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ARS Home » Midwest Area » St. Paul, Minnesota » Soil and Water Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #314001
Title: Contaminants of emerging concern in a mixed land use watershed: A two year study of occurrence and seasonal variation

Author
item FAIRBAIRN, DAVID - University Of Minnesota
item KARPUZCU, EKREM - University Of Minnesota
item ARNOLD, WILLIAM - University Of Minnesota
item BARBER, BRIAN - University Of Minnesota
item KAUFENBERG, ELIZABETH - University Of Minnesota
item Koskinen, William
item NOVAK, PAIGE - University Of Minnesota
item Rice, Pamela
item SWACKHAMER, DEBORAH - University Of Minnesota

Submitted to: Science of the Total Environment
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/8/2016
Publication Date: 5/1/2016
Citation: Fairbairn, D., Karpuzcu, E., Arnold, W., Barber, B., Kaufenberg, E., Koskinen, W.C., Novak, P., Rice, P.J., Swackhamer, D. 2016. Contaminants of emerging concern in a mixed land use watershed: A two year study of occurrence and seasonal variation. Science of the Total Environment. 551-552:605-613.

Interpretive Summary: The occurrence and variation of twenty-six contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) were evaluated in water samples collected from four stream sites over two years in the Zumbro River watershed, Minnesota, U.S.A. Selected CECs included pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), pesticides, veterinary pharmaceuticals, phytoestrogens, and commercial/industrial compounds; of which some are suspect endocrine disrupting compounds. Two herbicides, three PPCPs, and one mixed-use pharmaceutical were detected in more than 70% of samples, and ten other detected CECs were found in fewer than 50% of samples. Concentrations of agricultural herbicides increased during periods of increased use and precipitation runoff (i.e., spring and early summer application of pre-emergent herbicides). Seasonal variations of caffeine, cotinine, and four of the prescription/veterinary pharmaceuticals were insignificant, but these CECs and 4-nonylphenol showed trends of increased concentrations during low-flow periods. The remaining PPCPs, mixed-use pesticides, and daidzein demonstrated seasonal and hydrologic patterns suggesting a mix of sources and transport. Our results indicate that CEC monitoring studies should incorporate seasonal and hydrologic variability, especially when assessing diverse CECs. While many surface water studies of CECs have focused on areas near WWTPs, CECs occur frequently whether or not a WWTP is present upstream, even CECs that are typically considered effluent-associated. Incorporating this understanding into monitoring program designs will result in more accurate source characterization and risk assessment and will ultimately enhance decision-making for environmental health and ecological protection.

Technical Abstract: The occurrence and variation of twenty-six contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) were evaluated in water samples collected from four stream sites over two years in the Zumbro River watershed, Minnesota, U.S.A. Selected CECs included pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), pesticides, veterinary pharmaceuticals, phytoestrogens, and commercial/industrial compounds. Two herbicides, three PPCPs, and one mixed-use pharmaceutical were detected in more than 70% of samples, and ten other detected CECs were found in fewer than 50% of samples. Concentrations of agricultural herbicides increased during periods of increased use and precipitation runoff (i.e., spring and early summer application of pre-emergent herbicides). Seasonal variations of caffeine, cotinine, and four of the prescription/veterinary pharmaceuticals were insignificant, but these CECs and 4-nonylphenol showed trends of increased concentrations during low-flow periods. The remaining PPCPs, mixed-use pesticides, and daidzein demonstrated seasonal and hydrologic patterns suggesting a mix of sources and transport. Our results indicate that CEC monitoring studies should incorporate seasonal and hydrologic variability, especially when assessing diverse CECs. While many surface water studies of CECs have focused on areas near WWTPs, CECs occur frequently whether or not a WWTP is present upstream, even CECs that are typically considered effluent-associated. Incorporating this understanding into monitoring program designs will result in more accurate source characterization and risk assessment and will ultimately enhance decision-making for environmental health and ecological protection.