PPCPs are frequently detected in treated wastewater that is increasingly used for irrigation in arid and semi-arid area. To understand human exposure and ecological risks of PPCPs from wastewater irrigation, it is critical to evaluate their plant uptake potential and transformation in soil. We have carried a series of studies to measure uptake of frequently-occurring PPCPs by common vegetables and transformation in aerobic soils. Triclocarban, triclosan, fluoxetine, and diazepam were preferentially accumulated into the root, while meprobamate, primidone, carbamazepine, dilantin, and diuron were found to be transported from the root to leaves. The root uptake was positively correlated to Kow for nonionic compounds, while translocation was negatively related to the pH adjusted log Kow. 14C-Carbamazepine was found to be persistent in soils, with limited mineralization (< 2%) and formation of several degradation intermediates. 14C-Acetaminophen was rapidly degraded with extensive mineralization and formation of bound residue. The persistence of carbamazepine in soil contributed to its frequent detection in plant tissues.

Plant uptake and soil degradation of PPCPs

248th National Meeting (2014)

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