Download Fate and Transport

An Overview of
EDC’s, Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care
Products in Our Drinking Water
Presented By:
Roxanne Russell, Yuh-Chi Niou, Kris McArthur,
Amelia Cousins & Chris Stoll
November 6, 2009
Overview - Trace Contaminants
• Discovery of Synthetic and Natural Compounds
• Found in trace levels (ng/L) in surface & ground
waters
• EDC’s can mimic or inhibit the function of natural
hormones & processes, including;
• Estrogens
• Testosterone
• Thyroidal function
• EDC’s and PPCP’s source primarily attributed to
excretion by humans and animals into the
environment.
• Challenge? To find and regulate the NOAEL for trace
contaminants in our drinking water supply.
Fate and Transport of EDC’s and PPCP’s
Trace Contaminants to be Discussed
Today
• Antibiotics
• Pharmaceuticals
• Caffeine
• Estrogens
Antibiotics in Drinking water
• In 2000, roughly 16,200
tons of antibiotics were
produced in the US
(Krummerer 5)
– 70% used on livestock
farming
– 8x what humans consume
for medication
• Can be found in drinking
water at the ng/L up to
the μg/L level
– There is degradation by
environment but are found
to be persistent
Health Impacts
• Potential reservoir for
antibiotic resistant
bacteria
– Recent studies show
antibiotic resistance in
all bacteria tested from
waste water treatment
plants and tap water
– Evidence to suggest
waste treatment may
increase antibiotics
resistance
Caffeine
Occurrence
Wastewater Contamination?
Wastewater Contamination?
Wastewater Contamination?
Persistence in Conventional Drinking
Water Treatment
Pharmaceuticals in DW
• Drinking Water Standards
– Do not include levels for pharmaceuticals
– Do not require testing
• Trace amounts found in almost all tested
water supplies in US
• PWS’s contend levels safe, treatment
adequate
– Some attempting to address problem by further
testing
Source: Associated Press
Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen
• Philadelphia Water
Department:
– Acetaminophen is found on the
ng/L level
For dose of baby Tylenol (80 mg
of Acetaminophen)…
Drink 8 glasses of water a day
For 40,000 years
Source: Drover, V. Bottaro, C.
Estrogens
Natural: E1, E2, E3
Synthetic: EE2
Estrogen Classification
• Natural estrogen compounds:
– Estrone (E1)
– 17 Beta estradiol (E2)
– Estriol (E3)
• Synthetic estrogen compounds:
– 17 Alpha ethinylestradiol (EE2)
• Estrogenic activity with estradiol (E2) as the baseline
of comparison (1x):
– EE2 is the most active
– EE2(1x-2x) > E1 (0.21x-0.5x) > E3 (0.0013x-0.04x)
• Biomarkers of endocrine disruption:
– Plasma vitellogenin
– Sex steroid concentration
Occurrence
•
•
•
•
•
•
Found in wastewater effluent
E1, E2: 1-76 ng/L in wastewater
EE2: 1-7 ng/L in wastewater
EE2: 5x less in drinking water
Treatment not as efficient on EE2
Susceptibility to biodegradation comparison:
– EE2 is the least biodegradable
– E3 > E2 > E1 > EE2
Health Impacts
• Feminization of fish
– VTG protein found in male fish
• Very little estrogen in drinking water:
No immediate threat for humans
• Speculation: Potential decrease in fertility with
male exposure to low amounts of synthetic
estrogen in drinking water
Conclusions
• Antibiotics in DW: Fairly persistent, only mild degradation,
concerns about adding to the selection for resistant strains of bacteria in
the environment.
• Caffeine in DW: While persistent in conventional drinking water
treatment, trace amounts are to small to cause adverse health effects in
humans.
• Pharmaceuticals in DW: While persistent in the environment,
trace amounts are theorized to be too small to cause adverse health
effects in humans. Further monitoring is recommended.
• Estrogens in DW: Varying degrees of persistency and degradation in
the environment, trace amounts at this time theorized to be under the
NOAEL, but further observation in human and animal studies in
recommended.
Conclusions…
Questions?