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Souza DND, Mounteer AH, Arcanjo GS. Estrogenic compounds in drinking water: A systematic review and risk analysis. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 360:142463. [PMID: 38821126 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
Estrogenic compounds are the endocrine disruptors that receive major attention because of their ability to imitate the natural female hormone, 17β-estradiol and cause adverse effects on the reproductive system of animals. The presence of estrogenic compounds in drinking water is a warning to assess the risks to which human beings are exposed. The present work has the objectives of carrying out a systematic review of studies that investigated estrogenic compounds in drinking water around the world and estimate the human health and estrogenic activity risks, based on the concentrations of each compound reported. The systematic review returned 505 scientific papers from the Web of Science®, SCOPUS® and PubMED® databases and after careful analysis, 45 papers were accepted. Sixteen estrogenic compounds were identified in drinking water, from the classes of hormones, pharmaceutical drugs and personal care products, plasticizers, corrosion inhibitors, pesticides and surfactants. Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) was the compound found at the highest concentration, reaching a value of 1.43 mg/L. Non-carcinogenic human health risk was classified as high for 17α-ethynilestradiol and DEHP, medium for dibutyl phthalate, and low for bisphenol A. The estrogenic activity risks were negligible for all the compounds, except DEHP, with a low risk. None of the estrogenic compounds presented an unacceptable carcinogenic risk, due to estrogenic activity. However, the risk assessment did not evaluate the interactions between compounds, that occurs in drinking water and can increase the risks and adverse effects to human health. Nonetheless, this study demonstrates the need for improvement of drinking water treatment plants, with more efficient technologies for micropollutant removal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deisi N de Souza
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Meio Ambiente, Águas e Saneamento, Departamento de Engenharia Ambiental, Universidade Federal da Bahia, 40210-630, Salvador, BA, Brazil
| | - Ann H Mounteer
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia Civil, Departamento de Engenharia Civil, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-900, Viçosa, MG, Brazil
| | - Gemima S Arcanjo
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Meio Ambiente, Águas e Saneamento, Departamento de Engenharia Ambiental, Universidade Federal da Bahia, 40210-630, Salvador, BA, Brazil.
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2
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Rosenblum JS, Liethen A, Miller-Robbie L. Prioritization and Risk Ranking of Regulated and Unregulated Chemicals in US Drinking Water. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:6878-6889. [PMID: 38564650 PMCID: PMC11044589 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c08745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Drinking water constituents were compared using more than six million measurements (USEPA data) to prioritize and risk-rank regulated and unregulated chemicals and classes of chemicals. Hazard indexes were utilized for hazard- and risk-based chemicals, along with observed (nondetects = 0) and censored (nondetects = method detection limit/2) data methods. Chemicals (n = 139) were risk-ranked based on population exposed, resulting in the highest rankings for inorganic compounds (IOCs) and disinfection byproducts (DBPs), followed by semivolatile organic compounds (SOCs), nonvolatile organic compounds (NVOCs), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for observed data. The top 50 risk-ranked chemicals included 15 that were unregulated, with at least one chemical from each chemical class (chromium-6 [#1, IOC], chlorate and NDMA [#11 and 12, DBP], 1,4-dioxane [#25, SOC], PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS [#42, 44, and 49, NVOC], and 1,2,3-trichloropropane [#48, VOC]). These results suggest that numerous unregulated chemicals are of higher exposure risk or hazard in US drinking water than many regulated chemicals. These methods could be applied following each Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR) data collection phase and compared to retrospective data that highlight what chemicals potentially pose the highest exposure risk or hazard among US drinking water, which could inform regulators, utilities, and researchers alike.
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Affiliation(s)
- James S. Rosenblum
- Civil and Environmental Engineering
Department, Colorado School of Mines Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
| | - Alexander Liethen
- Civil and Environmental Engineering
Department, Colorado School of Mines Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
| | - Leslie Miller-Robbie
- Civil and Environmental Engineering
Department, Colorado School of Mines Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
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3
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Smalling KL, Bradley PM. Invited Perspective: Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Drinking Water-Disparities in Community Exposures Based on Race and Socioeconomic Status. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2024; 132:41302. [PMID: 38656166 PMCID: PMC11041623 DOI: 10.1289/ehp13899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
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4
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Glassmeyer ST, Burns EE, Focazio MJ, Furlong ET, Gribble MO, Jahne MA, Keely SP, Kennicutt AR, Kolpin DW, Medlock Kakaley EK, Pfaller SL. Water, Water Everywhere, but Every Drop Unique: Challenges in the Science to Understand the Role of Contaminants of Emerging Concern in the Management of Drinking Water Supplies. GEOHEALTH 2023; 7:e2022GH000716. [PMID: 38155731 PMCID: PMC10753268 DOI: 10.1029/2022gh000716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
The protection and management of water resources continues to be challenged by multiple and ongoing factors such as shifts in demographic, social, economic, and public health requirements. Physical limitations placed on access to potable supplies include natural and human-caused factors such as aquifer depletion, aging infrastructure, saltwater intrusion, floods, and drought. These factors, although varying in magnitude, spatial extent, and timing, can exacerbate the potential for contaminants of concern (CECs) to be present in sources of drinking water, infrastructure, premise plumbing and associated tap water. This monograph examines how current and emerging scientific efforts and technologies increase our understanding of the range of CECs and drinking water issues facing current and future populations. It is not intended to be read in one sitting, but is instead a starting point for scientists wanting to learn more about the issues surrounding CECs. This text discusses the topical evolution CECs over time (Section 1), improvements in measuring chemical and microbial CECs, through both analysis of concentration and toxicity (Section 2) and modeling CEC exposure and fate (Section 3), forms of treatment effective at removing chemical and microbial CECs (Section 4), and potential for human health impacts from exposure to CECs (Section 5). The paper concludes with how changes to water quantity, both scarcity and surpluses, could affect water quality (Section 6). Taken together, these sections document the past 25 years of CEC research and the regulatory response to these contaminants, the current work to identify and monitor CECs and mitigate exposure, and the challenges facing the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan T. Glassmeyer
- U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyOffice of Research and DevelopmentCincinnatiOHUSA
| | | | - Michael J. Focazio
- Retired, Environmental Health ProgramEcosystems Mission AreaU.S. Geological SurveyRestonVAUSA
| | - Edward T. Furlong
- Emeritus, Strategic Laboratory Sciences BranchLaboratory & Analytical Services DivisionU.S. Geological SurveyDenverCOUSA
| | - Matthew O. Gribble
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental HealthRollins School of Public HealthEmory UniversityAtlantaGAUSA
| | - Michael A. Jahne
- U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyOffice of Research and DevelopmentCincinnatiOHUSA
| | - Scott P. Keely
- U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyOffice of Research and DevelopmentCincinnatiOHUSA
| | - Alison R. Kennicutt
- Department of Civil and Mechanical EngineeringYork College of PennsylvaniaYorkPAUSA
| | - Dana W. Kolpin
- U.S. Geological SurveyCentral Midwest Water Science CenterIowa CityIAUSA
| | | | - Stacy L. Pfaller
- U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyOffice of Research and DevelopmentCincinnatiOHUSA
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5
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Siegel HG, Nason SL, Warren JL, Prunas O, Deziel NC, Saiers JE. Investigation of Sources of Fluorinated Compounds in Private Water Supplies in an Oil and Gas-Producing Region of Northern West Virginia. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:17452-17464. [PMID: 37923386 PMCID: PMC10653085 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c05192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are a class of toxic organic compounds that have been widely used in consumer applications and industrial activities, including oil and gas production. We measured PFAS concentrations in 45 private wells and 8 surface water sources in the oil and gas-producing Doddridge, Marshall, Ritchie, Tyler, and Wetzel Counties of northern West Virginia and investigated relationships between potential PFAS sources and drinking water receptors. All surface water samples and 60% of the water wells sampled contained quantifiable levels of at least one targeted PFAS compound, and four wells (8%) had concentrations above the proposed maximum contaminant level (MCL) for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Individual concentrations of PFOA and perfluorobutanesulfonic acid exceeded those measured in finished public water supplies. Total targeted PFAS concentrations ranged from nondetect to 36.8 ng/L, with surface water concentrations averaging 4-fold greater than groundwater. Semiquantitative, nontargeted analysis showed concentrations of emergent PFAS that were potentially higher than targeted PFAS. Results from a multivariate latent variable hierarchical Bayesian model were combined with insights from analyses of groundwater chemistry, topographic characteristics, and proximity to potential PFAS point sources to elucidate predictors of PFAS concentrations in private wells. Model results reveal (i) an increased vulnerability to contamination in upland recharge zones, (ii) geochemical controls on PFAS transport likely driven by adsorption, and (iii) possible influence from nearby point sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen G. Siegel
- School
of the Environment, Yale University, 195 Prospect Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
| | - Sara L. Nason
- Connecticut
Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New
Haven, Connecticut 06504, United States
| | - Joshua L. Warren
- School
of Public Health, Yale University, 60 College Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, United States
| | - Ottavia Prunas
- Swiss
Tropical and Public Health Institute, 2 Kreuzstrasse, Allschwill, Basel 4123, Switzerland
| | - Nicole C. Deziel
- School
of Public Health, Yale University, 60 College Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, United States
| | - James E. Saiers
- School
of the Environment, Yale University, 195 Prospect Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
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6
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Smalling KL, Romanok KM, Bradley PM, Morriss MC, Gray JL, Kanagy LK, Gordon SE, Williams BM, Breitmeyer SE, Jones DK, DeCicco LA, Eagles-Smith CA, Wagner T. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in United States tapwater: Comparison of underserved private-well and public-supply exposures and associated health implications. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 178:108033. [PMID: 37356308 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
Drinking-water quality is a rising concern in the United States (US), emphasizing the need to broadly assess exposures and potential health effects at the point-of-use. Drinking-water exposures to per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a national concern, however, there is limited information on PFAS in residential tapwater at the point-of-use, especially from private-wells. We conducted a national reconnaissance to compare human PFAS exposures in unregulated private-well and regulated public-supply tapwater. Tapwater from 716 locations (269 private-wells; 447 public supply) across the US was collected during 2016-2021 including three locations where temporal sampling was conducted. Concentrations of PFAS were assessed by three laboratories and compared with land-use and potential-source metrics to explore drivers of contamination. The number of individual PFAS observed ranged from 1 to 9 (median: 2) with corresponding cumulative concentrations (sum of detected PFAS) ranging from 0.348 to 346 ng/L. Seventeen PFAS were observed at least once with PFBS, PFHxS and PFOA observed most frequently in approximately 15% of the samples. Across the US, PFAS profiles and estimated median cumulative concentrations were similar among private wells and public-supply tapwater. We estimate that at least one PFAS could be detected in about 45% of US drinking-water samples. These detection probabilities varied spatially with limited temporal variation in concentrations/numbers of PFAS detected. Benchmark screening approaches indicated potential human exposure risk was dominated by PFOA and PFOS, when detected. Potential source and land-use information was related to cumulative PFAS concentrations, and the number of PFAS detected; however, corresponding relations with specific PFAS were limited likely due to low detection frequencies and higher detection limits. Information generated supports the need for further assessments of cumulative health risks of PFAS as a class and in combination with other co-occurring contaminants, particularly in unmonitored private-wells where information is limited or not available.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Tyler Wagner
- U.S. Geological Survey, Pennsylvania Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
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7
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Lukač Reberski J, Selak A, Lapworth DJ, Maurice LD, Terzić J, Civil W, Stroj A. Emerging organic contaminants in springs of the highly karstified Dinaric region. JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY 2023; 621:129583. [PMID: 37334317 PMCID: PMC10273240 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2023.129583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Emerging organic contaminants (EOCs) have become of increasing interest due to concerns about their impact on humans and the wider environment. Karst aquifers are globally widespread, providing critical water supplies and sustaining rivers and ecosystems, and are particularly susceptible to pollution. However, EOC distributions in karst remain quite poorly understood. This study looks at the occurrence of EOCs in the Croatian karst, which is an example of the "classical" karst, a highly developed type of karst that occurs throughout the Dinaric region of Europe. Samples were collected from 17 karst springs and one karst lake used for water supply in Croatia during two sampling campaigns. From a screen of 740 compounds, a total of 65 compounds were detected. EOC compounds from the pharmaceutical (n = 26) and agrochemical groups (n = 26) were the most frequently detected, while industrials and artificial sweeteners had the highest concentrations (range 8-440 ng/L). The number of detected compounds and the frequency of detection demonstrate the vulnerability of karst to EOC pollution. Concentrations of 5 compounds (acesulfame, sucralose, perfluorobutane sulfonate, emamectin B1b, and triphenyl phosphate) exceeded EU standards and occurred at concentrations that are likely to be harmful to ecosystems. Overall, most detections were at low concentrations (50 % <1 ng/L). This may be due to high dilution within the exceptionally large springs of the Classical karst, or due to relatively few pollution sources within the catchments. Nevertheless, EOC fluxes are considerable (10 to 106 ng/s) due to the high discharge of the springs. Temporal differences were observed, but without a clear pattern, reflecting the highly variable nature of karst springs that occurs over both seasonal and short-term timescales. This research is one of a handful of regional EOC investigations in karst groundwater, and the first regional study in the Dinaric karst. It demonstrates the need for more frequent and extensive sampling of EOCs in karst to protect human health and the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ana Selak
- Croatian Geological Survey, Milana Sachsa 2, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Dan J. Lapworth
- British Geological Survey, Maclean Building, Wallingford OX10 8BB, UK
| | - Louise D. Maurice
- British Geological Survey, Maclean Building, Wallingford OX10 8BB, UK
| | - Josip Terzić
- Croatian Geological Survey, Milana Sachsa 2, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Wayne Civil
- NLS Starcross Lab, Staplake Mount, Starcross, Exeter EX6 8FD, UK
| | - Andrej Stroj
- Croatian Geological Survey, Milana Sachsa 2, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
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Barber LB, Pickard HM, Alvarez DA, Becanova J, Keefe SH, LeBlanc DR, Lohmann R, Steevens JA, Vajda AM. Uptake of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances by Fish, Mussel, and Passive Samplers in Mobile-Laboratory Exposures Using Groundwater from a Contamination Plume at a Historical Fire Training Area, Cape Cod, Massachusetts. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:5544-5557. [PMID: 36972291 PMCID: PMC10116195 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c06500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Aqueous film-forming foams historically were used during fire training activities on Joint Base Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and created an extensive per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) groundwater contamination plume. The potential for PFAS bioconcentration from exposure to the contaminated groundwater, which discharges to surface water bodies, was assessed with mobile-laboratory experiments using groundwater from the contamination plume and a nearby reference location. The on-site continuous-flow 21-day exposures used male and female fathead minnows, freshwater mussels, polar organic chemical integrative samplers (POCIS), and polyethylene tube samplers (PETS) to evaluate biotic and abiotic uptake. The composition of the PFAS-contaminated groundwater was complex and 9 PFAS were detected in the reference groundwater and 17 PFAS were detected in the contaminated groundwater. The summed PFAS concentrations ranged from 120 to 140 ng L-1 in reference groundwater and 6100 to 15,000 ng L-1 in contaminated groundwater. Biotic concentration factors (CFb) for individual PFAS were species, sex, source, and compound-specific and ranged from 2.9 to 1000 L kg-1 in whole-body male fish exposed to contaminated groundwater for 21 days. The fish and mussel CFb generally increased with increasing fluorocarbon chain length and were greater for sulfonates than for carboxylates. The exception was perfluorohexane sulfonate, which deviated from the linear trend and had a 10-fold difference in CFb between sites, possibly because of biotransformation of precursors such as perfluorohexane sulfonamide. Uptake for most PFAS in male fish was linear over time, whereas female fish had bilinear uptake indicated by an initial increase in tissue concentrations followed by a decrease. Uptake of PFAS was less for mussels (maximum CFb = 200) than for fish, and mussel uptake of most PFAS also was bilinear. Although abiotic concentration factors were greater than CFb, and values for POCIS were greater than for PETS, passive samplers were useful for assessing PFAS that potentially bioconcentrate in fish but are present at concentrations below method quantitation limits in water. Passive samplers also accumulate short-chain PFAS that are not bioconcentrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larry B Barber
- U.S. Geological Survey, 3215 Marine Street, Boulder, Colorado 80303, United States
| | - Heidi M Pickard
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - David A Alvarez
- U.S. Geological Survey, 4200 New Haven Road, Columbia, Missouri 65201, United States
| | - Jitka Becanova
- Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Horn Building 118, 215 South Ferry Road, Narragansett, Rhode Island 02882, United States
| | - Steffanie H Keefe
- U.S. Geological Survey, 3215 Marine Street, Boulder, Colorado 80303, United States
| | - Denis R LeBlanc
- U.S. Geological Survey, 10 Bearfoot Road, Northborough, Massachusetts 01532, United States
| | - Rainer Lohmann
- Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Horn Building 118, 215 South Ferry Road, Narragansett, Rhode Island 02882, United States
| | - Jeffery A Steevens
- U.S. Geological Survey, 4200 New Haven Road, Columbia, Missouri 65201, United States
| | - Alan M Vajda
- University of Colorado Denver, P.O. Box 173364, Denver, Colorado 80217, United States
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Bradley PM, Kolpin DW, Thompson DA, Romanok KM, Smalling KL, Breitmeyer SE, Cardon MC, Cwiertny DM, Evans N, Field RW, Focazio MJ, Beane Freeman LE, Givens CE, Gray JL, Hager GL, Hladik ML, Hofmann JN, Jones RR, Kanagy LK, Lane RF, McCleskey RB, Medgyesi D, Medlock-Kakaley EK, Meppelink SM, Meyer MT, Stavreva DA, Ward MH. Juxtaposition of intensive agriculture, vulnerable aquifers, and mixed chemical/microbial exposures in private-well tapwater in northeast Iowa. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 868:161672. [PMID: 36657670 PMCID: PMC9976626 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
In the United States and globally, contaminant exposure in unregulated private-well point-of-use tapwater (TW) is a recognized public-health data gap and an obstacle to both risk-management and homeowner decision making. To help address the lack of data on broad contaminant exposures in private-well TW from hydrologically-vulnerable (alluvial, karst) aquifers in agriculturally-intensive landscapes, samples were collected in 2018-2019 from 47 northeast Iowa farms and analyzed for 35 inorganics, 437 unique organics, 5 in vitro bioassays, and 11 microbial assays. Twenty-six inorganics and 51 organics, dominated by pesticides and related transformation products (35 herbicide-, 5 insecticide-, and 2 fungicide-related), were observed in TW. Heterotrophic bacteria detections were near ubiquitous (94 % of the samples), with detection of total coliform bacteria in 28 % of the samples and growth on at least one putative-pathogen selective media across all TW samples. Health-based hazard index screening levels were exceeded frequently in private-well TW and attributed primarily to inorganics (nitrate, uranium). Results support incorporation of residential treatment systems to protect against contaminant exposure and the need for increased monitoring of rural private-well homes. Continued assessment of unmonitored and unregulated private-supply TW is needed to model contaminant exposures and human-health risks.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Mary C Cardon
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Nicola Evans
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Rena R Jones
- National Cancer Institute/NIH, Rockville, MD, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Mary H Ward
- National Cancer Institute/NIH, Rockville, MD, USA
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10
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Warren-Vega WM, Campos-Rodríguez A, Zárate-Guzmán AI, Romero-Cano LA. A Current Review of Water Pollutants in American Continent: Trends and Perspectives in Detection, Health Risks, and Treatment Technologies. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:4499. [PMID: 36901509 PMCID: PMC10001968 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20054499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Currently, water pollution represents a serious environmental threat, causing an impact not only to fauna and flora but also to human health. Among these pollutants, inorganic and organic pollutants are predominantly important representing high toxicity and persistence and being difficult to treat using current methodologies. For this reason, several research groups are searching for strategies to detect and remedy contaminated water bodies and effluents. Due to the above, a current review of the state of the situation has been carried out. The results obtained show that in the American continent a high diversity of contaminants is present in the water bodies affecting several aspects, in which in some cases, there exists alternatives to realize the remediation of contaminated water. It is concluded that the actual challenge is to establish sanitation measures at the local level based on the specific needs of the geographical area of interest. Therefore, water treatment plants must be designed according to the contaminants present in the water of the region and tailored to the needs of the population of interest.
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11
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Assessing the risk of acute gastrointestinal illness attributable to three enteric pathogens from contaminated private water wells in Ontario. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2023; 248:114077. [PMID: 36462411 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2022.114077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
The province of Ontario compromises the largest groundwater reliant population in Canada serving approximately 1.6 million individuals. Unlike municipal water systems, private well water is not required to meet water quality regulatory standards and thus source maintenance, treatment and testing remains the responsibility of the well owner. Infections associated with private drinking water systems are rarely documented given their typically sporadic nature, thus the human health effects (e.g., acute gastrointestinal illness (AGI)) on consumers remains relatively unknown, representing a significant gap in water safety management. The current study sought to quantify the risk of waterborne AGI attributed to Giardia, shiga-toxin producing E. coli (STEC) and norovirus from private drinking water sources in Ontario using Monte Carlo simulation-based quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA). Findings suggest that consumption of contaminated private well water in Ontario is responsible for approximately 4823 AGI cases annually, with 3464 (71.8%) and 1359 (28.1%) AGI cases predicted to occur in consolidated and unconsolidated aquifers, respectively. By pathogen, waterborne AGI was attributed to norovirus (62%; 2991/4823), Giardia (24.6%; 1186/4823) and STEC (13.4%; 646/4823). The developed QMRA framework was used to assess the potential health impacts of partial and total well water treatment system failure. In the unlikely event of total treatment failure, total mean annual illnesses are predicted to almost double (4217 to 7064 cases per year), highlighting the importance of effective water treatment and comprehensive testing programs in reducing infectious health risks attributable to private well water in Ontario. Study findings indicate significant underreporting of waterborne AGI rates at the provincial level likely biasing public health interventions and programs that are effective in monitoring and minimizing the health risk associated with private well water.
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12
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Bradley PM, Romanok KM, Smalling KL, Focazio MJ, Evans N, Fitzpatrick SC, Givens CE, Gordon SE, Gray JL, Green EM, Griffin DW, Hladik ML, Kanagy LK, Lisle JT, Loftin KA, Blaine McCleskey R, Medlock-Kakaley EK, Navas-Acien A, Roth DA, South P, Weis CP. Bottled water contaminant exposures and potential human effects. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 171:107701. [PMID: 36542998 PMCID: PMC10123854 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bottled water (BW) consumption in the United States and globally has increased amidst heightened concern about environmental contaminant exposures and health risks in drinking water supplies, despite a paucity of directly comparable, environmentally-relevant contaminant exposure data for BW. This study provides insight into exposures and cumulative risks to human health from inorganic/organic/microbial contaminants in BW. METHODS BW from 30 total domestic US (23) and imported (7) sources, including purified tapwater (7) and spring water (23), were analyzed for 3 field parameters, 53 inorganics, 465 organics, 14 microbial metrics, and in vitro estrogen receptor (ER) bioactivity. Health-benchmark-weighted cumulative hazard indices and ratios of organic-contaminant in vitro exposure-activity cutoffs were assessed for detected regulated and unregulated inorganic and organic contaminants. RESULTS 48 inorganics and 45 organics were detected in sampled BW. No enforceable chemical quality standards were exceeded, but several inorganic and organic contaminants with maximum contaminant level goal(s) (MCLG) of zero (no known safe level of exposure to vulnerable sub-populations) were detected. Among these, arsenic, lead, and uranium were detected in 67 %, 17 %, and 57 % of BW, respectively, almost exclusively in spring-sourced samples not treated by advanced filtration. Organic MCLG exceedances included frequent detections of disinfection byproducts (DBP) in tapwater-sourced BW and sporadic detections of DBP and volatile organic chemicals in BW sourced from tapwater and springs. Precautionary health-based screening levels were exceeded frequently and attributed primarily to DBP in tapwater-sourced BW and co-occurring inorganic and organic contaminants in spring-sourced BW. CONCLUSION The results indicate that simultaneous exposures to multiple drinking-water contaminants of potential human-health concern are common in BW. Improved understandings of human exposures based on more environmentally realistic and directly comparable point-of-use exposure characterizations, like this BW study, are essential to public health because drinking water is a biological necessity and, consequently, a high-vulnerability vector for human contaminant exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Nicola Evans
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Emily M Green
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | | | | | - John T Lisle
- U.S. Geological Survey, Saint Petersburg, Florida, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Paul South
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Christopher P Weis
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences/NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Bradley PM, Romanok KM, Smalling KL, Focazio MJ, Charboneau R, George CM, Navas-Acien A, O’Leary M, Red Cloud R, Zacher T, Breitmeyer SE, Cardon MC, Cuny CK, Ducheneaux G, Enright K, Evans N, Gray JL, Harvey DE, Hladik ML, Kanagy LK, Loftin KA, McCleskey RB, Medlock-Kakaley EK, Meppelink SM, Valder JF, Weis CP. Tapwater Exposures, Effects Potential, and Residential Risk Management in Northern Plains Nations. ACS ES&T WATER 2022; 2:1772-1788. [PMID: 36277121 PMCID: PMC9578051 DOI: 10.1021/acsestwater.2c00293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
In the United States (US), private-supply tapwater (TW) is rarely monitored. This data gap undermines individual/community risk-management decision-making, leading to an increased probability of unrecognized contaminant exposures in rural and remote locations that rely on private wells. We assessed point-of-use (POU) TW in three northern plains Tribal Nations, where ongoing TW arsenic (As) interventions include expansion of small community water systems and POU adsorptive-media treatment for Strong Heart Water Study participants. Samples from 34 private-well and 22 public-supply sites were analyzed for 476 organics, 34 inorganics, and 3 in vitro bioactivities. 63 organics and 30 inorganics were detected. Arsenic, uranium (U), and lead (Pb) were detected in 54%, 43%, and 20% of samples, respectively. Concentrations equivalent to public-supply maximum contaminant level(s) (MCL) were exceeded only in untreated private-well samples (As 47%, U 3%). Precautionary health-based screening levels were exceeded frequently, due to inorganics in private supplies and chlorine-based disinfection byproducts in public supplies. The results indicate that simultaneous exposures to co-occurring TW contaminants are common, warranting consideration of expanded source, point-of-entry, or POU treatment(s). This study illustrates the importance of increased monitoring of private-well TW, employing a broad, environmentally informative analytical scope, to reduce the risks of unrecognized contaminant exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul M. Bradley
- U.S.
Geological Survey, Columbia, South Carolina 29210, United States
| | | | - Kelly L. Smalling
- U.S.
Geological Survey, Lawrenceville, New Jersey 08648, United States
| | | | - Robert Charboneau
- Spirit
Lake Tribe Office of Environmental Health, Fort Totten, North Dakota 58335, United States
| | - Christine Marie George
- Johns
Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - Ana Navas-Acien
- Columbia
University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - Marcia O’Leary
- Missouri
Breaks Industries Research Inc., Eagle Butte, South Dakota 57625, United States
| | - Reno Red Cloud
- Oglala
Sioux Tribe Natural Resources Regulatory Agency, Pine Ridge, South Dakota 57770, United States
| | - Tracy Zacher
- Missouri
Breaks Industries Research Inc., Eagle Butte, South Dakota 57625, United States
| | | | - Mary C. Cardon
- U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Christa K. Cuny
- Missouri
Breaks Industries Research Inc., Eagle Butte, South Dakota 57625, United States
| | - Guthrie Ducheneaux
- Missouri
Breaks Industries Research Inc., Eagle Butte, South Dakota 57625, United States
| | - Kendra Enright
- Missouri
Breaks Industries Research Inc., Eagle Butte, South Dakota 57625, United States
| | - Nicola Evans
- U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - James L. Gray
- U.S.
Geological Survey, Lakewood, Colorado 80228-3742, United States
| | - David E. Harvey
- Indian Health Service/HHS, Rockville, Maryland 20857, United States
| | | | - Leslie K. Kanagy
- U.S.
Geological Survey, Lakewood, Colorado 80228-3742, United States
| | - Keith A. Loftin
- U.S.
Geological Survey, Lawrence, Kansas 66049, United States
| | | | | | | | - Joshua F. Valder
- U.S. Geological
Survey, Rapid City, South Dakota 57702, United States
| | - Christopher P. Weis
- National Institute of Environmental Health
Sciences/NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, United
States
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14
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McMahon PB, Tokranov AK, Bexfield LM, Lindsey BD, Johnson TD, Lombard MA, Watson E. Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Groundwater Used as a Source of Drinking Water in the Eastern United States. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:2279-2288. [PMID: 35113548 PMCID: PMC8970425 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c04795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
In 2019, 254 samples were collected from five aquifer systems to evaluate perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) occurrence in groundwater used as a source of drinking water in the eastern United States. The samples were analyzed for 24 PFAS, major ions, nutrients, trace elements, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), pharmaceuticals, and tritium. Fourteen of the 24 PFAS were detected in groundwater, with 60 and 20% of public-supply and domestic wells, respectively, containing at least one PFAS detection. Concentrations of tritium, chloride, sulfate, DOC, and manganese + iron; percent urban land use within 500 m of the wells; and VOC and pharmaceutical detection frequencies were significantly higher in samples containing PFAS detections than in samples with no detections. Boosted regression tree models that consider 57 chemical and land-use variables show that tritium concentration, distance to the nearest fire-training area, percentage of urban land use, and DOC and VOC concentrations are the top five predictors of PFAS detections, consistent with the hydrologic position, geochemistry, and land use being important controls on PFAS occurrence in groundwater. Model results indicate that it may be possible to predict PFAS detections in groundwater using existing data sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter B. McMahon
- U.S.
Geological Survey, Bldg. 53, MS 415, Lakewood, Colorado, 80225, United States
- .
Tel.: 303-236-6899
| | - Andrea K. Tokranov
- U.S.
Geological Survey, 10 Bearfoot Rd., Northborough, Massachusetts 01532, United States
| | - Laura M. Bexfield
- U.S.
Geological Survey, 6700 Edith Blvd NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87113, United States
| | - Bruce D. Lindsey
- U.S.
Geological Survey, 215 Limekiln Road, New Cumberland, Pennsylvania 17070, United States
| | - Tyler D. Johnson
- U.S.
Geological Survey, 4165 Spruance Road, San Diego, California 92101, United States
| | - Melissa A. Lombard
- U.S. Geological
Survey, 331 Commerce Way, Pembroke, New Hampshire 03275, United States
| | - Elise Watson
- U.S.
Geological Survey, 4165 Spruance Road, San Diego, California 92101, United States
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Xiong Z, Zheng H, Hu Y, Hu X, Ding W, Ma J, Li Y. Selective adsorption of Congo red and Cu(II) from complex wastewater by core-shell structured magnetic carbon@zeolitic imidazolate frameworks-8 nanocomposites. Sep Purif Technol 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2021.119053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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16
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Bradley PM, Padilla IY, Romanok KM, Smalling KL, Focazio MJ, Breitmeyer SE, Cardon MC, Conley JM, Evans N, Givens CE, Gray JL, Gray LE, Hartig PC, Higgins CP, Hladik ML, Iwanowicz LR, Lane RF, Loftin KA, McCleskey RB, McDonough CA, Medlock-Kakaley E, Meppelink S, Weis CP, Wilson VS. Pilot-scale expanded assessment of inorganic and organic tapwater exposures and predicted effects in Puerto Rico, USA. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 788:147721. [PMID: 34134358 PMCID: PMC8504685 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/08/2021] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
A pilot-scale expanded target assessment of mixtures of inorganic and organic contaminants in point-of-consumption drinking water (tapwater, TW) was conducted in Puerto Rico (PR) to continue to inform TW exposures and corresponding estimations of cumulative human-health risks across the US. In August 2018, a spatial synoptic pilot assessment of than 524 organic and 37 inorganic chemicals was conducted in 14 locations (7 home; 7 commercial) across PR. A follow-up 3-day temporal assessment of TW variability was conducted in December 2018 at two of the synoptic locations (1 home, 1 commercial) and included daily pre- and post-flush samples. Concentrations of regulated and unregulated TW contaminants were used to calculate cumulative in vitro bioactivity ratios and Hazard Indices (HI) based on existing human-health benchmarks. Synoptic results confirmed that human exposures to inorganic and organic contaminant mixtures, which are rarely monitored together in drinking water at the point of consumption, occurred across PR and consisted of elevated concentrations of inorganic contaminants (e.g., lead, copper), disinfection byproducts (DBP), and to a lesser extent per/polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and phthalates. Exceedances of human-health benchmarks in every synoptic TW sample support further investigation of the potential cumulative risk to vulnerable populations in PR and emphasize the importance of continued broad characterization of drinking-water exposures at the tap with analytical capabilities that better represent the complexity of both inorganic and organic contaminant mixtures known to occur in ambient source waters. Such health-based monitoring data are essential to support public engagement in source water sustainability and treatment and to inform consumer point-of-use treatment decision making in PR and throughout the US.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Mary C Cardon
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Nicola Evans
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | | | - L Earl Gray
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Christopher P Weis
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences/National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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