From Adverse Childhood Experiences to Pioneering Exposure Science Research

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Growing up in the contrasting landscapes of rural KwaZulu-Natal and the energetic hum of township life, Mr Minenhle Buthelezi never imagined that his earliest experiences with air pollution would one day define his life’s work.

Now a young lecturer and researcher at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), Buthelezi is emerging as a rising voice in the field of Exposure Science - a discipline dedicated to understanding how environmental factors affect human health.

Today, Buthelezi is at the forefront of environmental health research, but his journey began in the most unassuming of places: smoke-filled homes lit by open fires and streets blanketed with the fumes of burning waste.

‘I remember the tightness in my chest after sitting near the fireplace during winter,’ he recalls. ‘Even as a child, I wondered what that smoke was doing to our bodies.’

That question, planted in childhood, grew with him. After enrolling at UKZN for a Bachelor of Science in Applied Chemistry, he began to uncover the science behind environmental contaminants. His interest soon evolved into a deeper investigation - not only into how pollutants behave in the environment, but also into what happens inside the human body after exposure.

Driven by this curiosity, Buthelezi pursued an Honours degree in Human Physiology, effectively bridging the gap between environmental science and public health. His multidisciplinary foundation led to a Master’s in Environmental Health and now a PhD focused on air pollution, heat exposure, and their effects on childhood respiratory health in Durban. ‘My work is deeply personal,’ he says.

‘I’m building exposure models that can help predict pollution and heat levels, aiming to protect vulnerable populations - especially children whose lungs and immune systems are still developing.’

Buthelezi’s research focuses on real-world applications. He’s committed not only to publishing his findings in scientific journals but also to ensuring they influence policy and public health interventions. Working with local health and education departments, he aims to develop solutions that are practical and scalable.

His dedication has not gone unnoticed. In 2024, he was awarded the prestigious Mitacs Globalink Research Award Thematic - National Research Foundation of South Africa Globalink Research Award, which enabled him to spend a month at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, expanding his research network and gaining international insights into environmental health policy.

Adding to his growing list of achievements, Buthelezi has been selected to present his work at the International Society of Environmental Epidemiology (ISEE) Conference in Atlanta, United States, in August 2025. The event will place him among the world’s leading experts on environmental exposure, offering a global platform for the issues faced by South African communities.

Now a lecturer in the Discipline of Occupational and Environmental Health at UKZN, Buthelezi brings his passion into the classroom, mentoring the next generation of scientists while continuing his mission to uncover and address the hidden dangers in our environment.

‘When I think back to those early days, I realise I was living the questions I now research,’ he says.

‘And through my work, I hope to make sure no child grows up surrounded by invisible dangers that no one talks about.’

In a world increasingly shaped by climate change and environmental degradation, Buthelezi is proving that every breath matters and that every question is worth answering.

Words: Nombuso Dlamini

Photograph: Supplied