Determination of Parabens, Triclosan, and Lipid Regulators in a Subtropical Urban River: Effects of Urban Occupation

摘要

Parabens, triclosan, and lipid regulators are frequently used in pharmaceuticals, personal care, hygiene, food, and other products. The final destination of these compounds frequently is domestic sewage. In many cases, collection and treatment systems are not completely efficient, and these compounds reach the environment. However, many of these substances are toxic, and their presence poses risks to several organisms. This study has the goal to determine the occurrence of five personal care products and two lipid regulators in three rivers in southern Brazil. Four sampling campaigns were conducted in December, March, June, and October in three rivers. Risk assessment was performed, and the general index of human contamination (GIHC) was used to evaluate water pollution in the area. Compounds were analyzed using an Agilent GC-MS/MS 7890A chromatograph. The monitoring and reaction mode (MRM) was employed for the detection and quantification of the compounds. Gemfibrozil was detected in concentrations up to 2590 ng L-1 and personal care products up to 788 ng L-1. Fenofibrate was not detected in any sample, while gemfibrozil, methylparaben, propylparaben, and triclosan were detected in all samples. Risk assessment indicated that triclosan, propylparaben, and gemfibrozil should be designated as priority compounds in the area. GIHC is a simple and efficient tool to assess pollution in urban areas and can be employed in future studies. The results indicated that areas upstream of the WWTPs had higher contamination levels than downstream, indicating that diffuse pollution and illegal effluent discharges may have a strong influence on the water quality in the area.