Impact of organic pollutants from urban slum informal settlements on sustainable development goals and river sediment quality, Nairobi, Kenya, Africa

Vane, Christopher H. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8150-3640; Kim, Alexander W.; Lopes dos Santos, Raquel A.; Gill, Joel C.; Moss-Hayes, Vicky; Mulu, Jemimah K.; Mackie, Jessica R.; Ferreira, Antonio M.P.J.; Chenery, Simon R.; Olaka, Lydia A.. 2022 Impact of organic pollutants from urban slum informal settlements on sustainable development goals and river sediment quality, Nairobi, Kenya, Africa. Applied Geochemistry, 146, 105468. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2022.105468

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2022.105468

Abstract/Summary

The UN Sustainable Development Goals highlight the myriad of socio-economic and environmental challenges occurring as a result of anthropogenic chemical pollution. Urban sediments from informal settlements (slums) on the Nairobi, Ngong and Mathare Rivers (n = 25), were evaluated for sediment quality. Microtox bioassay identified 8 sites as toxic, 9 as moderately toxic and 8 as non-toxic. Slum sediments were characterised by high total organic carbon and Rock-Eval pyrolysis revealed bound carbon from a mix of raw sewage and domestic refuse. Sediments from Kiambio, Kibera, Mathare and Kawangware slums contained high coprostanol at 55–298 μg/g and epicoprostanol at 3.2–21.7 μg/g confirming appreciable incorporation of untreated human faeces. Hormones, antianalgeiscs, antiinflamatories, antiepileptics and antibiotics most affected Mathare > Kiambio > Kibera > Mukuru > Kawangware slums. Carbamazepine, ibuprofen, diclofenac and acetaminophen concentrations are amongst the highest reported in Kenyan river sediments and were positively correlated with faecal steroids (sewage). Common persistent organic pollutants, such as organochlorine insecticides ΣDDT 1–59 μg/kg, mean 21.2 μg/kg, Σ16PAH 182–2218 μg/kg, mean 822 μg/kg and Σ30 PCB 3.1–157.1 μg/kg, mean of 21.4 μg/kg were between probable effect likely and unlikely sediment quality guidelines (SQG). PAH source ratios and parent to alkyl-PAH distribution suggested vehicle exhaust, power stations (heavy oil), kerosene (cooking oil) and other pollution sources. Trace metal concentrations As, Cd, Cr, Hg and Ni were below SQG whereas Pb exceeded the SQG. This multi-contaminant characterisation of sediment quality in Nairobi supports the development and implementation of policies to improve urban infrastructure to protect ecological and human health. It demonstrates the need for environmental geochemists to engage in the science-policy interface associated with both global and national development frameworks, with particular reference to the Sustainable Development Goals, New Urban Agenda, and Kenya’s Vision 2030.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2022.105468
ISSN:	08832927
Additional Keywords:	IGRD
Date made live:	06 Oct 2022 14:13 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/533322

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2022.105468

ISSN:

08832927

Additional Keywords:

IGRD

Date made live:

06 Oct 2022 14:13 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/533322