UCT Division of Environmental Health

UCT Division of Environmental Health Welcome to the official FB page for the University of Cape Town's Division of Environmental Health.

05/06/2026

🧪🌱 Environmental Health Tip: Sustainable Lab Practices

💡Research and teaching environments can play an important role in promoting environmental sustainability.

Simple actions can make a meaningful difference:
✔ Switch off unused lights and equipment
✔ Install water-saving devices where possible
✔ Minimise chemical and general waste
✔ Reduce reliance on single-use plastics
✔ Develop sustainable laboratory protocols and practices

💬 What is one change your lab, department, or research group has implemented to become more environmentally sustainable?

A recent example comes from the Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM) at UCT, which became Africa's first My Green Lab-certified academic research institute.

As part of this achievement, the institute implemented a series of simple but impactful measures, including switching off unused lights and equipment, installing water restrictors, minimising waste, and developing new protocols for sustainable laboratory operations.

Their experience demonstrates that environmental sustainability can be integrated into research excellence through practical, everyday actions.

Learn more:
🔗 My Green Lab Certification: https://mygreenlab.org/programs/mgl-certification/

🔗 IDM certification story: https://idm.uct.ac.za/articles/2025-10-17-idm-africas-first-my-green-lab-certified-academic-research-institute, https://idm.uct.ac.za/sustainability

➡️ Interested in learning more about Environmental Health?
Explore UCT’s Master of Public Health specialising in Environmental Health or the Professional Master’s in Chemical Risk Management:

https://health.uct.ac.za/school-public-health/postgraduate-teaching-masters-programmes/professional-masters-chemicals-risk-management
https://health.uct.ac.za/school-public-health/divisions/environmental-health



22/05/2026

🌍 Environmental Health Tip 💡

🚰 Blocked drain? Before reaching for harsh chemicals, try this safer home method:

🔧 Step 1: Clear what you can
Use a plunger (if possible) to loosen the blockage.

🧪 Step 2: Natural reaction clean
➡️ Pour ½ cup bicarbonate of soda into the drain
➡️ Follow with ½ cup vinegar
➡️ Close the drain so the mixture works inside

⏱️ Step 3: Wait
Leave it for about 1 hour

💧 Step 4: Flush
Pour boiling water down the drain to clear loosened debris

🌿 Prevention tip
Once a month, pour boiling water down your drains to help keep them clear and prevent build-up.

💬 Have you ever tried this method before?

What do you do first when a drain blocks?
👍 Plunger
🧪 Chemical cleaner
🧑‍🔧 Call someone
🤷 Panic and wait it out

Share in the comments below 👇

➡️ Interested in learning more about Environmental Health?
Explore UCT’s Master of Public Health specialising in Environmental Health or the Professional Master’s in Chemical Risk Management:

https://health.uct.ac.za/school-public-health/postgraduate-teaching-masters-programmes/professional-masters-chemicals-risk-management
https://health.uct.ac.za/school-public-health/divisions/environmental-health



15/05/2026

🌍 Environmental Health Tip 💡
Use your voice to make a difference!

Share environmental health knowledge with others by:
🗣️ Giving talks
✍️ Writing posts or op-eds
👥 Educating your community
📲 Sharing EH tips like this one

Small conversations can inspire big change for healthier communities and environments.
What’s one environmental health issue you think more people should know about? Share in the comments below 👇

➡️ Interested in learning more about Environmental Health?
Explore UCT’s Master of Public Health specialising in Environmental Health or the Professional Master’s in Chemical Risk Management:

https://health.uct.ac.za/school-public-health/postgraduate-teaching-masters-programmes/professional-masters-chemicals-risk-management
https://health.uct.ac.za/school-public-health/divisions/environmental-health



08/05/2026

🌿 Environmental Health Tip for the week

Reduce waste - use cloth instead of single-use paper towels to clean your kitchen and wipe surfaces.

♻️ Repurpose old towels or t-shirts by cutting them into small cleaning cloths.

Simple yet impactful ways to protect the environment and safeguard your well-being. Stay tuned for weekly doses of eco-friendly wisdom. Together, we can make a greener, healthier world! 🌿🌟

➡️ Interested in learning more about Environmental Health?

Explore UCT’s Master of Public Health specialising in Environmental Health or the Professional Master’s in Chemical Risk Management:

https://health.uct.ac.za/school-public-health/postgraduate-teaching-masters-programmes/professional-masters-chemicals-risk-management

https://health.uct.ac.za/school-public-health/divisions/environmental-health

➡️Discover our outreach material: https://health.uct.ac.za/environmental-health-projects


06/05/2026

🌿Discover our new Environmental Health tip for the week:

Reduce your exposure to non-ionising (low-level) radiation from electromagnetic fields, as research on health impacts from long-term exposures is still limited. Keep your phone about 25 cm away from your head when making calls or use speaker mode. For extended use, choose wired headphones instead of Bluetooth or wireless devices, and remove them when not in use.

➡️ Interested in learning more about Environmental Health?

Explore UCT’s Master of Public Health specialising in Environmental Health or the Professional Master’s in Chemical Risk Management:

https://health.uct.ac.za/school-public-health/postgraduate-teaching-masters-programmes/professional-masters-chemicals-risk-management

https://health.uct.ac.za/school-public-health/divisions/environmental-health


24/04/2026

Environmental Health Tip 🌱

Reduce exposure to harmful chemicals and cut down on waste when purchasing takeaway food. Bring your own reusable containers and cups when collecting your meal, and leave behind single-use items such as pizza boxes and food wrapping (e.g. burger paper).

Many of these packaging materials are treated with PFAS (“forever chemicals”) to resist grease and moisture. PFAS are persistent in the environment and have been linked to adverse long-term health effects, which has led to increasing regulatory restrictions, including bans in the EU. They are commonly found in baking paper, food wrapping, and fast-food packaging.

Choosing reusable alternatives is a simple, practical step to reduce both environmental impact and potential chemical exposure. ♻️

➡️ Interested in learning more about Environmental Health?
Explore UCT’s Master of Public Health specialising in Environmental Health or the Professional Master’s in Chemical Risk Management:

https://health.uct.ac.za/school-public-health/postgraduate-teaching-masters-programmes/professional-masters-chemicals-risk-management
https://health.uct.ac.za/school-public-health/divisions/environmental-health


17/04/2026

🌿Discover our new Environmental Health tip for the week:

Cleaner communities start with small, everyday choices.

Picking up just one piece of litter may seem small—but when it becomes a habit, it adds up. Imagine the impact if we all did the same.

Be part of the change. Start with one.

🛍️ Use a paper bag to collect litter.

➡️To explore Environmental Health further, consider joining UCT’s Master in Public Health (MPH), specialising in Environmental Health: https://health.uct.ac.za/school-public-health/divisions/environmental-health

➡️Discover our outreach material: https://health.uct.ac.za/environmental-health-projects

🔗More Environmental Health tips:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYGZdtAcj0fMHor8nSlGLquok2Z0b9Kr7


➡️ Get rid of ticks, without using chemicals! Looking for safer, low-toxicity ways to manage pests in your home? The Div...
10/04/2026

➡️ Get rid of ticks, without using chemicals!

Looking for safer, low-toxicity ways to manage pests in your home? The Division of Environmental Health has developed a booklet for controlling pests without the use of chemicals, helping protect your health, your family, and the environment. 🌱

📘 Download the booklet here:
https://health.uct.ac.za/sites/default/files/media/documents/alternatives_booklet_final_final.pdf

⚠️ NB: The mixtures are not for eating purposes and should always be kept out of reach of children and pets to avoid accidental contact.

➡️ Interested in learning more about Environmental Health?
Explore UCT’s Master of Public Health specialising in Environmental Health or the Professional Master’s in Chemical Risk Management:

https://health.uct.ac.za/school-public-health/postgraduate-teaching-masters-programmes/professional-masters-chemicals-risk-management

https://health.uct.ac.za/school-public-health/divisions/environmental-health



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