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Short-term Dynamics and Retention of Triclosan in the Lower Hudson River Estuary
Citation:
Wilson, B., J. Zhu, M. G. CANTWELL, AND C. R. Olsen. Short-term Dynamics and Retention of Triclosan in the Lower Hudson River Estuary. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN. Elsevier Science Ltd, New York, NY, 56:1215-1233, (2008).
Impact/Purpose:
The purpose of this research was to better understand the fate and transport of Triclosan in estuarine environments. Triclosan is an organic, antibacterial compound added to many consumer healthcare products. Triclosan is only partially removed by most wastewater treatment processes, with the remainder being released to receiving waters via effluent discharge. Recent research indicates that Triclosan may pose a risk to a wide range of aquatic organisms. Findings of this research indicate that Triclosan is being accumulated and preserved in sediments in estuarine environments.
Description:
Triclosan (5-chloro-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)-phenol) is a antimicrobial agent present in a wide array of consumer based goods such as soaps, skin creams and dental care products. Triclosan is only partially removed by most wastewater treatment processes, with the remainder being released to receiving waters via effluent discharge. With a Log Koc of 4.1, there is potential for Triclosan to sorb to particles and accumulate in sediments. Current research indicates that Triclosan may pose significant risk to a wide range of aquatic organisms. In this study Triclosan was measured in dated sediment cores collected from six sites in the lower Hudson River Estuary in April and October of 2007. Triclosan was detected over the entire lengths of all the April and October cores and exhibited variable concentrations throughout. In addition to Triclosan, 137Cs was detected throughout these sediment cores indicating that several years of sediment accumulation has occurred at all six sites in the lower Hudson River estuary. The vertical variations in the sediment concentration profiles for Triclosan could not be correlated between coring sites. Results indicated that there was no significant decrease in Triclosan with sediment depth, suggesting little degradation of Triclosan over the time span of our study. In conclusion, results indicate that the dispersal and fate of waste-water derived Triclosan is primarily governed by estuarine particle dynamics and accumulation patterns.