Recent research suggests contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) are widespread and environmentally relevant concentrations can impact fishes. However, little is known about impacts of CECs to long-lived or rare species. The objective of this study was to characterize CEC concentrations in lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) serum and gametes. Blood serum was collected non-lethally from lake sturgeon at four lower Great Lakes basin sites: Detroit, upper Niagara, lower Niagara, and St. Lawrence rivers; additionally, gametes were collected from lake sturgeon in the St. Lawrence River. Samples were analyzed for pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Overall, 44 different PPCPs were identified in serum and gamete samples across sites, with 22 PPCPs identified in at least 25% of serum samples and three PPCPs identified in 25% of gamete samples. PPCP concentrations in serum and gametes ranged from 0.00208 to 130 ppb and 0.00538–190 ppb, respectively. NMDS ordination revealed differences in the presence and concentrations of PPCPs in lake sturgeon serum across sites, however, N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET), hydrocortisone, benztropine, and amitriptyline were detected in at least one serum sample at all sites. Additionally, DEET, 10-hydroxy-amitriptyline, and sertraline were detected in ≥25% of gamete samples collected from the St. Lawrence River. Twenty-six PBDE congeners were identified in 25% of serum samples and 24 were identified in 25% of gamete samples. PBDEs in serum were present across all sites and in gametes of St. Lawrence River lake sturgeon, and total PBDE concentrations in serum and gametes ranged from 0.184 to 12.7 ppb and 0.0826–0.44 ppb, respectively. Managers of lake sturgeon populations may need to consider the impacts of CECs if reproductive, developmental, behavioral, growth effects, or mortality are observed in the Great Lakes basin or other areas that are impacted by increased exposures to PPCPs and PBDEs.

With the increasing use of treated wastewater and biosolids in agriculture, residues of pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) in these reused resources may contaminate food produce via plant uptake, constituting a route for human exposure. Although various PPCPs have been reported to be taken up by plants in laboratories or under field conditions, at present little information is available on their metabolism in plants. In this study, we applied carrot cell cultures to investigate the plant metabolism of PPCPs. Five phase I metabolites of carbamazepine were identified and the potential metabolism pathways of carbamazepine were proposed. We also used the carrot cell cultures as a rapid screening tool to initially assess the metabolism potentials of 18 PPCPs. Eleven PPCPs, including acetaminophen, caffeine, meprobamate, primidone, atenolol, trimethoprim, DEET, carbamazepine, dilantin, diazepam, and triclocarban, were found to be recalcitrant to metabolism. The other 7 PPCPs, including triclosan, naproxen, diclofenac, ibuprofen, gemfibrozil, sulfamethoxazole, and atorvastatin, displayed rapid metabolism, with 0.4–47.3% remaining in the culture at the end of the experiment. Further investigation using glycosidase hydrolysis showed that 1.3–20.6% of initially spiked naproxen, diclofenac, ibuprofen, and gemfibrozil were transformed into glycoside conjugates. Results from this study showed that plant cell cultures may be a useful tool for initially exploring the potential metabolites of PPCPs in plants as well as for rapidly screening the metabolism potentials of a variety of PPCPs or other emerging contaminants, and therefore may be used for prioritizing compounds for further comprehensive evaluations.

Commercial insect repellents like DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide), EBAAP (IR3535®, (3-[N-butyl-N-acetyl]-aminopropionic acid, ethyl ester)) or Icaridine (picaridin, Bayrepel, 1-piperidinecarboxylic acid, 2-(2-hydroxyethyl), 1-methylpropyl ester) are used worldwide to protect against biting insects and ticks. The detection of these repellents in surface waters in concentrations up to several μg/L levels has caused concern that these substances might affect non-target organisms in freshwaters. Daphnia sp., a keystone organism in lakes and ponds, is known for diel vertical migration (DVM) and life-history changes (LHCs) as inducible defenses against predation by fish. Here we test whether (i) environmentally relevant concentrations of DEET, EBAPP or Icaridine have repellent effects on Daphnia magna and (ii) if these repellents are infodisruptors for DVM and LHCs. Using concentrations of up to 44 μg/L, the repellents neither had effects on juvenile somatic growth nor on clutch size. In thermally stratified water columns with a repellent-free hypolimnion, no repellent effects of the test compounds on D. magna were observed. The presence of fish-born infochemicals induced LHCs, which are characterized by a reduced size at first reproduction, and DVM in D. magna. These effects were not affected by the presence of either repellent. Hence no evidences for infodisruption of the chemical communication of fish and Daphnia by DEET, EBAAP or Icaridine were found.

Ny-Ålesund, one of four permanent settlements on Spitsbergen in Svalbard, is a research town that includes scientific institutes from many countries. Because of daily-used chemicals (e.g., pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs)) used by residents in the area, generated sewage is considered as a point source in the Kongsfjorden. The aim of the present study was to identify and quantify organic pollutants in the effluent and along the shoreline and offshore via target, suspect, and non-target screening using liquid chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry. We tentatively identified 30 compounds using the suspect and non-target screening methods in effluent samples from our first visit to the settlement in 2016. Among these, 3 were false positive, 24 were confirmed, and the 3 remaining compounds were not confirmed because of a lack of reference standards. Of the confirmed, 21 were quantifiable and considered target compounds for the 2nd year study. The quantified compounds in the effluent samples in 2017 totaled 17, including PPCPs, pesticides, perfluorinated compounds, and their metabolites. Some of the compounds, such as caffeine, paraxanthine/theophylline, acetaminophen, cetirizine, diethyl toluamide (DEET), and icaridin, were also detected in the receiving seawater. The concentration range was from 4 to 280,000 ng/L in the effluent and 2–98 ng/L in the seawater. Other 24 compounds were tentatively identified in the second-year effluent samples. Five were further confirmed using reference standards. Prioritization was performed on the 47 substances screened in Ny-Ålesund using the exposure and toxicity index. As the result, the top seven substances of concern present were perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), triphenyl phosphate (TPHP), irbesartan, DEET, acetaminophen, caffeine, and paraxanthine/theophylline. As the effluent was identified as a source of the concerned organic pollutants, an emission reduction strategy should take place for protection of Arctic Fjorden environment.

The process of embalming human remains as part of the funeral home industry, entails replacing blood with embalming fluid. Typically the unused/excess fluids are disposed of directly to the sewershed or septic system. The presence of select contaminants in sewer discharges from 8 funeral homes (facilities) in York Region, Ontario during active embalming processes was studied. A wide range of contaminants including embalming fluids (formaldehyde and triclosan); metals, conventional parameters, persistent organic pollutants (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, pesticides, and polychlorinated byphenyls), nonyl phenols and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) were measured in the final embalming effluent and compared to regulatory sewer limits where available. Two main constituents of embalming fluids—formaldehyde and triclosan—were detected at maximum concentrations of 561,000 μg/L and 505 μg/L respectively. Other persistent organic pollutants detected in embalming effluent included banned pesticides lindane (83 ng/L) and metabolites of DDT (DDE; 2,300 ng/L). Elevated APIs found in over-the-counter drugs and products were also frequently detected at elevated concentrations (oxybenzone, hydrocortisone, lidocaine, naproxen, ibuprofen, ciprofloxacin and DEET). Most contaminants did not exceed regulatory sewer limits where available, however others including biochemical oxygen demand (cBOD5) and conventional parameters were consistently above regulatory limits. Large amounts of formaldehyde and triclosan may pose a risk to receiving sewersheds and receiving sewage treatment plants due to their antimicrobial activities.

Pesticides are used worldwide with potential harmful effects on both fauna and flora. The Kibale National Park in Uganda, a site renowned for its biodiversity is surrounded by tea, banana and eucalyptus plantations as well as maize fields and small farms. We previously showed presence of pesticides with potential endocrine disruptive effects in the vicinity. To further investigate the water pollution linked to agricultural pressure in this protected area, we implemented a complementary monitoring strategy based on: analytical chemistry, effects based methods and the deployment of Polar Organic Chemical Integrative Samplers (POCIS). Chemical analysis of the POCIS extracts revealed the presence of 13 pesticides: carbofuran, DEET, 2.4-D amine, carbaryl, ametryn, isoproturon, metolachlor, terbutryn, dimethoate, imidacloprid, picaridin, thiamethoxam, carbendazim, with the first three being present in the largest quantities. Water samples collected at the POCIS sampling sites exhibited thyroid and estrogen axis disrupting activities in vivo, in addition to developmental and behaviour effects on Xenopus laevis tadpoles model. Based on our observations, for the health of local human and wildlife populations, further monitoring as well as actions to reduce agrochemical use should be considered in the Kibale National Park and in regions exposed to similar conditions.

This review aims to gather and summarize information about the occurrence of emerging contaminants and antibiotic resistance genes in environmental matrices in Latin America. We aim to contribute to future research by compiling a list of priority pollutants adjusted to the needs and characteristics of Latin America, according to the data presented in this study. In order to perform a comprehensive research and secure a representative and unbiased amount of quality data concerning emerging contaminants in Latin America, the research was performed within the Scopus® database in a time frame from 2000 to July 2019. The countries with higher numbers of published articles were Brazil and México, while most studies were performed in the surroundings of Mexico City and in Southern and Southeastern Brazil. The main investigated environmental matrices were drinking water and surface water. The presence of antibiotic resistance was frequently reported, mainly in Brazil. Monitoring efforts should be performed in other countries in Latin America, as well as in other regions of Brazil and México. The suggested priority list for monitoring of emerging contaminants in Latin America covers: di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), bisphenol-A (BP-A), 4-nonylphenol (4-NP), triclosan (TCS), estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), ethinylestradiol (EE2), tetracycline (TC), amoxicillin (AMOX), norfloxacin (NOR), ampicillin (AMP) and imipenem (IMP). We hope this list serves as a basis for the orientation of the future research and monitoring projects to better understand the distribution and concentration of the listed emerging substances.

Increased synthetic chemical production and diversification in developing countries caused serious aquatic pollution worldwide with emerging organic pollutants (EOPs) detected in surface water rising health concerns to human and aquatic ecosystem even at low ng/L concentration with long-term exposure. The Yangtze River Delta (YRD) area serves agriculture and industry for people in eastern China. However, the current knowledge on the occurrence and ecological risk of diverse EOPs which are present in the aquatic environment is limited. This study was to investigate the complexity and diversity of EOPs in surface water from 28 sampling sites, which were selected to represent urban, industrial or agriculture areas in the YRD area. In total 484 chemicals were analyze by a target screening approach using liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS/MS). 181 out of 484 EOPs were detected at least one site in the YRD area, and 44 analytes, mostly industrial chemicals and pesticides, were ubiquitous at all sampling sites. Most EOPs were industrial chemicals with 1H-benzotriazole and organophosphate flame retardants (PFRs) as the chemicals with highest concentrations. For 21 pesticides, mostly herbicides, maximum concentrations of atrazine and isoproturon were above the annual average environmental quality standards of Europe. Amantadine and DEET were the dominant pharmceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in the YRD area. Compared to urban areas (mostly in Qinhuai River), chemical profiles from industrial areas were more complex. Industrial activities likely have a strong impact on the composition of chemical mixtures in surface water from the YRD area. ISO E Super, 4-methylbenzylidene camphor and clotrimazole detected in this study are potentially persistent and bioaccumulative chemicals. Furthermore, results of risk assessment showed that hazard quotients of dimethyldioctadecylammonium, didecyldimethylammonium and octocrylene were higher than one and occur frequently, which indicates possibly adverse effects on fish species in the YRD area.

Nineteen biocides were investigated in the Yangtze River to understand their spatiotemporal distribution, mass loads and ecological risks. Fourteen biocides were detected, with the highest concentrations up to 166 ng/L for DEET in surface water, and 54.3 ng/g dry weight (dw) for triclocarban in sediment. The dominant biocides were DEET and methylparaben, with their detection frequencies of 100% in both phases. An estimate of 152 t/y of 14 biocides was carried by the Yangtze River to the East China Sea. The distribution of biocides in the aquatic environments was significantly correlated to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), total phosphorus (TP) and total nitrogen (TN), suggesting dominant input sources from domestic wastewater of the cities along the river. Risk assessment showed high ecological risks posed by carbendazim in both phases and by triclosan in sediment. Therefore, proper measures should be taken to reduce the input of biocides into the river systems.

In order to take actions against the annual flooding in Jakarta, the construction of a Giant Seawall has been proposed in the Master Plan for National Capital Integrated Coastal Development. The seawall provides a combination of technical solutions against flooding, but these will heavily modify the mass transports in the near-coastal area of Jakarta Bay. This study presents numerical simulations of river flux of total nitrogen and N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide, a molecular tracer for municipal waste water for similar scenarios as described in the Master Plan. Model results demonstrate a strong accumulation of municipal wastes and nutrients in the planned reservoirs to extremely high levels which will result in drastic adverse eutrophication effects if the treatment of municipal waste water is not dealt with in the same priority as the construction of the Giant Seawall.