Polar organic micropollutants in the coastal environment of different marine systems

Polar anthropogenic organic micropollutants are frequently detected in freshwater and discharged on large scale into marine systems. In this work the results of 153 samples collected from the shorelines of the Baltic Sea (Germany), Northern Adriatic Sea (Italy), Aegean Sea and Dardanelles (Greece & Turkey), San Francisco Bay (USA), Pacific Ocean (USA), Mediterranean Sea (Israel), and Balearic Sea (Spain) are presented. The samples were analyzed for various classes of micropollutants such as pharmaceuticals, corrosion inhibitors, biocides, and stimulants. Caffeine, paraxanthine, theobromine, tolyltriazole, 1H-benzotriazole, and atrazine were detected in >50% of all samples. The detection frequencies of carbamazepine, iopamidol, diuron, sulfamethoxazole, paracetamol, theophylline, and atenolol were between 20% and 32%. As caffeine is linked to untreated wastewater, the widespread occurrence of raw sewage in marine environments and thus potentially elevated nutrient concentrations and risk for the presence of wastewater-related pathogens is remarkable.     

Caffeine in Boston Harbor seawater

Caffeine has been detected in Boston Harbor seawater with concentrations ranging from 140 to 1600 ng l(-1), and in Massachusetts Bay seawater at concentrations from 5.2 to 71 ng l(-1). Sources of caffeine appear to be anthropogenic with higher concentrations in the seawater of Boston's inner harbor and in freshwater sources to the harbor. Charles River water and Deer Island sewage treatment plant effluent, the two major sources of freshwater to the harbor, contained 370 and 6700 ng l(-1) of caffeine, respectively, in 1998. Sewage influent and effluent concentrations appear to be consistent with consumption estimates of caffeinated beverages for the Boston area and total organic carbon removal targets for treated sewage. Caffeine was inversely correlated to salinity in a transect from the mouth of Boston Harbor to Stellwagen Basin, indicating it may be a useful chemical tracer of anthropogenic inputs to marine systems.     

Micropollutants in four Brazilian water reservoirs

The concern about emerging contaminants such as pharmaceuticals is growing, mainly due to the increased global consumption of synthetic chemicals and the potential risk to environmental and human health. Although developing countries may be hotspots of pharmaceutical pollution, the knowledge about the occurrence of pharmaceuticals is still limited and patchy. Brazil holds one of the largest freshwater volumes globally, yet, little is known about the occurrence of pharmaceuticals in reservoirs although they make up key water sources. The aim of this study was, therefore, to investigate micropollutant occurrence, mainly pharmaceuticals, in four freshwater reservoirs distributed in Brazil. Water samples were collected in the Curuá-Una (CUN, Amazon region), Chapéu D’Uvas (CDU, Atlantic Forest region), Funil (FUN, Atlantic Forest region), and Simplício (SIM, Atlantic Forest region) reservoirs. The occurrence of 28 different micropollutants, including 26 pharmaceuticals, was investigated with target analysis on a UHPLC-Orbitrap-MS/MS, and a non-target screening approach was performed on all water samples to identify the presence of additional contaminants. The highest micropollutant concentrations were observed in FUN and SIM, which are the reservoirs with the largest population size in the catchment. Only caffeine was detected in CDU and CUN, which are reservoirs less influenced by urbanization. Metformin was the pharmaceutical with the highest concentrations, reaching 2 191 ng L⁻¹ in FUN. The non-target screening identified 125 chemicals, of which most were pharmaceuticals. The numbers of compounds identified and which were above the LOQ were higher in FUN and SIM, in agreement with results from the target analysis. Metformin is the compound with the highest risk to affect FUN reservoir negatively, based on calculated risk quotients. Considering that the reservoirs are used for multiple purposes, including water supply, irrigation, and aquaculture, it is important to continue investigating micropollutant occurrence to guarantee environmental and human health.     

Caffeine and agricultural pesticide concentrations in surface water and groundwater on the north shore of Kauai (Hawaii, USA)

Caffeine has been associated with wastewater pollution in temperate and subtropical locations, but environmental caffeine concentrations in tropical locations have not been reported. The objectives of this study were to measure caffeine and agricultural pesticide (carbaryl, metalaxyl, and metribuzin) concentrations in environmental waters on the tropical north shore of Kauai (Hawaii, USA) and assess whether patterns in caffeine concentration were consistent with a wastewater caffeine source. Groundwater, river, stream and coastal ocean samples were collected in August 2006 and February 2007. Caffeine was detected in all August 2006 samples and in 33% of February 2007 samples at concentrations up to 88 ng L⁻¹. Metribuzin was detected in five samples collected in February 2007. Carbaryl and metalaxyl were not detected in any sample. Caffeine was not detected in offshore ocean samples or river samples upstream of human development. A positive correlation between caffeine and enterococci suggested a possible wastewater caffeine source.