Spatio-temporal evaluation of emerging contaminants and their partitioning along a Brazilian watershed

Author(s)

Ribeiro de Sousa, Diana Nara ^{[1, 2]} ; Mozeto, Antonio Aparecido ^{[1, 2]} ; Carneiro, Renato Lajarim ^{[2, 3]} ; Fadini, Pedro Sergio ^{[1, 2]}

Affiliation

^[1] Fed Univ Sao Carlos UFSCar, Environm Biogeochem Lab LBGqA, Rodovia Washington Luis Km 235, BR-13565905 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

^[2] Fed Univ Sao Carlos UFSCar, Dept Chem, Rodovia Washington Luis Km 235, BR-13565905 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

^[3] Fed Univ Sao Carlos UFSCar, Appl Chemometr Grp, Rodovia Washington Luis Km 235, BR-13565905 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Environmental Science and Pollution Research; v. 25, n. 5, p. 4607-4620, FEB 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 4

Abstract

The occurrence, partitioning, and spatio-temporal distribution of seven pharmaceuticals for human use, three steroid hormones and one personal care product were determined in surface water, suspended particulate matter (SPM), and sediment of Pirai Creek and Jundiai River (Jundiai River Basin, So Paulo, Brazil). The maximum average detected concentrations of the compounds in the Pirai River samples were < 30 ng L-1, except for caffeine (222 ng L-1). In Jundiai River samples, most of the compounds were frequently detected, wherein caffeine had the highest concentration, with maximum average concentrations of 14,050 ng L-1, followed by atenolol (431 ng L-1), ibuprofen (268 ng L-1) and diclofenac (214 ng L-1). Atenolol, propranolol, estrone, and triclosan were the contaminants most frequently detected in sediment and SPM samples. Triclosan had the highest average proportion of SPM as opposed to in the aqueous phase (> 75%). Contaminants with acid functional groups showed, in general, a lower tendency to bind to particulate matter and sediments. In addition, hydrophobicity had an important effect on their environmental partitioning. The spatial distribution of contaminants along the Jundiai River was mainly affected by the higher concentration of contaminants in water samples collected downstream from a sewage treatment plant (STP). The results obtained here clearly showed the importance of the analysis of some contaminants in the whole water, meaning both dissolved and particulate compartments in the water, and that the partitioning is ruled by a set of parameters associated to the physicochemical characteristics of contaminants and the matrix properties of the studied, which need be considered in an integrated approach to understand the fate of emerging chemical contaminants in aquatic environments. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 10/01731-0 - Occurrence and distribution of emerging contaminants at watershed of Jundiaí River - São Paulo
• Grantee: Pedro Sergio Fadini
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 14/21871-2 - Evaluation of zeolites for the emerging contaminants removal from aqueous samples
• Grantee: Diana Nara Ribeiro de Sousa
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral