Pharmaceuticals and Wastewater Tracers Along the Lower Hudson River
Citation:
Cantwell, M., D. Katz, J. Sullivan, D. Shapley, J. Lipscomb, J. Epstein, A. Juhl, C. Knudson, AND G. O'Mullan. Pharmaceuticals and Wastewater Tracers Along the Lower Hudson River. Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation (CERF) 24th Biennial Conference, Providence, RI, November 05 - 09, 2017.
Impact/Purpose:
Little is known about the behavior, fate and effects of pharmaceutical compounds in urban estuarine systems. Estuaries are receiving waters for wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents, which contain varying levels of pharmaceutical residues as a result of human use. This study focused on measuring the presence and levels of sixteen highly prescribed pharmaceuticals present across the tidal portion of the Hudson River Estuary. Findings indicate that the frequency of occurrence of the 16 pharmaceuticals at 72 sites within the study area were almost identical between sampling periods with May at 58% and July at 55%. Continuous discharge from WWTPs and inputs from effluent impacted rivers resulted in elevated levels of approximately half the pharmaceuticals within the study area. As a result, some of the pharmaceuticals present at a number of sites near WWTPs in the study area exceeded concentrations where effects to aquatic organisms may be observed. The findings provide important information on the exposure risk posed by emerging contaminants such as pharmaceuticals residues in highly populated coastal watersheds and contributes to an improved understanding of their behavior and fate in large ecosystems such as the Hudson River Estuary.
Description:
The behavior and fate of pharmaceutical residues in urbanized, coastal ecosystems is not well understood. In this study 16 highly prescribed pharmaceuticals were measured in the lower Hudson River and New York Harbor in order to elucidate factors and processes regulating their concentration and distribution. Sampling was conducted at 72 sites in May and July of 2016 to assess spatial and temporal variability. The frequency of occurrence of pharmaceuticals within the study area were highly similar between sampling periods. Seven pharmaceuticals were measured at most of the sites, demonstrating their ubiquitous presence throughout the study area. Concentrations of individual pharmaceuticals were highly variable along the river, ranging from non-detect to 3812 ng/L. Preliminary findings indicate the proximity and magnitude of wastewater treatment plant discharges to the river and inputs from tributaries were major factors controlling pharmaceutical concentrations. Several compounds were evaluated as tracers to assess their potential to identify wastewater sources and understand pharmaceutical behavior. One compound, sucralose showed promise in identifying wastewater sources and its concentrations correlated well with numerous pharmaceuticals in the study. Findings indicate that the continuous, high volume discharge of wastewater effluents is responsible for many of the study pharmaceuticals being present throughout the lower Hudson River and NY Harbor at elevated levels.