Detecting the invisible: Encouraging results from study on emerging contaminants

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Water & human health Detecting the invisible: Encouraging results from study on emerging contaminants The Water Wheel March/April 201327 Emerging contaminants are becoming a worldwide concern as world authorities are grappling with the contaminating byproducts of our modern society. A study funded by the Water Research Commission (WRC) has tested the local waters for these previously elusive substances with encouraging results. Article by Lani van Vuuren. H umans have witnessed incredible progress in the modern era – our technologies are getting smarter, our beauty products are allowing us to remain beautiful and medical breakthroughs are making us live longer, healthier lives. But these developments come at a price. Pollutants which have erstwhile been undetected and are largely unregulated are now entering our water resources at levels that may be posing risks to human health and the aquatic environment. New detection and monitor ing methods are now allowing us to determine the potential risk of these emerging contaminants and monitor their levels in our water sources.

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