Spatial and seasonal occurrence of micropollutants in four Portuguese rivers and a case study for fluorescence excitation-emission matrices

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2018

Authors

Marta O. Barbosa (Author) FEUP; Ana Rita Ribeiro (Author) FEUP; Nuno Ratola (Author) FEUP; Ethan Hain (Author) Other; Vera Homem (Author) FEUP; Manuel Fernando R. Pereira (Author) FEUP; Lee Blaney (Author) Other; Adrián M. T. Silva (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Science of the Total Environment

Vol. 644

Pages: 1128-1140

ISSN: 0048-9697

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 6 Citations

Scopus - 29 Citations

ScienceDirect (Elsevier)

Associated Projects

AIProcMat@N2020 - Advanced Industrial Processes and Materials for a Sustainable North Region of Portugal2020

LSRE-LCM - Laboratório de Processos de Separação e Reação - Laboratório de Catálise e Materiais

LEPABE-2-ECO-INNOVATION - LEPABE-2-ECO-INNOVATION

LEPABE - Laboratório de Engenharia de Processos, Ambiente, Biotecnologia e Energia

InSpeCt - Identifying and interrupting micropollutants of EU concern by using Smart Carbon materials

SAMPREP - Novas técnicas miniaturizadas de preparação de amostra para determinação de micropoluentes em matrizes ambientais

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00P-14G

DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.06.355

Abstract (EN): The European Union (EU) has recommended the monitoring of specific priority substances (PSs, Directive 2013/39) and some contaminants of emerging concern (CECs, Decision 2015/495) in surface waterbodies. The present study provides spatial distributions and temporal variations of a wide range of multi-class PSs and CECs in four stressed rivers in Portugal (Ave, Leca, Antua, and Certima). Thirteen micropollutants were found in all four rivers, including the priority pesticide isoproturon (up to 92 ng L-1), various pharmaceuticals (up to 396 ng L-1), and the UV-filter 2-ethyl-hexyl-4-methoxycinnamate (EHMC, up to 562 ng L-1) identified in Decision 2015/495. The industrial priority compound perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) was found in three rivers (Antua, Certima, and Leca) below the method quantification limit, together with four pharmaceuticals not included in these EU guidelines. The already banned priority pesticide atrazine was detected in Ave, Antua, and Leca (up to 41 ng L-1) and simazine in Certima and Leca (up to 26 ng L-1). Acetamiprid and imidacloprid (included in Decision 2015/495) were only detected during the dry season in the Ave. Leca river was selected as a waterbody case study for assessment of fluorescence excitation-emission matrices (EEMs). These results matched the spatial distribution trend of micropollutants along the river, with stronger fluorescence response and higher concentrations being found downstream of industrial areas and urban waste water treatment plants (WWTPs). Moreover, the fluorescence signature of surface water collected downstream of an urban WWTP aligned very well with that obtained for the respective WWTP effluent. Thus, actions are needed to preserve a good environmental status of these stressed European waterbodies.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 13