Bacteria, the smallest and most abundant organisms on Earth, play crucial roles in shaping our planet's ecosystems and influencing human health. This paper delves into the diverse world of bacteria, exploring their structure, function, ecological significance, and impact on human life. Through this exploration, we gain a deeper understanding of the intricate relationships between bacteria and the world around us.

1. Comparison of micro-pollutants
presence in final treated effluents
among 17 wastewater treatment plants
around Tshwane municipal area
BY: CHIRWA NF
SUPERVISOR: SELALA MC

2. INTRODUCTION
• Pharmaceuticals are a milestone in human health
and scientific development
• They are considered as “compounds of emerging
concern” and are a major cause of concern
worldwide (Couto et al., 2019)
• Their prevalence is attributed to various human-
induced factors
• One of which is the ineffectiveness of the
removal process from the final treated effluent
(Botero-Coy et al., 2018

3. SOURCES OF
PHARMACEUTICALS
Pharmaceuticals
enter the
environment as a
result of human
activity:
• Through human excretion
• Flushing unwanted, unused, or expired medications
(Daughton & Ruhoy, 2008)
• Design and large-scale production of medications through
wastewater effluent (Daughton & Ruhoy, 2008)
• Animal excretion through large-scale livestock and
aquaculture farming practices (Gunnarsson, et al)

4. MICRO-POLLUTANTS OF INTEREST
Pesticide Analgesics, anti-
inflammatory
drugs
Human and
veterinary
antibiotics
Personal care
products
Carbamates Ibuprofen Trimethoprim Fragrances (polycyclic
and macrocyclic
musks)
Organophosphates Paracetamol Erytromycine Sun-screen agents
(Benzophenone)
Pyrethroid Codein Amoxicillin Insect repellents(N,N-
diethyltoluamide)

5. HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS
ASSOCIATED WITH EMERGING
POLLUTANTS

6. AIMS AND
OBJECTIVES
• To determine pharmaceutical metabolites from treated effluent
wastewater using passive polar organic chemical integrative
sampler method
• To study the effectiveness of the clearance of pharmaceutical
metabolites from treated effluent wastewater
• To determine the most prominent metabolites and their parent
compound in treated wastewater effluent

7. STUDY SITE DESCRIPTION
We received
permission to
undertake research at
any of the City of
Tshwane’s Waste
Water Treatment
Works.
Image source: Google maps

8. METHODOLOGY
Disk containing
absorbent between
two layers of
plankton net
Plankton net
Disk
Plankton net
with resin
STEP 1:
Preparation

9. STEP 2:
ACTIVATION
OF DISKS

10. STEP 3:
PASSIVE
UPTAKE OF
TOXINS BY
ADSORBENT

11. DATA
ANALYSIS
• The results will inform us on
pharmaceuticals and personal
care products different
community are most exposed to
• The results will also provide us
with the rate of usage of certain
elicit drugs, and what they are
• They will also indicate how the
industry around
communities(such as hospitals,
manufacturing plants and farms)
affect the water ways.

12. BIAS Bias towards only a
selected few micro-
pollutants
Bias towards an expected
reading/results

13. EXPECTED
CONTRIBUTION TO
KNOWLEDGE
• This study will attempt to
identify and compare the most
prevailing metabolites released
from treated wastewater
effluent and investigate the
potential risk they pose to
freshwater water ecology
system.

14. REFERENCES
• Couto, C.F., Lange, L.C., Amaral, M.C.S., 2019. Occurrence, fate and removal
of pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) in water and wastewater
treatment plants. A Review. J. Water Proc. Eng. 32 (100927), 1–17.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j. jwpe.2019.100927.
• Botero-Coy, A.M., Martínez-Pachon, ´ D., Rincon, ´ R.J., Castillo, N., Arias-
Marín, L.P., Manrique-Losada, L., Torre-Palma, R., Moncayo-Lasso, A.,
Hern´andez, F., 2018 . An investigation into the occurrence and removal of
pharmaceuticals in Colombian wastewater. Sci. Total Environ. 642, 842–853.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.
• Daughton, C. G., & Ruhoy, I. S. (2009). Environmental footprint of
pharmaceuticals: The significance of factors beyond direct excretion to sewers.
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 28(12), 2495–2521. doi:10.1897/08-
382.1 PMID:19382823
• Bound, J. P., & Voulvoulis, N. (2004). Pharmaceuticals in the aquatic
environment—a comparison of risk assessment strategies. Chemosphere,
56(11), 1143–1155. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2004.05.010 PMID:15276728