The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has assured the public that the presence of anti-retroviral (ARV) residues in drinking water poses no health risk and cannot result in HIV transmission.
This comes as a study conducted by the North West University (NWU) found measurable levels of ARV residues in some of the country’s water sources.
RESIDUES OF ARVS FOUND IN WATER SOURCES IN SOUTH AFRICA
The report by the NWU’s Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management and the Africa Unit for Transdisciplinary Health Research, titled “Quantification, Fate, and Hazard Assessment of HIV-ARVs in Water Resources“, revealed that ARVs are entering the water supply primarily through municipal wastewater treatment systems.
As per the study, the most detected ARVs included lopinavir and efavirenz, with concentrations at some sites far exceeding global norms.
The study found that concentrations of ARVs in some water sources exceeded acceptable thresholds, posing potential long-term health risks to humans, and the team emphasised that the current wastewater treatment processes are inadequate for removing these bioactive compounds, highlighting the need for technological advancements.
Higher concentrations of traces of ARVs were found downstream of wastewater treatment plants. This means that the municipal wastewater treatment works are not removing them, because most existing wastewater treatment works have not been designed to remove contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), the Department of Water and Sanitation, together with the Water Research Commission, said in a joint statement.
Low concentrations of ARVs were found in some of the drinking water samples. There is a possibility that high concentrations of ARVs in sewage or municipal wastewater might reduce the effectiveness of the wastewater treatment works in removing bacteria from the wastewater. Further research is required in this regard.
‘THE PRESENCE OF RESIDUES IS HARMLESS’
Following concerns, the Department of Water and Sanitation and the Water Research Commission have clarified that the presence of ARV residues in drinking water is harmless, “although prolonged exposure to the broader population may lead to antimicrobial resistance, a subject of ongoing research. Pharmaceuticals such as ARVs are drugs used to treat diseases – they do not cause diseases. Therefore, the presence of traces of ARVs in the water will not result in people contracting HIV.”
“At present, there is limited knowledge of environmental toxicity, potential adverse effects on ecosystems, and viral resistance of these compounds. The study did not find any ARVs in fish.”
CECs ARE A CONCERN GLOBALLY
According to DWS, the issue of contaminants of emerging concern in water not only affects South Africa but is a growing global problem and area of attention around the world.
Globally, the level of CEC compounds in water is generally not yet regulated. This is partly due to their presence often being below water quality detection limits. However, due to their continuous production, lack of appropriate disposal, constant input into the environment and presence in water resources, albeit in small concentrations, there is now increasing global research into the issue.
“Traces of pharmaceuticals, microplastics, and other such CECs that have been found in water resources in South Africa are tiny quantities, measured in nanograms (one billionth of a gram). Conventional water and wastewater treatment technologies are designed to remove much larger contaminants, such as particles of faeces and bacteria,” the department added.
DO YOU STILL DRINK TAP WATER SUPPLIED B Y YOUR LOCAL MUNICIPALITY IS SAFE FOR CONSUMPTION OR DO YOU BUY BOTTLED WATER?
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