Determinants of Solid Fuel Use and Emission Risks among Households: Insights from Limpopo, South Africa.

Emissions from residential solid fuels reduce ambient air quality and cause indoor air pollution resulting in adverse human health. The traditional solid fuels used for cooking include coal, straws, dung, and wood, with the latter identified as the prevalent energy source in developing countries. Emissions from such fuel sources appear to be significant hazards and risk factors for asthma and other respiratory diseases.

Geochemical characterization and assessment of fluoride sources in groundwater of Siloam area, Limpopo Province, South Africa.

Siloam's groundwater is reportedly characterized by high fluoride. In response to the reported high incidence of dental fluorosis in the area, sources of elevated fluoride in the groundwater were investigated. Total fluoride (TF) was determined using Ion Chromatograph and Fluoride Ion Selective Electrode.

Water Quality Assessment and Evaluation of Human Health Risk in Mutangwi River, Limpopo Province, South Africa.

Freshwater supply is essential to life on Earth; however, land use activities such as mining and agriculture pose a significant danger to freshwater resources and the wellbeing of aquatic environments. This study temporarily assesses the water quality characteristics of Mutangwi River. Physicochemical parameters (pH, temperature, total dissolved solids (TDS), salinity, electrical conductivity (EC), and turbidity) were determined in situ using an Extech multimeter and turbidity meter.

Assessment of selected trace metals in fish feeds, pond water and edible muscles of and the evaluation of human health risk associated with its consumption in Vhembe district of Limpopo Province, South Africa.

Fish is a rich source of proteins for humans and is widely consumed in various places in the world. This study assessed the levels of twenty trace metals (B, Al, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Sr, Mo, Cd, Sn, Sb, Ba, Hg and Pb) in fish feeds (n = 2), water (n = 27), and edible muscles of (n = 20 from 8 ponds) from fish farms and Luvuvhu River (n = 3 from 1 river site) in Vhembe district of Limpopo Province, South Africa. Physicochemical parameters of water in the study area were analysed.

Investigating the chromium status, heavy metal contamination, and ecological risk assessment via tannery waste disposal in sub-Saharan Africa (Kenya and South Africa).

To mitigate the negative environmental and public health concerns associated with increased industrial discharges amid the rapid industrial growth, sub-Saharan African countries have instituted several environmental regulations and policies. However, a paradox of good environmental policies but inadequate enforcement exists in most of these countries, with information on the pollution level unknown due to poor monitoring resources. In this study, potentially toxic heavy metal contamination and physicochemical characteristics in effluents and dumpsite soils of two tanneries in Kenya (DB) and South Africa (BO) were evaluated during the dry and rainy season of 2018.

Evaluation of contaminants removal by waste stabilization ponds: A case study of Siloam WSPs in Vhembe District, South Africa.

Waste stabilization ponds (WSPs) are widely used for wastewater management owing to the simplicity of their design, low cost and the use of low-skilled operators. This study was carried out to assess the efficiency of a WSP system in reducing the levels of contaminants in hospital wastewater in a rural area of South Africa and to evaluate the current management of the WSP system. Sampling was conducted monthly from January to June 2014.

Green Synthesis of Mycometabolites: A Review on Aqueous Extraction and Bioactivities.

A significant knowledge gap currently exists in the literature on the emerging interventions and bioactivity of aqueous extracts of mushrooms. Different solvents and techniques used in the extraction of mushroom metabolites have been discussed. Here, data obtained were analyzed using Microsoft Excel and presented in charts.

Health Risks and Potential Sources of Contamination of Groundwater Used by Public Schools in Vhuronga 1, Limpopo Province, South Africa.

Public schools in most rural areas of South Africa depend on untreated groundwater due to unreliable water supply by the municipalities. This has the potential to cause water-related health problems to school children. Temperature, pH, and electrical conductivity (EC) were measured in situ.

Occurrence and Health-Risk Assessment of Trace Metals in Geothermal Springs within Soutpansberg, Limpopo Province, South Africa.

Geothermal springs are natural geological phenomena that occur throughout the world. South Africa is blessed with several springs of this nature. Limpopo province contains 31% of all geothermal springs in the country.

The Equilibrium, Kinetics, and Thermodynamics Studies of the Sorption of Methylene Blue from Aqueous Solution Using Pulverized Raw Macadamia Nut Shells.

In this study, the potential for pulverized raw macadamia nut shell (MNS) for the sequestration of methylene blue from aqueous media was assessed. The sorbent was characterized using scanning electron microscopy for surface morphology, functional group analysis was performed with a Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer (FT-IR), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) isotherm was used for surface area elucidation. The effects of contact time, sorbent dosage, particle size, pH, and change in a solution matrix were studied.

A review on the potential sources and health implications of fluoride in groundwater of Sub-Saharan Africa.

Groundwater is a major source of drinking water for millions of people around the world. Over 400 million people in Africa depend solely on it as their main source of water supply. Fluoride is a common contaminant in groundwater.

Modeling landfill gas potential and potential energy recovery from Thohoyandou landfill site, South Africa.

Unlabelled: The increase in solid waste generation has been a major contributor to the amount of Greenhouse gases (GHGs) present in the atmosphere. To some extent, a great chunk of these GHGs in the atmosphere is from landfill. This study assesses two theoretical models (LandGEM and Afvalzorg models) to estimate the amount of landfill gas (LFG) emitted from Thohoyandou landfill site.

The Potential Health Risk Associated with Edible Vegetables Grown on Cr(VI) Polluted Soils.

This study reports on the assessment of the growth potential of five edible vegetables, which were grown in Cr(VI) spiked soils. The vegetable plants that were used in this study were , , , and . Dried ground samples from roots, stems and leaves were analysed for various oxidation states of Cr.

Influence of Selective Conditions on Various Composite Sorbents for Enhanced Removal of Copper (II) Ions from Aqueous Environments.

Numerous pollutants, including dyes, heavy metals, pesticides, and microorganisms, are found in wastewater and have great consequences when discharged onto natural freshwater sources. Heavy metals are predominantly reported in wastewater. Heavy metals are persistent, non-biodegradable and toxic, transforming from a less toxic form to more toxic forms in environmental media under favourable conditions.

Characterization of pulverized Marula seed husk and its potential for the sequestration of methylene blue from aqueous solution.

Dyes are ranked as an important class of pollutants which affect the aesthetic property of the environment when present even in very low concentrations. This study was carried out to explore the potential use of an agricultural waste (Marula seed husk) to decontaminate methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solution. The effect of change in water chemistry was also examined.

Vadose zone infiltration and its implication for groundwater contamination risk assessment in Siloam village, Limpopo province, South Africa.

Risk assessment methods and approaches are useful for environmental planning and decision-making when dealing with risk identification and reduction in a changing global context. This is particularly true for arid and semi-arid regions, such as Siloam village, Limpopo province, South Africa, where it is a common practice to apply fertilisers to the soil during planting season for increasing crop yield. Estimates of vadose zone soil moisture fluxes were used to determine the likelihood of applied agricultural fertilisers to reach the groundwater table.

Greenhouse gas emissions as sustainability indicators in agricultural sectors' adaptation to climate change: Policy implications.

Effective adaptation action to climate change requires a balance between reducing vulnerabilities and managing risks. However, in most adaptation actions, risks such as greenhouse gas emissions, and those that impose negative externalities on global communities and ecosystems, are often overlooked. This article contextualises adaptation of maize stover (MS) as a dairy cattle feed among resource-poor farmers in western Kenya.

Health and Environmental Risks of Residents Living Close to a Landfill: A Case Study of Thohoyandou Landfill, Limpopo Province, South Africa.

The by-products of solid waste deposited in a landfill has adverse effects on the surrounding environment and humans living closer to landfill sites. This study sought to test the hypothesis that the deposition of waste on landfill has an impact on the surrounding environment and residents living closer to it. This was achieved by evaluating the perception of the respondents drawn from people living close (100-500 m) and far (1-2 km) from the landfill site, concerning environmental issues, health problems, and life satisfaction.

Physico-Chemical Analysis of Wastewater Discharge from Selected Paint Industries in Lagos, Nigeria.

Effluents from the paint industry have been a major source of environmental pollution. There is a need to investigate the compliance of wastewater discharged from paint industries with regulatory standards. In response, this study evaluates the physicochemical parameters of both raw and treated wastewater, the wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) efficiencies as well as the compliance level of five selected paint manufacturing companies in Lagos, Nigeria with some regulatory standards: Federal Ministry of Environment (FME) in Nigeria, World Health Organization (WHO) and Department of Water Affairs (DWA) in South Africa.

Challenges to Sustainable Safe Drinking Water: A Case Study of Water Quality and Use across Seasons in Rural Communities in Limpopo Province, South Africa.

Consumption of microbial-contaminated water can result in diarrheal illnesses and enteropathy with the heaviest impact upon children below the age of five. We aimed to provide a comprehensive analysis of water quality in a low-resource setting in Limpopo province, South Africa. Surveys were conducted in 405 households in rural communities of Limpopo province to determine their water-use practices, perceptions of water quality, and household water-treatment methods.

Evaluation of Microbiological and Physicochemical Parameters of Alternative Source of Drinking Water: A Case Study of Nzhelele River, South Africa.

Background: Access to clean and safe drinking water is still a problem in developing countries and more pronounced in rural areas. Due to erratic supply of potable, rural dwellers often seek for an alternative source of water to meet their basic water needs. The objective of this study is to monitor the microbiological and physicochemical water quality parameters of Nzhelele River which is a major alternative source of drinking water to villages along its course in Limpopo province of South Africa.

Chemical and Microbial Quality of Groundwater in Siloam Village, Implications to Human Health and Sources of Contamination.

Due to inaccessibility of potable water, rural communities drill boreholes within their homesteads despite vulnerability to groundwater contamination and associated health risks. This study assessed the quality of groundwater, identified potential sources of contamination and potential human health risks in Siloam Village, South Africa. Statistical difference between similar water quality parameters at different sites was determined at a significance level (α) of 0.

Evaluation of water quality and human risk assessment due to heavy metals in groundwater around Muledane area of Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South Africa.

Groundwater is considered as good alternative to potable water because of its low turbidity and perceived low contamination. The study assessed the physio-chemical and heavy metals concentrations in eight randomly selected boreholes water at Muledane village in Limpopo Province of South Africa and the results were compared with South African National standard permissible limit. The impacts of heavy metals on human health was further determined by performing quantitative risk assessment through ingestion and dermal adsorption of heavy metals separately for adults and children in order to estimate the magnitude of heavy metals in the borehole samples.

Determination and Distribution of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Rivers, Sediments and Wastewater Effluents in Vhembe District, South Africa.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are very toxic and persistent environmental contaminants. This study was undertaken to assess the concentrations and possible sources of 16 PAHs (Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) classified by the United State Environmental Protection Agency as priority pollutants in water and sediments of the Mvudi and Nzhelele Rivers. Effluents from Thohoyandou wastewater treatment plant and Siloam waste stabilization ponds were also investigated.