Quantitative and qualitative approaches for CEC prioritization when reusing reclaimed water for irrigation needs – A critical review

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 900; p. 165735
• Main Authors: Verlicchi, Paola, Lacasa, Engracia, Grillini, Vittoria
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 20.11.2023
• Subjects: Contaminants of emerging concern; Irrigation; Prioritization; Qualitative and quantitative approaches; Reclaimed water; Reuse; Prioritization; Irrigation; Contaminants of emerging concern; Reclaimed water; Qualitative and quantitative approaches; Reuse
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165735

The use of reclaimed water for irrigation is an option that is becoming increasingly widespread to alleviate water scarcity and to cope with drought. However, reclaimed water, if used for irrigation, may introduce Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs) into the agroecosystems, which may be taken up by the crops and subsequently enter the food chain. The number of CECs is steadily increasing due to their continuous introduction on the market for different uses. There is an urgent need to draw up a short list of potential high priority CECs, which are substances that could be taken up by plants and accumulated in food produce, and/or that could have negative effects on human health and the environment. This review presents and discusses the approaches developed to prioritize CECs when reclaimed water is (re-)used for irrigation. They are divided into quantitative methodologies, which estimate the risk for environmental compartments (soil and water), predators and humans through equations, and qualitative methodologies, which are instead conceptual frameworks or procedures based on the simultaneous combination of data/information/practices with the judgment of experts. Three antibiotics (erythromycin, sulfamethoxazole and ciprofloxacin), one estrogen (17-α ethinylestradiol) and one analgesic (ibuprofen) were found on at least two priority lists, although comparison among studies is still difficult. The review remarks that it is advisable to harmonize the different methodologies in order to identify the priority CECs to include in monitoring programs in reclaimed water reuse projects and to ensure a high level of protection for humans and the environment. [Display omitted] •Representative CECs in the case of reclaimed water reuse projects for irrigation•Overview of available approaches for selecting CECs in reuse projects for irrigation•Comparison among the variables and correlations in the quantitative approaches•Comparison of the logical frameworks in the overviewed qualitative methodologies•Antibiotics are the CECs common in all the final lists.