Structural Diversity of Organic Contaminants in a meso-scaled River System

Abstract

Due to intensive anthropogenic usage, a complex mixture of inorganic and organic contaminants entered and still enters freshwater systems, released by various activities and emission sources. However, because of the highly dynamic nature of rivers, the individual occurrence, fate, and behavior, especially of organic contaminants, are highly complex and not fully understood. Here, a GC/MS non-target screening was applied to identify and determine the chemical diversity in the aqueous phase of the meso-scaled Rur river and to categorize indicative and relevant contaminants according to their load profiles for a distinct emission characteristic. Besides very well-known or widespread lipophilic to semi-polar contaminants, also so far unknown or only sporadically identified substances have been detected. In particular, wastewater treatment plants and the paper industry have been identified as major emission sources. Additionally, temporal variations in organic contamination were investigated over three sampling campaigns (2004, 2015, and 2020). Within this timespan, the overall composition of the contamination in the Rur has changed slightly, but nevertheless, the high chemical diversity remained. A detailed consideration such as that undertaken in this study is necessary as the occurrence of substances in a river system depends on many different factors. For a holistic assessment of environmental behavior, not only the sampling locations and associated development of emission profiles must be considered but also temporal variations and mitigation measures. Such a multi-parameter scenario provides an important basis for the mitigation and reduction of organic pollutants in our environment.

Distribution, remobilization and accumulation of organic contaminants by flood events in a meso-scaled catchment system

“…Among others, they are used as technical agents to produce specialty papers and have therefore also been detected in recovered papers and packaging made from recycled paper [7,12]. Further on, DPE is a characteristic compound of wastewaters from modern paper production sites, and both were already found in the water of the Rur river [40]. For the investigated floodplains, the maximum concentrations for Mesamoll ® were 1.3 µg/g TOC in July and 0.75 µg/g TOC in February, for DIPN 14.2 µg/g TOC in July and 4.1 µg/ g TOC in February and for DPE 800 ng/g TOC in July and 13 ng/g TOC in February.…”

Global environmental and toxicological data of emerging plasticizers: current knowledge, regrettable substitution dilemma, green solution and future perspectives

“…84 A few recent studies have also found ATBC concentrations in various water environments; for example, concentrations were found to be 0.05 µg L −1 in the marine environment of Kuwait, 73 <LOQ to 96 ng L −1 in Nakdong River of Korea, 103 154 µg L −1 in groundwater of England, 104 and ≤0.54 in Rur River of Germany. 105 The most recent peer-reviewed studies have raised concerns about the potential endocrine disruption and developmental toxicity of ATBC in fish species. This is particularly alarming given the increasing ATBC residues in global water bodies, as reported in recent studies above.…”

“…A few recent studies have also found ATBC concentrations in various water environments; for example, concentrations were found to be 0.05 μg L −1 in the marine environment of Kuwait, 73 <LOQ to 96 ng L −1 in Nakdong River of Korea, 103 154 μg L −1 in groundwater of England, 104 and ≤0.54 in Rur River of Germany. 105…”

Inventory of aqueous and sediment-associated organic pollutants released by the 2021 flood in the Vicht–Inde catchment, Germany

“…The subsequent extraction of water samples was conducted utilizing established and previously documented protocols after Dsikowitzky et al [24] and Schwanen and Schwarzbauer [91].…”