Linking Clusters of Micropollutants in Surface Water to Emission Sources, Environmental Conditions, and Substance Properties

• DOI: 10.3390/environments11030046
• Publication Date: 2024-02-29T07:59:39Z
• Authors: Tessa E. Pronk; Elvio D. Amato; Stefan A. E. Kools; Thomas L. Ter Laak
• Keywords: 01 natural sciences; 0105 earth and related environmental sciences

Water quality monitoring programs yield a wealth of data. It is often unclear why certain substance occurs in higher concentrations at location or time. In this study, substances were considered clusters with co-varying rather than isolation. A total 196 19 sites the rivers Rhine and Meuse identified. nine found repeatedly similar composition different sites. Several environmental conditions properties could be linked to clusters. addition, overlap reference lists was determined. These group multiple according emission sources, types, type use. The revealed that are similarly affected. ‘repeating clusters’ analyzed more detail identify drivers. For instance, repeating cluster herbicides specifically high temperatures number hours sun per day, e.g., summer conditions. containing polychlorinated biphenyls, identified as persistent tendency bind organic matter, river discharge attributed potential release from sediment resuspension. Not all clustered, because their concentration did not structurally vary same way other substances. presented explorative analyses, along obtained relations properties, local conditions, lists, may facilitate reconstruction processes lead observed variation concentrations. This knowledge can subsequently used by water managers improve quality.