Investigating emerging contaminants in dams from the Vhembe District in Limpopo and, for the first time, in the Orlando Dam, Gauteng Province, South Africa

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), including certain organophosphate pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and metals, as well as pharmaceuticals such as antiretroviral drugs (ARVs), are contaminants of increasing concern in freshwater sources in South Africa (SA). One surface water sample from each site was collected from dams in an urban area, Gauteng Province, and from a rural area, the Vhembe District in the Limpopo Province in SA. The water was tested for dolutegravir, nevirapine, tenofovir disoproxil, lamivudine, and efavirenz, human and veterinary pharmaceuticals, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, and metals. Analytical methods included gas chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC-TOF), liquid chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-TOF) screening, and liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). The metals were determined by a semi-quantitative inductively coupled plasma (ICP)-scan. The Orlando Dam screened positive for the five ARVs and two antibiotics, sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim, and fourteen pesticides were present in the Orlando Dam, two at the Nandoni Dam, one at the TateVondo Dam, three at the Albasini Dam, and two at the Xikundu Weir from the rural area. From 68 metals measured, aluminium (Al), manganese (Mn), and (Zn) were above water quality guidelines. This is the first report of selected ARVs, organochlorine pesticides as EDCs, organophosphate pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and metals in the Orlando Dam, Gauteng Province, SA.