Occurrence of pharmaceuticals, hormones, and perfluorinated compounds in groundwater in Taiwan
Journal
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
Journal Volume
187
Journal Issue
5
Pages
-
Date Issued
2015
Author(s)
Abstract
In this work, we investigated the emerging pollutants in Taiwanese groundwater for the first time and correlated their presence with possible contamination sources. Fifty target pharmaceuticals and perfluorinated chemicals in groundwater were mostly present at ng L−1 concentrations, except for 17α-ethynylestradiol, sulfamethoxazole, and acetaminophen (maximums of 1822, 1820, and 1036 ng L−1, respectively). Perfluorinated compounds were detected with the highest frequencies in groundwater at almost all of the sample sites, especially short-chained perfluorinated carboxylates, which were easily transferred to the groundwater. The results indicate that the compounds found to have high detection frequencies and concentrations in groundwater are similar to those found in other countries around the world. Most common pharmaceuticals that contain hydrophilic groups, such as sulfonamide antibiotics and caffeine, are easily transported through surface waters to groundwater. The results also indicated that the persistent natures of emerging contaminants with high detection frequencies in surface water and groundwater, such as perfluorooctanesulfonate (risk quotient >1), caffeine, and carbamazepine, should be further studied and evaluated. © 2015, Springer International Publishing Switzerland.
SDGs
Other Subjects
Amides; Antibiotics; Caffeine; Carboxylation; Drug products; Endocrinology; Groundwater; Hormones; Sulfur compounds; Surface waters; Contamination sources; Emerging contaminant; Emerging pollutants; Perfluorinated chemicals; Perfluorinated compounds; Perfluorooctane sulfonates; Sulfonamide antibiotics; Surface water and groundwaters; Groundwater pollution; antidepressant agent; beta adrenergic receptor blocking agent; caffeine; carbamazepine; ciprofloxacin; clofibric acid; erythromycin; estriol; ethinylestradiol; gemfibrozil; ground water; hormone derivative; ibuprofen; lincosamide; macrolide; metronidazole; nonsteroid antiinflammatory agent; norfloxacin; paracetamol; perfluoro compound; perfluorooctanesulfonic acid; quinoline derived antiinfective agent; rain; sulfadiazine; sulfadimidine; sulfamethoxazole; sulfathiazole; sulfonamide; surface water; alkanesulfonic acid; carboxylic acid; drug; fluorocarbon; fresh water; ground water; hormone; perfluorooctanesulfonic acid; water pollutant; antibiotics; concentration (composition); drug; groundwater pollution; hormone; pollutant source; sulfonate; adsorption; aquifer; Article; calibration; catchment; climate change; fluid intake; geography; liquid chromatography; mass spectrometry; quality control; Taiwan; water contamination; water quality; analysis; chemistry; environmental monitoring; water pollutant; water supply; Taiwan; Alkanesulfonic Acids; Carboxylic Acids; Environmental Monitoring; Fluorocarbons; Fresh Water; Groundwater; Hormones; Pharmaceutical Preparations; Taiwan; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Water Supply
Type
journal article