Methods for evaluating in-stream attenuation of trace organic compounds

Writer, Jeffrey H.; Keefe, Steffanie K.; Ryan, Joseph N.; Ferrer, Imma; Thurman, E. Michael; Barber, Larry B.

doi:10.1016/j.apgeochem.2011.03.071

Cited by 18 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…The Sava River sampling campaign was carried out from September 1 to 10, 2014, on nine water units along the river at automatic gauging stations, providing the data for water level, temperature and discharge. The Lagrangian approach to sample of the same water mass upstream at the input (1) and downstream at the output (2) boundaries of the selected river water unit was applied (Writer et al 2011). This enabled to relate transformations of dissolved and suspended contaminant compounds with the travel time.…”

Section: Samplingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Elements in water, suspended particulate matter and sediments of the Sava River

et al. 2016

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Purpose River ecosystems are under pressure from several different stressors. Among these, inorganic pollutants contribute to multiple stressor situations and the overall degradation of the ecological status of the aquatic environments. The main sources of pollution include different industrial activities, untreated effluents from municipal waste waters and intensive agriculture. In the present study, water, suspended particulate matter (SPM) and sediments of the Sava River were studied in order to assess the pollution status of this river system. Materials and methods Sampling was performed during the first sampling campaign of the EU 7th FW funded GLOBAQUA project in September 2014, at 18 selected sampling sites along the Sava River. In 2014, floods predominated from spring to fall. Water samples were collected to determine the total element concentrations, the dissolved (0.45 μm) fraction and element concentrations in SPM. In order to assure comparative results with other river basins, the fraction below 63 μm was analysed in sediments. The extent of pollution was estimated by determination of the total element concentrations and by the identification of the most hazardous highly mobile element fractions (extraction 0.11 mol L −1 acetic acid) and anthropogenic inputs of elements to sediments (normalization to aluminium (Al) concentration). Concentrations of selected elements were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Results and discussion Since during sampling campaign the water level was extremely high, water samples contained high amounts of SPM (in general between 80 and 100 mg L −1). The data of chemical analysis revealed that concentrations of elements in water, SPM and sediments in general increase along the Sava River from its origin to the confluence with the Danube River. Elevated concentrations of chromium (Cr) and nickel (Ni) in SPM and sediments were observed at industrially exposed sites. Concentrations of Cr and Ni in sediments were up to 320 and 250 mg kg −1 , respectively. Nevertheless, these elements were present in sparingly soluble forms and hence did not represent an environmental threat. Phosphorus (P) was found in elevated concentrations (up to 1500 mg kg −1) at regions with intensive agricultural activities and cities with dense population. Conclusions With respect to element concentrations, the pollution of the Sava River is similar to other moderately polluted European rivers. The data from the present study are beneficial for the water management authorities and can contribute to sustainable utilization, management and protection of the Sava River water resources.

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Section: Samplingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Elements in water, suspended particulate matter and sediments of the Sava River

et al. 2016

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“…To estimate the in-stream attenuation rates of pharmaceuticals and nutrients in several systems, we followed the intrinsic tracers approach (Writer et al 2011). We assessed in-stream attenuation by comparing the decrease in pharmaceutical and nutrient concentrations relative to the dilution coefficients determined from conservative elements by the EMMA.…”

Section: Calculations Of In-stream Attenuation Ratesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Occurrence and in-stream attenuation of wastewater-derived pharmaceuticals in Iberian rivers

Acuña

Schiller

García-Galán

et al. 2015

Science of The Total Environment

110

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Amultitude of pharmaceuticals enter surface waters via discharges of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), and many raise environmental and health concerns. Chemical fate models predict their concentrations using estimates of mass loading, dilution and in-stream attenuation. However, current comprehension of the attenuation rates remains a limiting factor for predictive models.We assessed in-stream attenuation of 75 pharmaceuticals in 4 river segments, aiming to characterize in-stream attenuation variability among different pharmaceutical compounds, as well as among river segments differing in environmental conditions. Our study revealed that in-streamattenuation was highly variable among pharmaceuticals and river segments and that none of the considered pharmaceutical physicochemical and molecular properties proved to be relevant in determining the mean attenuation rates. Instead, the octanol–water partition coefficient (Kow) influenced the variability of rates among river segments, likely due to its effect on sorption to sediments and suspended particles, and therefore influencing the balance between the different attenuation mechanisms (biotransformation, photolysis, sorption, and volatilization). The magnitude of themeasured attenuation rates urges scientists to consider themas important as dilutionwhen aiming to predict concentrations in freshwater ecosystemsThis research was supported by aMarie Curie European Reintegration Grant (PERG07-GA-2010-259219) and by a Marie Curie Career Integration Grant (PCIG9-GA-2011-293535) within the 7th European Community Framework Programme, aswell as by the SpanishMinistry of Economy and Competitiveness through the projects SCARCE (Consolider-Ingenio 2010 CSD2009-00065) and ENDERUS (CTM-2009-13018), and the postdoctoral grants “Juan de la Cierva” (jci-2009-05604 and jci-2010- 06397), and by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER). This work was partly supported by the Generalitat de Catalunya (Consolidated Research Group: Water and Soil Quality Unit 2009-SGR-965

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“…An alternative approach is to virtually follow a water parcel as it is advectively transported downstream (Lagrangian reference frame). This method has been used to describe longitudinal changes in water quality and transformation of nutrients and contaminants (Brown et al ., ; Deutsch et al ., ; Volkmar et al ., ; Writer et al ., ; Coupe et al ., ) and plankton communities (Weitere and Arndt, ; Quiel et al ., ) in different rivers, as hydrochemical and biological processes occurring during downstream transport can be studied in a more direct way, and apparent plankton growth rates can be estimated.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Longitudinal Variability in Hydrochemistry and Zooplankton Community of a Large River: A Lagrangian‐Based Approach

Bertani

Longo

Pecora

et al. 2016

River Research & Apps

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The variability in water quality and zooplankton community structure during downstream transport was investigated in the Po river (Italy) using for the first time a Lagrangian sampling approach. Two surveys were conducted, one in spring under relatively high discharge levels, and one at low flows in summer. Twelve stations along a 332‐km stretch of the river's lowland reach and four major tributaries were sampled. A hydrodynamic modelling system was used to determine water transport time along the river, with a satisfying fit between simulated and observed discharge values. No clear downstream trend in phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations was found. Conversely, a marked longitudinal decrease in dissolved silica supports the hypothesis of increasing downstream silica limitation during the phytoplankton growing season. In spring, at low residence time, no apparent plankton growth was observed during downstream transport. In summer, higher temperatures and lower turbulence and turbidity associated with longer residence time stimulated algal growth and in‐stream reproduction of fast‐growing rotifer taxa, with the gradual downstream development of a truly potamal assemblage and the increase of the ratio of euplanktonic to littoral/epibenthic rotifer taxa. Crustacean zooplankton density was generally low. The importance of biotic interactions within the zooplankton in driving community abundance and composition appeared to increase in the downstream direction, paralleled by a decrease in the influence of physical forcing. Tributary influence was especially evident where severe anthropogenic alterations of river hydrology and trophic status resulted in enhanced plankton growth, ultimately affecting zooplankton structure in the main river. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Methods for evaluating in-stream attenuation of trace organic compounds

Cited by 18 publications

References 20 publications

Elements in water, suspended particulate matter and sediments of the Sava River

Elements in water, suspended particulate matter and sediments of the Sava River

Occurrence and in-stream attenuation of wastewater-derived pharmaceuticals in Iberian rivers

Longitudinal Variability in Hydrochemistry and Zooplankton Community of a Large River: A Lagrangian‐Based Approach

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