A method for evaluating consumer product ingredient contributions to surface and drinking water: Boron as a test case

Abstract

Abstract-Boron is a ubiquitous element that enters surface waters via two main routes, weathering of boron-containing rock (e.g., borosilicates) and release of boron in cleaning products through disposal to wastewater treatment systems. Recently, concentrations of boron deemed safe for humans and aquatic organisms, via drinking and surface water exposures, have been published. In comparison, however, little has been published regarding the concentrations and distribution of boron in surface waters. This manuscript describes the geographic distribution of boron in the U.S. and California and details a unique method for estimating the amount of boron in receiving waters from consumer product sources using ROUT, a novel deterministic U.S.-scale surface water modeling system, and the USEPA STORET database. ROUT is a national model that predicts chemical concentrations in U.S. rivers and streams and surface drinking water intakes that receive discharges from publically owned wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Over 500,000 river miles are systematically routed through the 18 major hydrologic regions of the continental U.S., excluding Alaska and Hawaii. A geographic information system interface coupled to ROUT provides a readily interpretable map of the predicted influences of environmental loadings on environmental concentrations. In addition, this capability allows for comparisons of ROUT output versus other water quality databases (i.e., STORET database) that are georeferenced. Further, for consumer product ingredients that are measured in surface waters, it may be possible to estimate the relative contribution of that ingredient in surface waters from consumer use. Concentrations of boron in receiving waters, predicted concentrations from consumer products, and the percentage of boron from consumer products were determined for California and the continental U.S. Over 55,000 records of dissolved boron were found in STORET between 1984 and 1993. At least one record was found in 667 counties in 44 states, most west of the Mississippi River. Based on all measurements, the median and 90th percentile boron concentrations for the U.S. were 0.076 and 0.387 mg B/L, respectively. The percent contribution of boron in surface waters from consumer product use and disposal to WWTPs was found to be dependent on the extent of sewage treatment plant effluent/receiving water dilution and natural background boron levels. Where background boron levels and dilution factors were lowest, the percent consumerderived contributions were the greatest.

Environmental Safety of the Use of Major Surfactant Classes in North America

“…Using mean flow data for all receiving waters from U.S. EPA's RF1 river file ( U.S. EPA, 1992 ) and flow data obtained from municipal WWTPs, the cumulative percentage WWTP effluent as a surrogate measure of persistent wastewater constituents within stream reaches was estimated. The GIS-ROUT model ( Dyer and Caprara, 1997 ; Wang et al, 2000 , 2005 ), which is the precursor to the iSTREEM® model, was used to estimate riverine concentrations of chemicals derived from household products.…”

GIS-ROUT: A River Model for Watershed Planning

“…WU12 is a steadystate water quality model incorporating wastewater treatment infrastructure, industrial point sources, and hydrological and water quality data of receiving water bodies to assess potential water quality impacts of existing and proposed wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs;USEPA, 1984). Owing to the wide geographic distribution of consumer product use, ROUT, a model which subsequently evolved from WU12 and several USEPA databases, is used to predict concentrations of consumer product ingredients in more than 500 000 river miles of nonestuarine surface waters in the United States that receive one or more discharges from publicly owned WWTPs (Dyer and Caprara, 1997;Hennes and Rapaport, 1989). Boron is an example of the chemicals discussed in Dyer and Caprara (1997).…”

“…Owing to the wide geographic distribution of consumer product use, ROUT, a model which subsequently evolved from WU12 and several USEPA databases, is used to predict concentrations of consumer product ingredients in more than 500 000 river miles of nonestuarine surface waters in the United States that receive one or more discharges from publicly owned WWTPs (Dyer and Caprara, 1997;Hennes and Rapaport, 1989). Boron is an example of the chemicals discussed in Dyer and Caprara (1997). One of the major sources of boron is consumer products.…”

“…Concentrations of consumer product ingredients and conventional water quality parameters such as dissolved oxygen (DO), carbonaceous biological oxygen demand (CBOD), nitrogenous biological oxygen demand (NBOD), and ammonia (NH 3 ) are also predicted. ROUT outputs can be at the reach, county, state, and national levels (Dyer and Caprara, 1997).…”

Investigations on boron levels in drinking water sources in China

“…Lots of data were reported on boron levels in different water sources in many countries over past decades (Coughlin 1998;Gianni and Marina 1988;Butterwick et al 1989;Murray 1995;Dyer and Caprara 1997;Coughlin 1998;Sayli 1998;NAQUADAT 1986;Barr et al 1993;Wyness et al 2003). Besides, the U.S. has done some health risk assessment of boron in its drinking water (Murray 1995).…”