Xenobiotic Organic Compounds in Runoff from Fields Irrigated with Treated Wastewater

Joel A. Pedersen,* Matt A. Yeager, and I. H. (Mel) Suffet
Environmental Science and Engineering Program, University of CaliforniaLos Angeles, Charles E. Young Drive South, CHS 46-081, Los Angeles, California 90095-1772
J. Agric. Food Chem., 2003, 51 (5), pp 1360–1372
DOI: 10.1021/jf025953q
Publication Date (Web): January 25, 2003
Copyright © 2003 American Chemical Society
*

 Corresponding author. Present address:  Department of Soil Science and Molecular and Environmental Toxicology Center, University of Wisconsin−Madison, 1525 Observatory Dr., Madison, WI 53706-1299. Tel.:  (608) 263-4971. Fax:  (608) 265-2595. E-mail:  joelpedersen@wisc.edu.

Abstract

Investigations of agricultural nonpoint source pollution typically focus on a relatively narrow range of targeted toxic and biostimulatory compounds (e.g., specific pesticides, nutrients). Regular application of numerous other organic compounds to agricultural fields in pesticide formulations, irrigation water, soil amendments, and fertilizers may result in their transport into surface waters via runoff. We examined whether potentially toxic dissolved and particle-associated “nontarget” organic compounds were present in surface runoff from agricultural fields irrigated with disinfected tertiary recycled water or wastewater effluent-dominated streamwater. Gas chromatographic−mass spectrometric analyses of filtered runoff samples revealed the presence of numerous nontarget compounds of potential toxicological significance including pesticide transformation products, pesticide adjuvant chemicals, plasticizers, flame retardants, pharmaceuticals, and personal care product ingredients. Although the toxicity of many of these compounds is poorly characterized, some may elicit subtle but profound toxicological effects. Agricultural runoff also represented a source of allochthonous natural organic matter to the stream system.

Keywords: Effluent irrigation; pharmaceuticals; personal care product ingredients; pesticide; broad-spectrum analysis; GC-MS; nonpoint source pollution

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History

  • Published In Issue February 26, 2003
  • Received for review September 11, 2002. Revised manuscript received November 8, 2002. Accepted November 8, 2002. This research was supported by a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. During the course of this research J.A.P. was supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and a Charles F. Scott Fellowship. This work has not been reviewed by USEPA, so no endorsement should be inferred.

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