Application of the GREAT-ER model for environmental risk assessment of nonylphenol and nonylphenol ethoxylates in China

Abstract

The environmental risk presented by Bdown-thedrain^chemicals to receiving rivers in large urban areas has received increasing attention in recent years. Geo-referenced Regional Environmental Assessment Tool for European Rivers (GREAT-ER) is a typical river catchment model that has been specifically developed for the risk assessment of these chemicals and applied in many European rivers. By utilizing the new version of the model, GREAT-ER 3.0, which is the first completely open source software for worldwide application, this study represents the first attempt to conduct an application of GREAT-ER in the Wenyu River of China. Aquatic exposure simulation and an environmental risk assessment of nonylphenol (NP) and its environmental precursor nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEOs) were conducted effectively by GREAT-ER model, since NP is one of typical endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and its environmental precursor NPEOs as a Bdown-the-drain^chemical are extensively used in China. In the result, the predicted environmental concentrations (PECs) of NP and NPEOs in the water of Wenyu River were 538 and 4320 ng/L, respectively, at the regional scale, and 1210 and 8990 ng/L, respectively, at the local scale. From the results profile of the RCR, the combination of high emissions from large STPs with insufficient dilution of the river caused the high RCR. The PECs of NP in the sediment were in the range of 216.8-8218.3 ng/g (dry weight), which was consistent with the available monitoring data. The study showed the worldwide applicability and reliability of GREAT-ER as a river catchment model for the risk assessment of these chemicals and also revealed the general environmental risks presented by NP and NPEOs in the Wenyu River catchment in Beijing due to the extensive use of these chemicals. The results suggest that specific control or treatment measures are probably warranted for these chemicals to reduce their discharge in major cities.

Ecological Risk Assessment of Pharmaceuticals in the Transboundary Vecht River (Germany and The Netherlands)

“…Firstly, an exposure assessment was performed by the applying the georeferenced model GREAT-ER, which has a good track record for predicting pharmaceutical PECs in river catchments (Aldekoa et al 2013;Alder et al 2010;Archundia et al 2018;Caldwell et al 2019;Capdevielle et al 2008;Cunningham 2008;Hanamoto et al 2013;Hannah et al 2009;Schowanek and Webb 2002;Zhang et al 2015). Secondly, an effect assessment was performed based on existing ecotoxicological information.…”

“…The main aim of the present study was to construct ecological risk profiles for surface water concentrations of 8 environmental residues of APIs in the European transboundary Vecht River, a river that crosses several German and Dutch regions. Firstly, an exposure assessment was performed by the applying the geo‐referenced model GREAT‐ER, which has a good track record for predicting pharmaceutical PECs in river catchments (Schowanek and Webb 2002; Capdevielle et al 2008; Cunningham 2008; Hannah et al 2009; Alder et al 2010; Aldekoa et al 2013; Hanamoto et al 2013; Zhang et al 2015; Archundia et al 2018; Caldwell et al 2019). Secondly, an effect assessment was performed based on existing ecotoxicological information.…”

GLOBAL-FATE (version 1.0.0): A geographical information system (GIS)-based model for assessing contaminants fate in the global river network

“…Excretion parameter. We considered the oral application because it is the main form of administration and accounts for about 70 % of the worldwide diclofenac sales following IMS-Health data (Zhang et al, 2008). We took γ = 12.5 % as the mean value for the excretion rate (Johnson et al, 2013 γ = 9.5 %; Heberer and Feldmann, 2005 -γ = 105 %-15 %; Ternes, 1998 -γ = 15 %).…”

“…Fraction of contaminant attenuation in WWTP and firstorder decay rate in the river network. The percentage of the removal of diclofenac in water treatment plants, ε = 40 %, was decided as a tentative value between 21 %-40 % and 69 % (ranges from data in Zhang et al, 2008, andTernes et al, 1998). For this example, the first-order decay rate in the river network was set to k = 0.0096 (after Pistocchi et al, 2012).…”

Pharmaceuticals, toxicity and antimicrobial resistance. Advancing human health and environmental risk assessment

“…The main aim of the present study was to construct ecological risk profiles for surface water concentrations of 8 environmental residues of APIs in the European transboundary Vecht River, a river that crosses several German and Dutch regions. Firstly, an exposure assessment was performed by the applying the geo-referenced model GREAT-ER, which has a good track record for predicting pharmaceutical PECs in river catchments (Schowanek and Webb 2002;Capdevielle et al 2008;Cunningham 2008;Hannah et al 2009;Alder et al 2010;Aldekoa et al 2013;Hanamoto et al 2013;Zhang et al 2015;Archundia et al 2018;Caldwell et al 2019). Secondly, an effect assessment was performed based on existing ecotoxicological information.…”