Surface water from 38 streams nationwide was assessed using 14 target-organic methods (719 compounds). Designed-bioactive anthropogenic contaminants (biocides, pharmaceuticals) comprised 57% of 406 organics detected at least once. The 10 most-frequently detected anthropogenic-organics included eight pesticides (desulfinylfipronil, AMPA, chlorpyrifos, dieldrin, metolachlor, atrazine, CIAT, glyphosate) and two pharmaceuticals (caffeine, metformin) with detection frequencies ranging 66–84% of all sites. Detected contaminant concentrations varied from less than 1 ng L–1 to greater than 10 μg L–1, with 77 and 278 having median detected concentrations greater than 100 ng L–1 and 10 ng L–1, respectively. Cumulative detections and concentrations ranged 4–161 compounds (median 70) and 8.5–102 847 ng L–1, respectively, and correlated significantly with wastewater discharge, watershed development, and toxic release inventory metrics. Log10 concentrations of widely monitored HHCB, triclosan, and carbamazepine explained 71–82% of the variability in the total number of compounds detected (linear regression; p-values: < 0.001–0.012), providing a statistical inference tool for unmonitored contaminants. Due to multiple modes of action, high bioactivity, biorecalcitrance, and direct environment application (pesticides), designed-bioactive organics (median 41 per site at μg L–1 cumulative concentrations) in developed watersheds present aquatic health concerns, given their acknowledged potential for sublethal effects to sensitive species and lifecycle stages at low ng L–1.
Citation Information
| Publication Year | 2017 |
|---|---|
| Title | Expanded target-chemical analysis reveals extensive mixed-organic-contaminant exposure in USA streams |
| DOI | 10.1021/acs.est.7b00012 |
| Authors | Paul M. Bradley, Celeste A. Journey, Kristin M. Romanok, Larry B. Barber, Herbert T. Buxton, William T. Foreman, Edward T. Furlong, Susan T. Glassmeyer, Michelle L. Hladik, Luke R. Iwanowicz, Daniel Jones, Dana W. Kolpin, Kathryn M. Kuivila, Keith A. Loftin, Marc A. Mills, Michael T. Meyer, James L. Orlando, Timothy J. Reilly, Kelly L. Smalling, Daniel L. Villeneuve |
| Publication Type | Article |
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Series Title | Environmental Science & Technology |
| Index ID | 70186864 |
| Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
| USGS Organization | California Water Science Center; South Atlantic Water Science Center |
Related Content
Dana W Kolpin
Research Hydrologist
Kathryn Kuivila
Scientist Emeritus
Timothy Reilly
Environmental Health Deputy Program Coordinator
Related Content
- Connect
Dana W Kolpin
Research HydrologistEmailPhoneKathryn Kuivila
Scientist EmeritusEmailTimothy Reilly
Environmental Health Deputy Program CoordinatorEmailPhone