Inputs of Domestic and Industrial Sewage in Upper Iguassu, Brazil Identified by Emerging Compounds

Abstract

The presence of emerging compounds was investigated in surface water samples from Iguassu River watershed in the metropolitan region of Curitiba (Brazil). Emerging compounds are substances present in domestic and industrial sewage. Generally, the emerging compounds are present in the environment due to the indiscriminate release of untreated domestic and industrial sewage. Even treated sewage may contain emerging compounds due to the difficulty in removing them. In this work, the presence of caffeine, musk xylene (a fragrance), and bisphenol-A was investigated in surface water samples. Also, traditional parameters used in water quality monitoring were determined, such as biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), nitrate, and fecal coliforms. The emerging compounds were extracted in solid phase and analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. Caffeine is eliminated in the urine (approximately 0.5% to 10% of the consumption), and the only source is domestic sewage. Bisphenol is widely used in food packs, while musk xylene is found in personal care products, easily eliminated in sewage. The caffeine concentration was between 1.74±0.54 and 123.45±0.81 μg/L. Musk xylene and bisphenol-A had their concentrations between 0.04±0.07 and 0.56±0.12 and between 0.62± 0.15 and 12.61±0.21 μg/L, respectively. Positive correlations were found between caffeine and traditional monitoring parameters (BOD and fecal coliforms). Higher values of emerging compounds were determined at points considered extremely polluted. The positive correlations confirm the origin of emerging compounds and show that chemical markers are good parameters for monitoring pollution when the use of traditional parameters makes the diagnosis doubtful.

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“…Em relação à cafeína, as concentrações no presente estudo (Tabela 3) estão abaixo daquelas encontradas na literatura para outros rios na cidade de Curitiba: Atuba A cafeína tem sido utilizada como indicador de contaminação por esgotos (FROEHNER et al, 2011;PUERA-RI et al, 2012;EDWARDS et al, 2015;EKKLESIA et al, 2015;KUZMANOVIC et al, 2015;PHILLIPS et al, 2015;SENTA et al, 2015;THOMAIDI et al, 2015), podendo, dessa forma, ser empregada por órgãos ambientais e companhias de saneamento como um parâmetro para verificação de ineficiência do sistema de esgotamento sanitário ou ocorrência de lançamentos clandestinos. Froehner et al (2011) encontraram uma relação positiva entre os parâmetros físico-químicos (nitrato e DBO), microbiológicos (coliformes termotolerantes) e a concentração de cafeína.…”

“…Froehner et al (2011) encontraram uma relação positiva entre os parâmetros físico-químicos (nitrato e DBO), microbiológicos (coliformes termotolerantes) e a concentração de cafeína. Segundo os autores, tal resultado indica que a cafeína é proveniente de esgoto doméstico e efluente de estação de tratamento.…”

Estimation of bioavailability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in river sediments

“…Sites P1, P2 and P3 are located in a region distant from pollution sources, while others are located in regions near anthropic activities (industrial activities, intense traffic, and oil refinery) (Froehner et al 2010). Most of the sampled sites are closed to industrial areas and near highways with intense traffic of buses and trucks.…”

“…1). The Upper Iguassu watershed has its sources along the Serra do Mar, whose main river runs for about 90 km until reaching the limits of the metropolitan region of Curitiba, draining an area of around 2,800 km 2 (Froehner et al 2010), with population of this area is approximately 3 millions in 14 municipalities. The area covered is heavily urbanized and has been submitted to a process of irregular occupation of flood plains and watershed areas, which has led to the clear degradation of rivers in the region.…”

“…The sample extraction procedure was performed according to previously reported methods (Mai et al 2002;Froehner et al 2010). PAHs were extracted twice with 50 mL of dichloromethane for 15 min by ultrasonic agitation with frequency of 20 kHz.…”