Correlation of trace contaminants to wastewater management practices in small watersheds. Issue 5 (17th April 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Schenck, Kathleen; Rosenblum, Laura; Ramakrishnan, Balaji; Carson, John; Macke, Dana; Nietch, Christopher
• Is Part Of: Environmental science. Volume 17:Issue 5(2015)
• Page Start: 956
• Page End: 964
• Publication Date: 2015-04-17
• Subjects: Environmental monitoring -- Periodicals; Biological monitoring -- Periodicals; Environmental chemistry -- Periodicals; 363.7363
• DOI: 10.1039/c4em00583j
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-7887

Abstract

Abstract : A correlation between occurrence of four xenobiotic contaminants in headwaters and septic density in catchments was observed over one year. Abstract : Ten low-order streams draining headwater catchments within the East Fork Little Miami Watershed were evaluated throughout one year for the presence of six steroidal hormones, the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole, the antimicrobials triclosan and triclocarban, and the artificial sweetener sucralose. The wastewater management practices in the catchments included septic systems, sanitary sewers, a combination of both, and a parkland with no treatment systems. The concentrations and detection frequencies of sucralose showed a significant positive correlation with the septic density in each catchment. A similar relationship was found for sulfamethoxazole. Both sucralose and sulfamethoxazole are hydrophilic and unlikely to be removed effectively by sorption during septic treatment. The concentrations and detection frequencies of the antimicrobials were also positively correlated with septic density. The presence of the antimicrobials in the streams indicates that although they are hydrophobic, removal during septic treatment was incomplete. The target analytes that correlated with septic density were also detected in stream samples collected below a wastewater treatment plant located within the same watershed. The steroidal hormone estrone was the most frequently detected analyte at all sites. However, the estrone concentrations and detection frequencies did not correlate with the septic density due to multiple non-point sources.