Hout Bay mussels tainted with

University scientists discover that waterways in the seaside suburb of Cape Town are contaminated with

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Hout Bay, a coastal suburb of Cape Town, is facing a growing pollution crisis in its waterways, which shows in the increasing levels of pharmaceuticals and other toxins that have been detected in mussels, according to a new study.

The study, by scientists from the universities of Cape Town, the Witwatersrand, the Western Cape (UWC) and Stellenbosch, investigated contamination in the coastal and riverine environments of Hout Bay. It assessed contamination by ingredients of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in mussels, and microbial indicators in water samples.

The researchers set out to determine the extent of the pollution's impact zone.

Their analysis of samples taken between 2020 and 2021 found that contamination from the Hout Bay marine sewage outfall, inadequate riverine sanitation and other sources showed an urgent need for upgraded wastewater treatment and infrastructure to protect public and environmental health.

The findings underscored the "significant impact" of untreated sewage on the environment, the researchers said.