Occurrence, spatio-temporal variation and ecological risk assessment of benzotriazole ultraviolet stabilizers (BUVs) in water and sediment of rivers in central India

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 882; p. 163381
• Main Authors: Khare, Ankur, Jadhao, Pradip, Kawre, Shatabdi, Kanade, Gajanan, Patil, Mahendra, Vaidya, Atul Narayan, Kumar, Asirvatham Ramesh
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 15.07.2023
• Subjects: Emerging contaminants; Indian rivers; Persistent organic pollutants; Sediments; Stockholm convention; UV stabilizers; UV stabilizers; Persistent organic pollutants; Sediments; Indian rivers; Stockholm convention; Emerging contaminants
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163381

Occurrence of benzotriazole ultraviolet stabilizers (BUVs) in different environmental matrices has attracted researchers and regulatory agencies worldwide due to its persistency, bioaccumulative and toxic properties. Environmental occurrence of BUVs in Indian freshwater is lacking. The present study analyzed six targeted BUVs in surface water and sediments of three rivers of Central India. BUVs were determined in pre- and post-monsoon seasons to reveal their concentration, spatio-temporal distribution and probable ecological risks. Results indicated that total concentration of BUVs (ƩBUVs) ranged from ND to 42.88 μg/L in water, and ND to 165.26 ng/g in sediments with UV-329 as the predominant BUV in surface water and sediments during pre- and post-monsoon seasons. Surface water samples from Pili River, and sediment of Nag River accounted for maximum BUVs concentration. Partitioning coefficient results confirmed the effective transfer of BUVs from overlaying water to sediments. The observed concentration of BUVs in water and sediments posed low ecological risk to planktons. Untreated municipal discharges and poor waste management practices including dumping of wastes might be the sources of BUVs in water bodies. [Display omitted] •First evidence on the environmental occurrence of six BUVs in Indian water bodies•UV-329 and UV-327 were the dominant BUVs in sediment and water.•Pseudo partitioning coefficient reveals the release from BUVs from sediment to water.•BUVs posed low risk to planktons in water bodies.•Plastic debris and wastewater discharge were major sources of BUVs.