Animal Feedlots and Domestic Wastewater Discharges are Likely Sources of N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) Precursors in Midwestern Watersheds

Abstract

N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) precursor concentrations along four major rivers in Minnesota, USA were quantified and correlated with watershed land cover types, anthropogenic activity, and organic matter characteristics. River water samples (36 in total) were chloraminated under uniform formation conditions (UFC) before and after lime-softening treatment, and the resulting NDMA concentrations were quantified (NDMA UFC ). Regarding land cover, NDMA UFC in raw river water exhibited weak positive correlations with urban land (ρ = 0.33, p = 0.05) and cropland coverage (ρ = 0.35, p = 0.04). For anthropogenic activity, NDMA UFC in raw river water positively correlated with the number of feedlots (ρ = 0.57), total weight of animals (ρ = 0.68), and total number of domestic wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs; ρ = 0.63) with p < 0.01. NDMA UFC positively correlated with region IV fluorescence intensity from fluorescence excitation−emission spectra (ρ = 0.70, p < 0.01). Lime softening of river water typically increased NDMA UFC and preferentially removed organic matter that fluoresces in region V, suggesting that the organic matter in this region decreases NDMA UFC by competing for available chloramines. Overall, animal feedlots, along with domestic WWTPs, are predominant sources of NDMA precursors in the studied watersheds, while croplands and urban runoff are of lesser importance.