Occurrence, Distribution, and Environmental Behavior of Persistent, Mobile, and Toxic (PMT) and Very Persistent and Very Mobile (vPvM) Substances in the Sources of German Drinking Water

Identifying persistent, mobile, and toxic (PMT) substances from synthetic chemicals is critical for chemical management and ecological risk assessment. Inspired by the triazine analogues (e.g., atrazine and melamine) in the original European Union’s list of PMT substances, the occurrence and compositions of alkylamine triazines (AATs) in the estuarine sediments of main rivers along the eastern coast of China were comprehensively explored by an integrated strategy of target, suspect, and nontarget screening analysis. A total of 44 AATs were identified, of which 23 were confirmed by comparison with authentic standards. Among the remaining tentatively identified analogues, 18 were emerging pollutants not previously reported in the environment. Tri- and di-AATs were the dominant analogues, and varied geographic distributions of AATs were apparent in the investigated regions. Toxic unit calculations indicated that there were acute and chronic risks to algae from AATs on a large geographical scale, with the antifouling biocide cybutryne as a key driver. The assessment of physicochemical properties further revealed that more than half of the AATs could be categorized as potential PMT and very persistent and very mobile substances at the screening level. These results highlight that AATs are a class of PMT substances posing high ecological impacts on the aquatic environment and therefore require more attention.

Section: Environmental Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Occurrence and Ecological Risk of Alkylamine Triazines in Chinese Estuarine Sediments: An Emerging Class of Persistent, Mobile, and Toxic Substances

Li,

Su,

Zhong

et al. 2024

“…These substances can be transported over long distances, are widely present in surface water and groundwater even at low levels of discharge, and may also infiltrate drinking water treatment facilities . At present, the assessment and control of PMT and very persistent, very mobile (vPvM) substances are mainly based on the registration, evaluation, authorization, and restriction of chemicals (REACH) regulation; − however, the regulation only applies to REACH-registered substances and does not govern all pollutants entering the environment. In addition, bioactive antimicrobial transformation products (ATPs) with similar or even higher persistence and mobility than their parent compounds could accelerate the spread of ARGs, posing a potential risk to water resources.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nontarget Discovery of Antimicrobial Transformation Products in Wastewater Based on Molecular Networks

Wang

Shi

et al. 2023

Antimicrobial transformation products (ATPs) in the environment have raised extensive concerns in recent years due to their potential health risks. However, only a few ATPs have been investigated, and most of the transformation pathways of antimicrobials have not been completely elucidated. In this study, we developed a nontarget screening strategy based on molecular networks to detect and identify ATPs in pharmaceutical wastewater. We identified 52 antimicrobials and 49 transformation products (TPs) with a confidence level of three or above. Thirty of the TPs had not been previously reported in the environment. We assessed whether TPs could be classified as persistent, mobile, and toxic (PMT) substances based on recent European criteria for industrial substances. Owing to poor experimental data, definitive PMT classifications could not be established for novel ATPs. PMT assessment based on structurally predictive physicochemical properties revealed that 47 TPs were potential PMT substances. These results provide evidence that novel ATPs should be the focus of future research.

“…Numerous pieces of evidence together indicate that melamine is adversely affecting the ecosystem and human health. In recent years, the occurrence of melamine has been reported in various environmental media, − plants, animals, − and humans. − Moreover, the highest concentration of melamine in sewage treatment plants (STPs) ever recorded in the world was reported in China. , Due to its high detection rates (33–91%) and concentrations (>1 μg/L) in the water environment, which exceed those of most other PMT/vPvM substances, melamine is increasingly recognized as a critical pollutant of drinking water sources. − …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dynamic Source Distribution and Emission Inventory of a Persistent, Mobile, and Toxic (PMT) Substance, Melamine, in China

Zhang,

Chen,

Wang

et al. 2023

Persistent, mobile, and toxic (PMT) substances are affecting the safety of drinking water and are threatening the environment and human health. Many PMT substances are used in industrial processing or consumer products, but their sources and emissions mostly remain unclear. This study presents a long-term source distribution and emission estimation of melamine, a high-production-volume PMT substance of emerging global concern. The results indicate that in China, approximately 1858.7 kilotonnes (kt) of melamine were released into the water (∼58.9%), air (∼27.0%), and soil systems (∼14.1%) between 1995 and 2020, mainly from its production and use in the decorative panels, textiles, and paper industries. The textile and paper industries have the highest emission-to-consumption ratios, with more than 90% emissions per unit consumption. Sewage treatment plants are the largest source of melamine in the environment for the time being, but in-use products and their wastes will serve as significant melamine sources in the future. The study prompts priority action to control the risk of PMT substances internationally.