Page 43 - SAMRC Annual Report 2023-24

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

Environment and
Health Research Unit

Unit director:
Dr. Renée Street

Prioritising responsive research Platform. SAMRC WSARP is currently working on a
through impactful interventions multi-pathogen panel as an early warning system,
underscoring the importance of proactive measures
The Environment & Health Research Unit (E&HRU) in safeguarding public health.
conducts research towards eliminating or reducing
environmental hazards to health, especially in the Equitable capacity development
most vulnerable or marginalised in South Africa. for empowering communities
Our study in Limpopo Province investigated arsenic
exposure in villages. Elevated blood arsenic in Within E&HRU, we prioritise capacity strengthening
exposed community members, linked to borehole to support staff, students, and communities. Our
water and contaminated soil, underscores the E&HRU staff are actively involved with various
critical need for environmental monitoring to initiatives providing student supervision and
protect public health. mentorship to over 10 local institutions. At a recent
climate adaptation conference, E&HRU staff and
Concerns also persist about lead exposure from collaborators embarked on a Q-Storming session
ceramic ware, with another study finding elevated to gather expertise to discuss integrating health
lead in newly purchased items. Although lead leaching into African climate policies, thereby strengthening
rates were relatively low, there is a need for further capacity. Topics included infectious diseases,
research into lead exposure from ceramic ware.
government capacity and research usability.
With climate change intensifying heat waves, Innovative approaches like Q-Storming can facilitate
adopting a warning system based on the risk of this integration and build the capacity needed for
adverse health impacts could significantly reduce climate-resilient health systems. In celebration of
heat-related deaths and illnesses by providing Youth Month in June, the E&HRU participated in the
timely alerts. GenS Job Shadowing Programme. The E&HRU team
demonstrated different technology and equipment
E&HRU led a study that analysed mortality and used to test water quality. During fieldwork, the
temperature data from 1997 to 2013. The study importance of rivers and estuaries for environmental
revealed that maximum daily temperatures and public health was highlighted. The team was
significantly influenced mortality rates with the pleased that perceptions around scientific research
risk varying by district due to the country's diverse and creating a safe and healthy environment were
climatic zones. This provided evidence to support reshaped through this event.
focusing on localised temperature thresholds to
better predict heat-related health risks. The climate Science for creating a
crisis can fuel the risk of pandemics. A key response healthier society
is supported by the SAMRC Wastewater Surveillance
and Research Programme (WSARP) made up of The E&HRU continues to transcend the confines of
three SAMRC units namely E&HRU, Biomedical laboratory and academic research to actively engage
Research and Innovation Platform and the Genomics with communities, bridging the gap between science

SAMRC ANNUAL REPOR T 2023-24 41