Organic micropollutants (OMPs) in natural waters: Oxidation by UV/H2O2 treatment and toxicity assessment

摘要

Organic micropollutants (OMPs) are ubiquitous in natural waters even in places where the human activity is limited. The presence of OMPs in natural water sources for human consumption encourages the evaluation of different water purification technologies to ensure water quality. In this study, the Biobio river (Chile) was selected since the watershed includes urban settlements and economic activities (i.e. agriculture, forestry) that incorporate a variety of OMPs into the aquatic environment, such as pesticides, pharmaceuticals and personal care products. Atrazine (herbicide), caffeine (psychotropic), diclofenac (anti-inflammatory) and triclosan (antimicrobial) in Biobio river water and in different stages of a drinking and two wastewater treatment plants downstream Biobio river were determined using solid phase extraction (SPE) and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and electrospray ionization (ESI). Quantification of these four compounds showed concentrations in the range of 8 +/- 2 to 55 +/- 10 ng L-1 in Biobio river water, 11 +/- 2 to 74 +/- 21 ng L-1 in the drinking water treatment plant, and 60 +/- 10 to 15,000 +/- 1300 ng L-1 in the wastewater treatment plants. Caffeine was used as an indicator of wastewater discharges.