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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Maricopa, Arizona » U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center » Water Management and Conservation Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #308135
Title: Pharmaceuticals and organochlorine pesticides in sediments of an urban river in Florida, United States

Author
item YANG, YUN-YA - University Of Florida
item TOOR, GURPAL - University Of Florida
item Williams, Clinton

Submitted to: Journal of Soils and Sediments
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/23/2015
Publication Date: 2/8/2015
Citation: Yang, Y., Toor, G.S., Williams, C.F. 2015. Pharmaceuticals and organochlorine pesticides in sediments of an urban river in Florida, United States. Journal of Soils and Sediments. 15:993-1004.

Interpretive Summary: Sediments from a rural to urban gradient along the Alafia River in Florida were investigated to determine the risk of environmental contamination with legacy (organochlorine pesticides, OCPs) and new contaminants(pharmaceuticals). The three most frequently detected pharmaceuticals in sediments were carbamazepine (100% of samples), trimethoprim (89% of samples), and pseudoephedrine (63% of samples). Caffeine was detected in all sediment samples suggesting that domestic wastewater from treating plants and/or septic systems is a contributing source at all the sites. Detection frequency of the OCPs was lower than pharmaceuticals. Endosulfan I was most frequently detected (37% of samples) OCP. Lower concentrations of OCPs (sum: 0-16.1 ng g-1) than pharmaceuticals (sum: 0.5-61.9 ng g-1) in sediments are probably due to the past usage of OCPs since these were banned for use in the United States in 1970s, while pharmaceuticals are still used. The variability of detection and concentrations of compounds in rural and urban stream sites is likely due to the different input sources, site characteristics, and individual compound's chemical properties. Significant positive correlations between organic contaminants and organic matter as well as fine-sized particles (silt and clay) suggest that sediments are a major sink of contaminants in the Alafia River.

Technical Abstract: Purpose Sediments from a rural to urban gradient along the Alafia River in Florida, United States were investigated to determine the risk of environmental contamination with legacy (organochlorine pesticides, OCPs) and new contaminants (pharmaceuticals). Materials and methods Bed sediments (0-10 cm) collected from rural and urban subbasins of the Alafia River were analyzed for OCPs and pharmaceuticals with standard methods using gas chromatography and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry techniques. Results and discussion Three most frequently detected pharmaceuticals in sediments were carbamazepine (100% of samples), trimethoprim (89% of samples), and pseudoephedrine (63% of samples). While the frequency of detection was less than 30% for acetaminophen, diphenhydramine, lidocaine, and nicotine. Caffeine was detected in all sediment samples suggesting that domestic wastewater from treating plants and/or septic systems is a contributing source at all the sites. Among the OCPs, endosulfan I was most frequently detected (37% of samples), followed by d- hexachlorocyclohexane (d- HCH; 15% of samples), '-chlordane and endosulfan II (both in 11% of samples), and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) and methoxychlor (both in 7% of samples). Lower concentrations of OCPs (sum: 0-16.1 ng g-1) than pharmaceuticals (sum: 0.5-61.9 ng g-1) in sediments are probably due to the past usage of OCPs since these were banned for use in the United States in 1970s, while pharmaceuticals are still used. Conclusions The variability of detection and concentrations of compounds in rural and urban stream sites is likely due to the different magnitude of input sources, site characteristics, and individual compound's chemical properties. Significant positive correlations between OCPs and organic matter and fine-sized particles (silt and clay) suggest that sediments are a major sink of contaminants in the Alafia River. Although the concentrations of both pharmaceuticals and OCPs in sediments are relatively lower than other studies, these can still be of environmental concern to aquatic organisms.