Discipline of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Westville Campus), Private Bag X54001, Durban, 4000, Republic of South Africa,
Environ Monit Assess. 2014 Apr;186(4):2629-39. doi: 10.1007/s10661-013-3566-8. Epub 2013 Dec 13.
We assessed the effects of seasonal dynamics on the physico-chemical qualities and heavy metals concentrations of the Umgeni and Umdloti Rivers in Durban, South Africa. Water samples were taken from nine different sampling points and analysed for the following parameters; temperature, pH, turbidity, electrical conductivity (EC), biological oxygen demand (BOD5), chemical oxygen demand (COD), phosphate (PO4(2-)), nitrate (NO3(2-)), ammonium (NH4(+)), sulphate (SO4(2-)), lead (Pb(2+)), mercury (Hg(2+)), cadmium (Cd(2+)), aluminium (Al(3+)), and copper (Cu(2+)) using standard methods. The data showed variations it terms of the seasonal fluctuations and sampling regime as follows: temperature 12-26.5 °C; pH 5.96-8.45; turbidity 0.53-18.8 NTU; EC 15.8-5180 mS m(-1); BOD5 0.60-7.32 mg L(-1); COD 10.5-72.9 mg L(-1); PO4 (2-) < 500-2,460 μg L(-1); NO3 (2-) <0.05-4.21 mg L(-1); NH4 (+) < 0.5-1.22 mg L(-1); SO4 (2-) 3.90-2,762 mg L(-1); Pb(2+) 0.023-0.135 mg L(-1); Hg(2+) 0.0122-0.1231 mg L(-1) Cd(2+) 0.068-0.416 mg L(-1); Al(3+) 0.037-1.875 mg L(-1), and Cu(2+)0.006-0.144 mg L(-1). The concentrations of most of the investigated parameters exceeded the recommended limit of the South African Guidelines and World Health Organization tolerance limits for freshwater quality. We conclude that these water bodies are potentially hazardous to public health and this highlights the need for implementation of improved management strategies of these river catchments for continued sustainability.
我们评估了季节性动态对南非德班乌姆根尼河和乌姆达洛蒂河理化质量和重金属浓度的影响。从九个不同的采样点采集水样，并分析以下参数：温度、pH 值、浊度、电导率 (EC)、生化需氧量 (BOD5)、化学需氧量 (COD)、磷酸盐 (PO4(2-))、硝酸盐 (NO3(2-))、铵 (NH4(+))、硫酸盐 (SO4(2-))、铅 (Pb(2+))、汞 (Hg(2+))、镉 (Cd(2+))、铝 (Al(3+))和铜 (Cu(2+))，使用标准方法。数据显示，在季节性波动和采样方案方面存在差异：温度 12-26.5°C；pH 值 5.96-8.45；浊度 0.53-18.8 NTU；EC 值 15.8-5180 mS m(-1)；BOD5 值 0.60-7.32 mg L(-1)；COD 值 10.5-72.9 mg L(-1)；PO4 (2-) <500-2460 μg L(-1)；NO3 (2-) <0.05-4.21 mg L(-1)；NH4 (+) <0.5-1.22 mg L(-1)；SO4 (2-) 值 3.90-2762 mg L(-1)；Pb(2+) 值 0.023-0.135 mg L(-1)；Hg(2+) 值 0.0122-0.1231 mg L(-1)；Cd(2+) 值 0.068-0.416 mg L(-1)；Al(3+) 值 0.037-1.875 mg L(-1)；Cu(2+) 值 0.006-0.144 mg L(-1)。大多数调查参数的浓度超过了南非指南和世界卫生组织淡水质量容忍限值的推荐限值。我们得出的结论是，这些水体对公众健康具有潜在危害，这凸显了需要实施改进的管理策略，以持续可持续性来管理这些河流流域。
