The City of Cape Town says ongoing air-quality monitoring shows hydrogen sulphide levels remain below international health guidelines, while warnings remain in place that the water is not safe for recreational use. The City of Cape Town says ongoing air-quality monitoring at the Milnerton Lagoon shows no immediate health risk to nearby residents, with hydrogen sulphide levels remaining well below international safety guidelines. The assurance comes from Councillor Francine Higham, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, following questions about whether a recent health or environmental health risk assessment has been conducted at the lagoon.
Higham said City Health re-established continuous ambient air-quality monitoring at the lagoon earlier this year after previous equipment was vandalised. “City Health has re-established continuous monitoring of ambient air quality at the Milnerton Lagoon, with a station commissioned on Woodbridge Island in February 2025,” she said. “This monitoring programme forms part of our ongoing commitment to safeguard the health of residents living near the lagoon.” According to Higham, data collected since February shows that hydrogen sulphide (H₂S) concentrations in the air remain well below the World Health Organization’s daily ambient air-quality guideline of 110 parts per billion.
“The continuous monitoring since February 2025 shows that hydrogen sulphide concentrations remain well below the World Health Organization’s daily guideline,” she said. “A detailed review of current scientific literature also indicates that low-level exposure to H₂S has limited impacts on human health.”
Read Full Article on Cape Argus
