Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) and perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) in groundwater from shallow to deep aquifers (10-500 meters depth) were investigated in a highly urbanized area of Tokyo. PPCPs and PFCs were widely and frequently detected in aquifers of <50 meters depth and some of deeper aquifers, showing the vulnerability of Tokyo's aquifers, which can be explained by the high level of urbanization (little permeable surface and intensive sewer networks) and the hydrogeology of the aquifers of <50 meters depth (even confined aquifers are recharged in urban area within only a few kilometers), as well as contamination through well structures (e.g. defects in well casings). PPCPs were considered to occur from sewer exfiltration. PFCs were more abundant than PPCPs in groundwaters, presumably due to PFCs' recalcitrant nature, formation of PFCs from precursors, and multiple sources of PFCs (e.g. wastewater and street runoff).

PPCPs and PFCs in aquifers of Tokyo within complex hydrogeological settings

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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