A recent study has detected traces of anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs in South Africa’s drinking water but the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has assured the public that the findings pose no health risk and cannot lead to HIV transmission.
The study, commissioned by the Water Research Commission (WRC) and conducted by North West University, found measurable concentrations of ARVs such as lopinavir and efavirenz in water samples taken from rivers and municipal sources.
It said these compounds are entering the water supply through wastewater treatment systems, which were not originally designed to remove pharmaceutical residues.
The report, titled Quantification, Fate and Hazard Assessment of HIV-ARVs in Water Resources, is part of a broader investigation into contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), which include microplastics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals that could potentially pose risks to human health and the environment.
The most frequently detected compound was fluconazole, followed by nevirapine and efavirenz although nearly all concentrations were below quantification limits.
Despite some concentrations exceeding global norms, the DWS noted that the detected levels – measured in nanograms per litre – are extremely low and harmless to humans.
“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,” the department said in a joint statement with the WRC.
While no immediate health risks were identified, experts caution that prolonged exposure to pharmaceutical residues may contribute to antimicrobial resistance, a subject of ongoing research.
The DWS said it will continue to monitor water quality through its Blue and Green Drop programmes, and pledged to work with researchers to explore advanced treatment technologies for removing trace contaminants.
JN/APA