Drivers of contaminant levels in surface water of China during 2000–2030: Relative importance for illustrative home and personal care product chemicals. (June 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhu, Ying; Price, Oliver R.; Kilgallon, John; Qi, Yi; Tao, Shu; Jones, Kevin C.; Sweetman, Andrew J.
• Is Part Of: Environment international. Volume 115(2018)
• Page Start: 161
• Page End: 169
• Publication Date: 2018-06
• Subjects: WWTPs -- GDP -- Urbanization rates -- Population -- Surface water concentration -- China; Environmental protection -- Periodicals; Environmental health -- Periodicals; Environmental monitoring -- Periodicals; Environmental Monitoring -- Periodicals; Environnement -- Protection -- Périodiques; Hygiène du milieu -- Périodiques; Environnement -- Surveillance -- Périodiques; Environmental health; Environmental monitoring; Environmental protection; Periodicals; 333.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.03.013
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0160-4120

Abstract

Abstract: Water pollution are among the most critical problems in China and emerging contaminants in surface water have attracted rising attentions in recent years. There is great interest in China's future environmental quality as the national government has committed to a major action plan to improve surface water quality. This study presents methodologies to rank the importance of socioeconomic and environmental drivers to the chemical concentration in surface water during 2000–2030. A case study is conducted on triclosan, a home and personal care product (HPCP) ingredient. Different economic and discharge flow scenarios are considered. Urbanization and wastewater treatment connection rates in rural and urban areas are collected or projected for 2000–2030 for counties across China. The estimated usage increases from ca. 86 to 340 t. However, emissions decreases from 76 to 52 t during 2000–2030 under a modelled Organisation for Economic Co-operation (OECD) economic scenario because of the urbanization, migration and development of wastewater treatment plants/facilities (WWTPs). The estimated national median concentration of triclosan ranges 1.5–8.2 ng/L during 2000–2030 for different scenarios. It peaks in 2009 under the OECD and three of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), A2, B1 and B2 economic scenarios, but in 2025 under A1 economic scenario. Population distribution and surface water discharge flow rates are ranked as the top two drivers to triclosan levels in surface water over the 30 years. The development of urban WWTPs was the most important driver during 2000–2010 and the development of rural works is projected to be the most important in 2011–2030. Projections suggest discharges of ingredients in HPCPs - controlled by economic growth - should be balanced by the major expenditure programme on wastewater treatment in China. Graphical abstract: Unlabelled Image Highlights: Population, urbanization rates and wastewater treatment connection rates were estimated across China for 2000-2030 The usage and emission of triclosan increases from 86 to 340 tonnes and 76 to 52 tonnes respectively during 2000-2030 National median concentration of water triclosan ranges ca. 1.5-8.2 ng/L in China during 2000-2030 Population distribution and freshwater discharge are top two drivers influencing triclosan concentrations in China Urban and rural wastewater treatment capacity affect the water chemical concentration more during different time periods