Emerging pollutants in aquatic environments: monitoring of UV filters in urban wastewater treatment plants

Abstract

Six UV filtersbenzophenone-3 (BP-3), octocrylene (OC), ethylhexyl dimethyl p-aminobenzoate (OD-PABA), ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate (EHMC), ethylhexyl salicylate (EHS) and homosalate (HMS)with endocrine disrupting potential were monitored in different wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) located in Genoa, Italy. The influent and effluent samples were collected once a month from April to September 2011. The analytes were determined by stir bar sorptive extraction followed by liquid desorption (SBSE-LD) combined with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Quantitative analysis was performed in triggered MRM (tMRM), which allowed improvement of specificity without compromising sensitivity. In the inlet samples four analytes were detected; in particular BP-3, OC, EHMC, and OD-PABA were in the range of 4-163, 12-390, 23-68, and 2-4 ng L À1 , respectively. Measured concentrations indicated variability of UV filter inputs to WWTPs, with higher loads during the warmer months. A highly positive correlation was found between air temperature and the measured concentration of OC and BP-3. Only BP-3 and OC were detected in some effluent samples, with considerably lower concentrations. The removal efficiencies of the plants were in the range of 64 to >99% and 94 to >99% for BP-3 and OC, respectively.

Observation of Emerging Photoinitiator Additives in Household Environment and Sewage Sludge in China

“…Due to its estrogenic and androgenic activities, the occurrence of EHDAB has been investigated as a UV filter contaminant in tap water, swimming pool, shower wastes and WWTP influent with concentrations up to 6.2 μg/L. 20,42,43 EHDAB can be detected in 23% of the investigated sludge samples with comparable concentrations from < MQL to 6.47 ng/g (GM: 0.183 ng/g). EDMAB (GM: 0.18 ng/g) and EAB (GM: 2.61 ng/g) can also be sporadically found in the sludge samples as other homologues.…”

Measurements of octanol–air partition coefficients, vapor pressures and vaporization enthalpies of the (E) and (Z) isomers of the 2-ethylhexyl 4-methoxycinnamate as parameters of environmental impact assessment

“…It has been detected in untreated and treated waste waters (Balmer et al, 2005; Magi et al, 2013), surface waters (Giokas et al, 2005) and in organic aerosols (Mayol-Bracero et al, 2001). In aquatic environments, bioaccumulation was detected in a trophic network involving fish and birds (Fent et al, 2010).…”

Layer-by-Layer assembled films of chitosan and multi-walled carbon nanotubes for the electrochemical detection of 17α-ethinylestradiol

“…In this context, over the past decades, great efforts have been made for the development of instruments and analytical methods to detect the estrogens and others EDCs, including liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with UV detection, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and mass spectrometry [13,14].…”