First Phase of an Endocrine Research Programme for South African Water Systems

2006 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
A.E.B Burger ◽  
A.P.M Moolman
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals ◽  
Research Programme ◽  
Water Systems ◽  
Limited Resources ◽  
Integrated Research ◽  
Endocrine Disrupting ◽  
The Status ◽  
Research Facilities ◽  
South African Water

This project was aimed to develop an integrated research programme for Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals(EDCs) for South African water systems. Although some research was conducted in South Africa, it was done at selected research facilities and was uncoordinated and fractionated. It was deemed in national interest to coordinate these efforts in an integrated research program in order to optimize the limited resources and maximize the information gathered in the integrated programme. This would lead to better knowledge and understanding of the status of contamination in the country and would lead to informed decisions by the governing bodies to manage the possible contamination. No information was available on the occurrence, frequency and magnitude of exposure to EDCs or the effect of EDCs on the human population and wildlife of the country. A research programme has been developed and a surveillance study done to determine the capability of the laboratories identified to participate in the programme and to determine the occurance of EDCs in selected water resources sites. EDC activity was detected at all sites and chemical analysis confirmed the presence of EDCs. In related studies EDC effects have been noticed in animals (Fish, birds and Eland). The need for an extended research programme at the WRC on EDCs was confirmed and recommendations were made for the future phases of the EDC research programme

Integrated research into estuarine management

1995 ◽  
Vol 32 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 79-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. H. Slinger ◽  
C. M. Breen
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Research Programme ◽  
Coastal Development ◽  
Integrated Modelling ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Integrated Research ◽  
Wise Decision ◽  
Sustainable Utilisation ◽  
Estuarine Management

Estuaries are under increasing pressure owing to agricultural, urban and industrial developments in their catchments and their status as favoured sites for coastal development and recreation. Effective research on South Africa estuaries requires the synthesis of available scientific knowledge to efficiently address management concerns and so ensure the sustainable utilisation of estuaries. The approach of the Consortium for Estuarine Research and Management to these problems and the results of a co-ordinated research programme on decision support for the management and conservation of estuarine systems are described in this paper. While the importance and current status of South African estuaries are considered, attention is devoted primarily to the development of an integrated modelling approach to the freshwater requirements of estuaries. In particular, the application of a linked system of five models to a case study, the Great Brak Estuary is described and the role of prediction in promoting wise decision making for estuaries is treated.

scholarly journals Establishing a mammalian cell culture which detects and semi-quantifies (anti-)androgen activity in the environment

2012 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
C.R. Swiegelaar ◽  
Rialet Pieters
Keyword(s):  
Cell Culture ◽  
South African ◽  
Reporter Gene ◽  
Mammalian Cell ◽  
Mammalian Cell Culture ◽  
Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals ◽  
Reporter Gene Assay ◽  
Aquatic System ◽  
Gene Assay ◽  
Endocrine Disrupting

There is evidence that the South African aquatic system isbeing polluted by endocrine disrupting chemicals. The aim of this study was to evaluate theeffectiveness of a reporter gene assay to determine (anti-) androgenic effects in the aquaticenvironment. Androgen activity was found in some of the samples tested.

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