Staff Profile

Background

My research interests focus on legacy and emerging environmental pollutants, particularly in understanding their sources, environmental fate and impacts on ecosystems and public health. My passion for this field led me to pursue a PhD in Environmental Toxicology at the National University of Science and Technology, Zimbabwe. My PhD research examined the occurrence of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in effluents from wastewater treatment plants and industry and their impacts on indigenous fish in effluent polluted dams. 

 Since completing my PhD in 2017, I have held two postdoctoral research fellowships: first at Rhodes University (2017-2019), and then at the University of Cape Town (2020-2022). My research during these appointments covered various environmental pollutants, including heavy metals, active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), and environmental antimicrobial resistance (AMR). I also investigated the effectiveness of nature-based systems (NBS) for wastewater treatment.

Before joining Newcastle University, I lectured at Queen Mary University of London and the University of Stirling (2023-2024) where I taught the modules "Research Methods", "Environmental Policy and Management" and "Biogeochemistry". Beyond academia, I have experience in consultancy, where I conducted a mid-term evaluation of a $4 million integrated aquaculture-agriculture rural livelihoods project.

Qualifications

• BSc in Applied Biology and Biochemistry
• PhD in Environmental Toxicology

Research papers

• Gwenzi, W., Skirmuntt, E., Musvuugwa; T., Teta, C., Halabowski, D., Rzymski, P. 2022. Grappling with (re)-emerging infectious zoonoses in low-income countries: A risk assessment and mitigation framework. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2022.103350
• Wilkinson, J. L., Boxall, AB A., Kolpin, D. W. et al., Teta, C. 2022. Pharmaceutical pollution of the world’s rivers. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 119, e2113947119.
• Abrams, A L; Carden, K; Teta, C; Wågsæther, K. Water, sanitation, and hygiene vulnerability among rural areas and small towns in South Africa: exploring the role of climate change, marginalisation, and inequality. 2021, Water 13(20), 2810; https://doi.org/10.3390/w13202810
• Gwenzi, W., Chaukura, N., Muisa-Zikali, N., Teta, C., Musvuugwa, T., Rzymski, P., Abia, A.L.K. 2021. Insects, Rodents, and Pets as Reservoirs, Vectors, and Sentinels of Antimicrobial Resistance. Antibiotics, 10, 68. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics10010068
• Sanganyado, E., Bi, R., Teta, C., Moreira L.B., Yu, X., Yajing S., Dalu T., Rajput, I.R., and Liu, W. 2020. Towards an integrated framework for assessing micropollutants in marine mammals: Challenges, progress, and opportunities. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science & Technology
• Pringle, BA., Potts, WM., Childs, A-R., Butler, EC., Winkler, AC., Duncan, MI., Teta, C. 2020. Time course of the physiological stress response in bronze bream Pachymetopon grande following simulated catch-and-release angling event. African Journal of Marine Science 42 (3) 1-6
• Teta, C. Kaiser, H. 2019. Menthol as an alternative anaesthetic and sedative for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). African Journal of Aquatic Science 44(1) 71-76
• Teta, C., Naik, Y.S. 2018. Endosulfan causes reduced fertilisation success and abnormal development of fish embryos. Toxicological and Environmental Chemistry 100 (4) 452-464
• Sanganyado E., Teta, C., Masiri, B. 2018. Impact of African traditional worldviews on climate change adaptation. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management 14 (2) 189–193
• Teta, C., Holbech, B. F., Norrgren L., Naik, Y.S. 2018. Occurrence of oestrogenic pollutants and widespread feminisation of male tilapia fish in peri-urban dams in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. African Journal of Aquatic Science. 43 (1) 17-26
• Teta, C., Naik, YS. 2017. Vitellogenin induction and reduced fecundity in zebrafish exposed to effluents from the City of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Chemosphere 167, 282–290
• Teta, C., Ncube, M., Naik, YS. 2017. Heavy metal contamination of peri-urban dams and fish around Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. African Journal of Aquatic Science 42 (4) 351–358
• Teta, C., Hikwa, T. 2017. Heavy metal contamination of groundwater from an unlined landfill in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Journal of Health and Pollution 8 (15) 18 – 27.