DDT water contamination and the impact on water quality access in Africa in relation to human health risks

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dc.contributor.advisorDalvie, Aqiel
dc.contributor.advisorAbrams, Amber
dc.contributor.authorMakgoba, Lethabo
dc.date.accessioned2026-04-14T08:39:42Z
dc.date.available2026-04-14T08:39:42Z
dc.date.issued2023
dc.date.updated2026-04-14T08:29:05Z
dc.description.abstractDDT usage is prohibited in developed nations but exempted for use in indoor residual spraying (IRS) in developing countries, including African countries. No previous review of DDT residues in water resources has been conducted before in Africa. The study aimed to provide a review of available research investigating the levels of DDT residues in water sources in Africa and to assess the consequent human health risks. A scoping review of published studies conducted in Africa was facilitated through an extensive electronic search using PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCO HOST, and Scopus. A total of 20 articles were reviewed. The DDT concentrations varied between no detection to 81. 2 µg/l, with 35% of the studies having found DDT concentrations that exceeded the WHO drinking water guideline of 1 µg/l, in the sampled water sources. South Africa (81. 2 µg/l) and Egypt (5.62 µg/l) had the highest DDT concentrations in the sampled water sources. DDT levels were found to be higher during the wet season. Moreover, water from taps, rivers, reservoirs, estuaries, wells, and boreholes containing DDT residues was used to provide drinking water. Five studies conducted health risk assessments, and two studies found cancer risk values that exceeded the permissible limits in water sampled from sources that were used as a source of drinking water. Contrastingly, the non-carcinogenic risk values in the studies were below a hazard quotient of 1. DDT residues were detected throughout the year in African water systems. In conclusion, evidence of risks to human health was found as the concentration of DDT residues exceeded the WHO drinking water guidelines and/or cancer risk permissible limits in sampled drinking sources in African water systems. Alternative methods for malaria vector control should be investigated. Larger studies that include risk assessments and seasonal monitoring of DDT residues in multiple water sources are recommended.
dc.identifier.apacitationMakgoba, L. (2023). <i>DDT water contamination and the impact on water quality access in Africa in relation to human health risks</i>. (). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Public Health and Family Medicine. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43091en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationMakgoba, Lethabo. <i>"DDT water contamination and the impact on water quality access in Africa in relation to human health risks."</i> ., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Public Health and Family Medicine, 2023. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43091en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationMakgoba, L. 2023. DDT water contamination and the impact on water quality access in Africa in relation to human health risks. . University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Public Health and Family Medicine. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43091en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Makgoba, Lethabo AB - DDT usage is prohibited in developed nations but exempted for use in indoor residual spraying (IRS) in developing countries, including African countries. No previous review of DDT residues in water resources has been conducted before in Africa. The study aimed to provide a review of available research investigating the levels of DDT residues in water sources in Africa and to assess the consequent human health risks. A scoping review of published studies conducted in Africa was facilitated through an extensive electronic search using PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCO HOST, and Scopus. A total of 20 articles were reviewed. The DDT concentrations varied between no detection to 81. 2 µg/l, with 35% of the studies having found DDT concentrations that exceeded the WHO drinking water guideline of 1 µg/l, in the sampled water sources. South Africa (81. 2 µg/l) and Egypt (5.62 µg/l) had the highest DDT concentrations in the sampled water sources. DDT levels were found to be higher during the wet season. Moreover, water from taps, rivers, reservoirs, estuaries, wells, and boreholes containing DDT residues was used to provide drinking water. Five studies conducted health risk assessments, and two studies found cancer risk values that exceeded the permissible limits in water sampled from sources that were used as a source of drinking water. Contrastingly, the non-carcinogenic risk values in the studies were below a hazard quotient of 1. DDT residues were detected throughout the year in African water systems. In conclusion, evidence of risks to human health was found as the concentration of DDT residues exceeded the WHO drinking water guidelines and/or cancer risk permissible limits in sampled drinking sources in African water systems. Alternative methods for malaria vector control should be investigated. Larger studies that include risk assessments and seasonal monitoring of DDT residues in multiple water sources are recommended. DA - 2023 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - DDT water KW - Africa KW - human risks LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2023 T1 - DDT water contamination and the impact on water quality access in Africa in relation to human health risks TI - DDT water contamination and the impact on water quality access in Africa in relation to human health risks UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43091 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/43091
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationMakgoba L. DDT water contamination and the impact on water quality access in Africa in relation to human health risks. []. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Public Health and Family Medicine, 2023 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43091en_ZA
dc.language.isoen
dc.language.rfc3066eng
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Public Health and Family Medicine
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Health Sciences
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subjectDDT water
dc.subjectAfrica
dc.subjecthuman risks
dc.titleDDT water contamination and the impact on water quality access in Africa in relation to human health risks
dc.typeThesis / Dissertation
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
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