A large-scale model for simulating the fate & transport of organic contaminants in river basins. (February 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lindim, C.; van Gils, J.; Cousins, I.T.
• Is Part Of: Chemosphere. Volume 144(2016)
• Page Start: 803
• Page End: 810
• Publication Date: 2016-02
• Subjects: Fate & transport model -- River basins -- PFOS -- PFOA -- Organic contaminants; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Atmospheric chemistry -- Periodicals; 551.511
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2015.09.051
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0045-6535

Abstract

Abstract: We present STREAM-EU (Spatially and Temporally Resolved Exposure Assessment Model for EUropean basins), a novel dynamic mass balance model for predicting the environmental fate of organic contaminants in river basins. STREAM-EU goes beyond the current state-of-the-science in that it can simulate spatially and temporally-resolved contaminant concentrations in all relevant environmental media (surface water, groundwater, snow, soil and sediments) at the river basin scale. The model can currently be applied to multiple organic contaminants in any river basin in Europe, but the model framework is adaptable to any river basin in any continent. We simulate the environmental fate of perfluoroctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in the Danube River basin and compare model predictions to recent monitoring data. The model predicts PFOS and PFOA concentrations that agree well with measured concentrations for large stretches of the river. Disagreements between the model predictions and measurements in some river sections are shown to be useful indicators of unknown contamination sources to the river basin. Highlights: STREAM-EU is a new model for predicting fate of organic contaminants in basins. STREAM-EU can simulate spatially and temporally-resolved concentrations in all media. The model can be applied to organic contaminants in any river basin in Europe. We simulate the environmental fate of PFOS and PFOA in the Danube River basin.