Pharmaceuticals, Hormones, and Other Wastewater Contaminants in U.S. Streams Herb Buxton Coordinator, Toxic Substances Hydrology Program

Goal To provide information on emerging water quality issues that supports: Water-quality monitoring and assessment, Contamination management and prevention, Health-effects research, and Chemical licensing & use.

Develop sensitive and specific methods to measure trace organics at low levels. Study Objectives: Evaluate environmental occurrence in “susceptible” waters

Wastewater Treatment Facilities. Domestic Septic Systems. Industrial Discharges. Wastewater Pathways WWTF, Atlanta

Hog Facility, South Fork Iowa River Animal Feeding Operations  Waste lagoons  Land application Aquaculture Wastewater Pathways

“Susceptible” Streams Susceptible to Sources of Human, Animal, and Industrial Waste 139 streams in 30 states 52 Urbanized. 62 Animal Production. 17 Mixed Land Use. 8 Minimally Developed.

Stream Monitoring Network ( )

Target Chemicals: 95 Organic Wastewater Compounds 22 Antibiotics 14 Prescription Drugs 5 Nonprescription Drugs 15 Hormones and Steroids 39 Household and Industrial Compounds

5 Detergent byproducts 7 Plastics 5 Antioxidants 2 Fire retardants 8 Insecticides/repellant 3 Disinfectants/antimicrobials Others (fumigant, fragrance, PAHs)

1 or more compound found in 80% of streams sampled. 82 of 95 compounds detected at least once (8 antibiotics & 5 other drugs not detected). Measured concentrations generally low; (30 most freq. detected, only ~5% > 1 ppb). General Results

Multiple detections were common. - As many as 38 compounds in a sample; 34% had more than Aggregate conc. as high as 80 ppb, 25% more than 6 ppb. Less susceptible sites had fewer compounds and lower concentrations. 14 of 95 compounds have health standards or guidelines. General Results

Information by Chemical Group Compare: Detection Frequency Concentration

Detection Frequency (%) by Group Steroids (4) Nonprescrip. Drugs (5) Insect Repellant (1) Detergent Meta. (5) Disinfectants (3) Plastics (7) Fire Retardants (2) Antibiotics (22) Insecticides (7) PAHs (6) Hormones (11) Prescription Drugs (14) Antioxidants (5) Fragrances (2) Solvent (1)

Concentration by Group Detergent Meta. (5) Steroids (4) Plastics (7) Disinfectants (3) Nonprescrip. Drugs (5) Antioxidants (5) Fire Retardants (2) Antibiotics (22) Insect Repellant (1) Insecticides (7) PAHs (6) Hormones (11) Prescription Drugs (14) Fragrances (2) Solvent (1) * (75 th Percentile) ppb

Detection Median Compound Freq. % Detect (ppb) coprostanol cholesterol N-N-diethyltoluamide caffeine tri(2-chloroethyl)phos triclosan nonylphenol Most Commonly Detected Compounds

Antibiotics Carbodox Doxycycline Enrofloxacin Sarafloxacin Sulfachloropyridazine Sulfamerazine Sulfathiazole Virginiamycin Other Drugs Albuterol Digoxin Digoxigenin Paroxetine Metabolite Warfarin Compounds Not Detected

National Reconnaissance: Continuing Activities. - Streams: 139 sites / 30 states - Ground Water: 56 sites / 17 states - Drinking-Water Sources: 76 sites / 27 states (USEPA)

Related USGS Research  Antibiotic resistance (CDC).  Chemical indicators of human fecal contamination (USEPA).  Drinking water and wastewater treatment efficacy.  Watershed cycling and seasonality.  Sediment methods and occurrence.  Occurrence at fish hatcheries.

For More Info, Try the Internet The Toxics Program: toxics.usgs.gov The USGS:

Quality Assurance Field: –Standardized and published field protocols*. –Blanks. –Duplicates. Laboratory: –Fortified Spikes (every sample set, 10-16). –Surrogate Spikes (methods performance). –Matrix Spikes. –Blanks. –Duplicates. –*Interlab. comparisons (15 compounds).