Persistence, mobility and bioavailability of emerging organic contaminants discharged from sewage treatment plants

• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.09.006
• Publication Date: 2017-09-25T16:30:35Z
• Authors: Kristin M. Blum; Patrik L. Andersson; Lutz Ahrens; Karin Wiberg; Peter Haglund
• Keywords: Persistence (discontinuity)

Little is known about the impact of emissions micropollutants from small and large-scale sewage treatment plants (STPs) on drinking water source areas. We investigated a populated catchment that drains into Lake Mälaren, which for around 2 million people including inhabitants Stockholm, Sweden. To assess persistence, mobility, bioavailability bioaccumulation 32 structurally diverse emerging organic contaminants, sediment, integrated passive grab samples were collected along River Fyris, The complemented with STP effluent fish one sampling event. Contaminants identified as persistent, mobile, bioavailable 4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethyl-1,3,4,7-tetrahydrocyclopenta[g]isochromene (galaxolide), 2,4,7,9-tetramethyl-5-decyn-4,7-diol, tris(2-chloro-ethyl) phosphate, tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) tris(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate. Galaxolide 2,4,7,9-tetramethyl-5-decyn-4,7-diol additionally found to be bioaccumulative, whereas n-butylbenzenesulfonamide was only persistent mobile. total median mass flux mobile target analytes Ekoln area Mälaren estimated 27kg per year. Additionally, 10 contaminants tentatively by non-target screening using NIST library searches manual review. Two those confirmed reference standards further two propylene glycol rose acetate, discharged STPs travelled far source. Attenuation fluxes highest in summer autumn seasons, suggesting importance biological degradation photodegradation persistence studied compounds.