Axel Stenström Faizal Bux

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Vol. 192 No. 11 · Springer Science and Business Media LLC

View at Publisher Save 10.1007/s10661-020-08660-0

Abstract

AbstractThe quality of surface water could be influenced by both anthropogenic and natural factors. This study was designed to determine the impact of informal settlement and wastewater treatment plants on helminth egg contamination of urban rivers and the risks associated with everyday use. We also ascertained the accumulation of these eggs in the river sediments. The study was carried out in two rivers in the eThekwini Municipality of South Africa. Grab samples were taken at different points over a 10-month period. Ascaris spp., hookworm, Toxocara spp., Trichuris spp. and Taenia spp. were the helminth eggs detected in both the water column and sediments, with mean Ascaris spp. eggs of 0–6.3 (± 5.1)/L in the water and 0–6.8 (± 5.2)/kg in sediment samples. The helminth egg concentrations showed seasonal variation, probably due to changes in infection levels of the populations or natural factors, such as rainfall. The informal settlements had a greater impact than treated wastewater. For every 10,000 recreational users of the rivers 19 to 58 may be infected under undisturbed conditions, increasing to 29–88 individuals when the riverbed is disturbed. The risk from agricultural use of the rivers was above the tolerable risk values applicable for wastewater reuse, recommended by the World Health Organization. This calls for a re-evaluation of the policies governing surface water quality assessment, where the inclusion of helminth eggs and sediment monitoring will be critical.

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Details

Published: Oct 19, 2020
Vol/Issue: 192(11)
License: View

Authors

Department of Community Health Studies, Durban University of Technology , Durban, South Africa

Institute for Water and Wastewater Technologies, Durban University of Technology, Durban 4001, South Africa

Funding

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Award: Grant Number: OPP1122681

Natinoal Research Foundation, ZA

Cite This Article

Isaac Dennis Amoah, Sheena Kumari, Poovendhree Reddy, et al. (2020). Impact of informal settlements and wastewater treatment plants on helminth egg contamination of urban rivers and risks associated with exposure. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 192(11). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-020-08660-0

Impact of informal settlements and wastewater treatment plants on helminth egg contamination of urban rivers and risks associated with exposure

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