Occurrence, sources, and spatial variation of POPs in a mountainous tropical drinking water supply basin by passive sampling

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Authors

DANIEL Gil Ramirez FREDY Narvaez Valderrama Jhon ALBERTO Palacio Tobon Carlos JUAN Jose Garcia JUAN David Echeverri SOBOTKA Jaromír VRANA Branislav

Year of publication 2023
Type Article in Periodical
Magazine / Source Environmental Pollution
MU Faculty or unit

Faculty of Science

Citation
Web https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749122021194?via%3Dihub
Doi http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120904
Keywords Persistent organic pollutants (POPs); Passive sampling; Aqueous concentration(Cw); Risk quotient; Punctual and non-punctual
Description Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are widely distributed along the world and their levels in surface waters may pose a risk to human health due to consumption of contaminated water or fish long-term exposure to contam-inated water. The occurrence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in the Piedras river (Colombia) is a problem of serious concern since freshwater is conducted to a drinking water supply system that provides more than 3 million users. In this research, we deployed silicone rubber membranes as passive samplers in two sampling campaigns at seven sampling stations selected along the river, to assess sources and spatial variation of POPs. The measurements confirmed freely dissolved concentration of the EPA prioritized PAHs (excluding naphthalene), PCBs, heptachlor isomers, diel-drin, endosulfan isomers, among other POPs at trace levels in the water source. The Risk Quotient (RQ) method was applied to prioritize POPs with the highest potential toxicity over aquatic ecosystems. The OCP Heptachlor overcome RQ, while Dieldrin and Endosulfan, and some PAHs congeners such as Perylene, Pyrene, Benzo[a] pyrene, and Fluoranthene displayed medium-risk RQ. Significant differences between sampling stations assessed by One-way ANOVA suggested that the main PAHs and PCBs sources to the river were the punctual discharge from the WWTP and a leachate discharge form a landfill located in the study area. Additionally, nonpoint sources of OCPs were identified. Our results showed that the origin of PAHs and PCBs are associated with urban ac-tivities, while the contribution of OCPs is related to the presence of legacy pesticides from past usage in agri-cultural activities in the basin.
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