Mapping chemical footprints of organic micropollutants in European streams

• DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108371
• Publication Date: 2023-12-05T22:48:07Z
• Authors: Saskia Finckh; Eric Carmona; Dietrich Borchardt; Olaf Büttner; Martin Krauss; Tobias Schulze; Soohyun Yang; Werner Brack
• Keywords: Biocide; Chemical toxicity; Freshwater ecosystem

There is increasing awareness that chemical pollution of freshwater systems with complex mixtures chemicals from domestic sources, agriculture and industry may cause a substantial footprint on water organisms, pushing aquatic ecosystems outside the safe operating space. The present study defines footprints as risk or will have adverse effects specific group organisms. aim to characterise these in European streams based unique uniform screening more than 600 445 surface samples, derive site- compound-specific information for management prioritisation purposes. In total, 504 pesticides, biocides, pharmaceuticals other compounds been detected, including frequently occurring site-specific concentrations up 74 µg/L. Key finding three-quarter investigated sites 22 river basins exceed established thresholds freshwater, leading expected acute chronic impacts largest were recorded invertebrates, followed by algae fish. More 70 invertebrates. For all organism groups, pesticides biocides main drivers footprints, while mixture particularly relevant No clear significant correlation was found between urban discharge fractions, suggesting effluent-specific quality rather total load treated wastewater environment contribution diffuse e.g. agriculture, determine footprints.