No abstract

The detection and monitoring of illicit drug concentrations in environmental waters is of increasing interest. This study aimed to determine if illicit and regulated compounds, their potential pre-cursors, and metabolites varied in amount discharged into the environment from treated wastewater at different facilities. Water samples were taken from discharge points of four different tertiary wastewater treatment plants discharging directly into the Hawkesbury-Nepean River (Australia) on two different occasions and analysed to determine the concentrations of compounds including: ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, amphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, methamphetamine, cocaine, and benzoylecgonine. Here, we show that detectable levels of illicit drug and metabolites are being emitted on a consistent basis after having persisted through the wastewater treatment process. The concentrations of methamphetamine are in excess of previously reported surface water concentrations. The estimated total load of compounds being discharged on a daily basis is greater than similar sized catchment areas. The results presented here are of concern from both an ecological and human health perspective.

This study investigates contaminants from a single coal mine wastewater discharge released to the Wollangambe River accumulating in an aquatic predatory beetle (Macrogyrus rivularis). The study was undertaken within the Wollangambe River and its surrounding tributaries. The coal mine wastewater discharge is regulated by the New South Wales Environment Protection Authority and the regulation of the pollutants only concentrates on water column concentrations. The majority of the Wollangambe River flows within the World Heritage Greater Blue Mountains National Park and is protected through many layers of legislation from state to federal and international (Threatened Species Conservation Act 2005, Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation ACT 1999, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization 2000). Results show that many contaminants are at statistically higher concentrations within the water column, stream sediment and beetles sampled when compared between reference and impacted sample locations. Analysis of Similarity (ANOSIM) found significant differences for contaminants in beetles sampled at impacted sites compared to reference sites with no significant difference recorded between reference sites. Biota and/or Environmental matching (Best) found Manganese, Cobalt, Nickel and Zinc as the factors which have the greatest influence in differences. The implications that contaminants from the regulated wastewater being discharged may be accumulating within aquatic biota is of major concern as the regulation of the wastewater only concentrates on water column pollutants and is not taking into account the greater environmental ramifications of the pollution.