Spatial and Temporal Variability in Attenuation of Polar Organic Micropollutants in an Urban Lowland Stream

Contamination of rivers by trace organic compounds (TrOCs) poses a risk for aquatic ecosystems and drinking water quality. Spatially- and temporally varying environmental conditions are expected to play a major role in controlling in-stream attenuation of TrOCs. This variability is rarely captured b...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental science & technology 2019-03, Vol.53 (5), p.2383-2395
Main Authors: Jaeger, Anna, Posselt, Malte, Betterle, Andrea, Schaper, Jonas, Mechelke, Jonas, Coll, Claudia, Lewandowski, Joerg
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acids
Applied Environmental Science
Aquatic ecosystems
Aquatic plants
Attenuation
Biodegradation
Contamination
Diclofenac
Drinking water
Environmental conditions
Hydrochlorothiazide
Macrophytes
Metoprolol
Micropollutants
Organic compounds
Photolysis
Rate constants
Rivers
Spatial distribution
tillämpad miljövetenskap
Variability
Water pollution
Water quality
Water temperature
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Summary:Contamination of rivers by trace organic compounds (TrOCs) poses a risk for aquatic ecosystems and drinking water quality. Spatially- and temporally varying environmental conditions are expected to play a major role in controlling in-stream attenuation of TrOCs. This variability is rarely captured by in situ studies of TrOC attenuation. Instead, snap-shots or time-weighted average conditions and corresponding attenuation rates are reported. The present work sought to investigate this variability and factors controlling it by analysis of 24 TrOCs over a 4.7 km reach of the River Erpe (Berlin, Germany). The factors investigated included sunlight and water temperature as well as the presence of macrophytes. Attenuation rate constants in 48 consecutive hourly water parcels were tracked along two contiguous river sections of different characteristics. Section 1 was less shaded and more densely covered with submerged macrophytes compared to section 2. The sampling campaign was repeated after macrophyte removal from section 1. The findings show, that section 1 generally provided more favorable conditions for both photo- and biodegradation. Macrophyte removal enhanced photolysis of some compounds (e.g., hydrochlorothiazide and diclofenac) while reducing the biodegradation of metoprolol. The transformation products metoprolol acid and valsartan acid were formed along the reach under all conditions.
ISSN:0013-936X
1520-5851
1520-5851
DOI:10.1021/acs.est.8b05488