Issue 2, 2013

Emerging pollutants in aquatic environments: monitoring of UV filters in urban wastewater treatment plants

Abstract

Six UV filters – benzophenone-3 (BP-3), octocrylene (OC), ethylhexyl dimethyl p-aminobenzoate (OD-PABA), ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate (EHMC), ethylhexyl salicylate (EHS) and homosalate (HMS) – with endocrine disrupting potential were monitored in different wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) located in Genoa, Italy. The influent and effluent samples were collected once a month from April to September 2011. The analytes were determined by stir bar sorptive extraction followed by liquid desorption (SBSE-LD) combined with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Quantitative analysis was performed in triggered MRM (tMRM), which allowed improvement of specificity without compromising sensitivity. In the inlet samples four analytes were detected; in particular BP-3, OC, EHMC, and OD-PABA were in the range of 4–163, 12–390, 23–68, and 2–4 ng L−1, respectively. Measured concentrations indicated variability of UV filter inputs to WWTPs, with higher loads during the warmer months. A highly positive correlation was found between air temperature and the measured concentration of OC and BP-3. Only BP-3 and OC were detected in some effluent samples, with considerably lower concentrations. The removal efficiencies of the plants were in the range of 64 to >99% and 94 to >99% for BP-3 and OC, respectively.

Graphical abstract: Emerging pollutants in aquatic environments: monitoring of UV filters in urban wastewater treatment plants

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
08 Oct 2012
Accepted
08 Nov 2012
First published
12 Nov 2012

Anal. Methods, 2013,5, 428-433

Emerging pollutants in aquatic environments: monitoring of UV filters in urban wastewater treatment plants

E. Magi, C. Scapolla, M. Di Carro, P. Rivaro and K. T. Ngoc Nguyen, Anal. Methods, 2013, 5, 428 DOI: 10.1039/C2AY26163D

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