Many studies indicate that several classes of contaminants of emerging concern (CEC) are widely distributed in the environment. Some CEC have shown estrogenic and other effects to wildlife and potentially to humans while the release of antibiotics in the environment has been shown to cause the development of bacterial resistance. Other CEC (e.g. sucralose) have been just recently found to be ubiquitous in water. The objective of this study is to evaluate the occurrence and fate of selected CECs, such as pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCP), endocrine disrupting compounds (EDC), and sweeteners, in two catchment basins that receive different point sources of CEC. Furthermore, the use spectroscopic indices to monitor the fate of CEC and other main water quality parameters was explored.  Extensive sampling was carried out in the Simeto river and the San Leonardo river catchments located in the Eastern Sicily (Italy). Water samples were collected at several sites associated with point source (e.g. wastewater treatment plants) of CEC and along the entire course of the rivers. Seawater samples were also collected from the seawater in coastal area close to the river mouths. CEC were extracted by solid phase extraction and analyzed by LC�MS/MS. Measurements of Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC), Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN), UV absorbance and fluorescence were also performed.  Results of this study indicate that wastewater treatment plants are the major sources of CEC in the river but CEC concentrations were significantly reduced in the main river stem due to the dilution. No CECs were detected in seawater. More recalcitrant CEC, notably acesulfame, caffeine and sucralose were found in both rivers and can be used as wastewater tracer. The investigated absorbance indices and fluorescence excitation emission matrices (EEMs) demonstrated that spectroscopic indices may be very useful for tracking wastewater discharge in the river and more generally to monitor water quality change along the river thanks to their possible application for online monitoring.

Occurrence and fate of contaminant of emerging concern in two semi-urbanized catchment basins in Sicily (Italy)

248th National Meeting (2014)

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