Concentrations and loads of dissolved xenobiotics and hormones in two small river catchments of different land use in Luxembourg

Abstract

Abstract:The investigation focuses on the analysis of dissolved sulfonamides, tetracyclines, analgesics, anticonvulsants and hormones in surface water. Runoff event and baseflow samples were analysed in two small river catchments of different land use in Luxembourg. For most of the flood events, similar pollutant loads to those transported during 1 day with average baseflow discharge were observed. The maximum contents during flood events and the event mean concentrations are controlled by preevent hydro-climatological conditions. For all substances under investigation, maximum concentrations and event mean concentrations show a decrease with raising antecedent rainfall. In addition, the interstorm and intrastorm variability of the pollutant transport was determined. Runoff generation and corresponding transport of xenobiotic compounds show a complex pattern with many interrelated processes, taking place within bedrock, soil, anthropogenic facilities and channel and in different parts of the basins under investigation. Different sources of pollutants can be identified and related to particular locations in the basin. The influence of the sewer systems is obvious. In the agricultural Mess basin, higher rainfall amounts lead to greater quantities of laterally inflowing soil water with higher concentrations of dissolved oxytetracycline. This originates from veterinary medicines administered to livestock and enters the environment through the application of organic fertilisers, especially by slurry that is applied to the fields.

Pharmaceuticals in freshwater aquatic environments: A comparison of the African and European challenge

“…The second highest concentration of carbamazepine was 490 ng L −1 , reported from the experiments that were carried out at a small stream in Germany which is impacted by a sewage treatment plant (Kunkel and Radke, 2012). CBZ-ep (carbamazepine-10,11epoxide) was measured at a concentration of 1 ng L −1 in Luxembourg (Krein et al, 2013) and up to a level of 1670 ng L −1 in Spain (López-serna et al, 2012a). dh-hCBZ (10,11-dihydro-10hydroxycarbamazepine) was also quantified from 1.36 ng L −1 to 70 ng L −1 in Spain (López-Serna et al, 2012b).…”

Pesticide contamination of the upper Elbe River and an adjacent floodplain area

“…While surface and subsurface runoff are known to be the most important drivers of pesticide dislocation and contamination into surface waters, and therefore, of surface water contamination, only a few studies focused on the contribution of flood events to remobilization and translocation of contaminant loads. For example, Krein et al (2013) highlight the crucial importance of flood event observation in contaminant transport studies. The same picture can be seen for our data, where the loads of the selected pesticides were considerably higher during flood events.…”

Occurrence and Distribution of Pharmaceuticals and their Transformation Products in Luxembourgish Surface Waters

“…[1][2][3] Aside from providing data on the level of xenobiotics in Luxembourgish waters, these studies have also demonstrated that the presence of these chemicals are due to inputs from land use, accidental spillage, wastewater effluent, and long range transport. 1,[3][4][5][6] Other studies have reported the measurement of 14 pesticides and their transformation products (TPs) both in surface water and drinking water. 3,7 The Luxembourg Water Management Agency (Administration de la Gestion de l'Eau, hereafter AGE), in compliance with the European Union Water Framework Directive (WFD), monitors different organic contaminants in Luxembourgish surface water.…”

“…Considering the previously reported presence of chemicals in Luxembourg's environment 2,[4][5][6][7] and the widespread use of chemicals in daily life, a large number of compounds could be considered as potential environmental pollutants in Luxembourg.…”