Pharmaceuticals, Hormones, and Other Wastewater Contaminants in U.S. Streams

Herb Buxton

Coordinator, Toxic Substances

Hydrology Program

Goal

To provide information on emerging water quality issues that supports: • Water-quality monitoring and assessment,

• Contamination management and prevention,

• Health-effects research, and

• Chemical licensing & use.

• Develop sensitive and specific methods to measure trace organics at low levels.

Study Objectives:

• Evaluate environmental occurrence in “susceptible” waters

• Wastewater Treatment Facilities.

• Domestic Septic Systems.

• Industrial Discharges.

Wastewater Pathways

WWTF, Atlanta

Hog Facility, South Fork Iowa River

• Animal Feeding Operations Waste lagoons Land application

• Aquaculture

Wastewater Pathways

“Susceptible” Streams Susceptible to Sources of Human, Animal, and Industrial Waste

139 streams in 30 states

• 52 Urbanized.

• 62 Animal Production.

• 17 Mixed Land Use.

• 8 Minimally Developed.

Stream Monitoring Network (1999-2000)

Target Chemicals: 95 Organic Wastewater Compounds

• 22 Antibiotics

• 14 Prescription Drugs

• 5 Nonprescription Drugs

• 15 Hormones and Steroids

• 39 Household and Industrial Compounds

39 Household and Industrial Compounds

• 5 Detergent byproducts • 7 Plastics• 5 Antioxidants• 2 Fire retardants• 8 Insecticides/repellant• 3 Disinfectants/antimicrobials• Others (fumigant, fragrance, PAHs)

• 1 or more compound found in 80% of streams sampled.

• 82 of 95 compounds detected at least once (8 antibiotics & 5 other drugs not detected).

• Measured concentrations generally low; (30 most freq. detected, only ~5% > 1 ppb).

General Results

• Multiple detections were common. - As many as 38 compounds in a sample; 34% had more than 10. - Aggregate conc. as high as 80 ppb, 25% more than 6 ppb.

• Less susceptible sites had fewer compounds and lower concentrations.

• 14 of 95 compounds have health standards or guidelines.

General Results

Information by Chemical Group

Compare:

• Detection Frequency

• Concentration

0 20 40 60 80 100

Detection Frequency (%) by GroupSteroids (4)

Nonprescrip. Drugs (5)Insect Repellant (1)Detergent Meta. (5)

Disinfectants (3)Plastics (7)

Fire Retardants (2)Antibiotics (22)Insecticides (7)

PAHs (6)Hormones (11)

Prescription Drugs (14)Antioxidants (5)Fragrances (2)

Solvent (1)

Concentration by Group

0 1.0 2.0 3.0

Detergent Meta. (5)Steroids (4)Plastics (7)

Disinfectants (3)Nonprescrip. Drugs (5)

Antioxidants (5)Fire Retardants (2)

Antibiotics (22)Insect Repellant (1)

Insecticides (7)PAHs (6)

Hormones (11)Prescription Drugs (14)

Fragrances (2)

Solvent (1) *

(75th Percentile)

ppb

Detection Median Compound Freq. % Detect (ppb) coprostanol 85.7 0.088 cholesterol 84.3 0.83 N-N-diethyltoluamide 74.1 0.06 caffeine 70.6 0.1 tri(2-chloroethyl)phos 57.6 0.1 triclosan 57.6 0.14 4-nonylphenol 50.6 0.8

Most Commonly Detected Compounds

AntibioticsCarbodoxDoxycyclineEnrofloxacinSarafloxacin SulfachloropyridazineSulfamerazineSulfathiazoleVirginiamycin

Other DrugsAlbuterolDigoxinDigoxigeninParoxetine MetaboliteWarfarin

Compounds Not Detected

National Reconnaissance: Continuing Activities.

- Streams: 139 sites / 30 states

- Ground Water: 56 sites / 17 states

- Drinking-Water Sources:76 sites / 27 states (USEPA)

Related USGS Research

Antibiotic resistance (CDC).

Chemical indicators of human fecal contamination (USEPA).

Drinking water and wastewater treatment efficacy.

Watershed cycling and seasonality.

Sediment methods and occurrence.

Occurrence at fish hatcheries.

For More Info, Try the Internet

The Toxics Program:toxics.usgs.gov

The USGS:www.usgs.gov

Quality Assurance

• Field:– Standardized and published field protocols*.– Blanks.– Duplicates.

• Laboratory:– Fortified Spikes (every sample set, 10-16).– Surrogate Spikes (methods performance).– Matrix Spikes.– Blanks.– Duplicates.– *Interlab. comparisons (15 compounds).