Novel approaches to assess toxicity of platinum-group elements in aquatic environments

Funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
Duration: May 2017 to April 2021

Within the framework of the BMBF funding measure "Cooperation with Developing and Emerging Countries in Africa", we are working together with the Water Research Group of North-West University in Potchefstroom, South Africa, to investigate the mining region around the Hex River in South Africa.

In addition to gaining scientific insights into the role of platinum group elements (PGE) as stressors in aquatic ecosystems, this project focuses on establishing new cooperations and the exchange of knowledge between the partners involved, as well as the close involvement of young scientists.

The mining region around the Hex River in South Africa is one of the most important platinum group element (PGE) deposits in the world and therefore represents a unique study area to investigate the effects of anthropogenic PGE inputs. The objectives of the project are therefore:

• Identify the role of PGE in the socio-ecological health of the Hex River catchment
• Information on the bioavailability of PGE in aquatic ecosystems based on biomonitoring studies with different animals and a passive sampler ("artificial mussel") to be newly established, including the identification of promising accumulation indicators
• New knowledge about adverse effects of PGE on various aquatic animals and identification of particularly sensitive organisms using toxicity tests involving native animals.
• Assessment of the potential risk to humans and animals in the mine area due to PGE contamination using a new risk assessment method.

First publications from the project:

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2018.11.061
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134738
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-020-06813-1
https://doi:10.3390/w12010032

Contact: Prof. Bernd Sures, Dr. Sonja Zimmermann