Possible effect of submarine groundwater discharge on the pollution of coastal water: Occurrence, source, and risks of endocrine disrupting chemicals in coastal groundwater and adjacent seawater influenced by reclaimed water irrigation

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) Vol. 250; p. 126323
• Main Authors: Lu, Jian, Wu, Jun, Zhang, Cui, Zhang, Yuxuan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2020
• Subjects: Benzhydryl Compounds - analysis; Coastal groundwater; Endocrine Disruptors - analysis; Endocrine-disrupting chemicals; Environmental Monitoring; Estradiol - analysis; Estrogens - analysis; Estrone - analysis; Ethinyl Estradiol - analysis; Groundwater - chemistry; Phenols - analysis; Reclaimed water; Risk assessment; Seawater; Seawater - chemistry; Waste Water - analysis; Waste Water - chemistry; Water - analysis; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Coastal groundwater; Reclaimed water; Endocrine-disrupting chemicals; Risk assessment; Seawater
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.126323
• ISSN: 0045-6535

This study investigated occurrence, source, and risks of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in coastal groundwater and adjacent seawater influenced by reclaimed water irrigation in a typical coastal region of China. All target EDCs were detected in coastal groundwater and reclaimed water while only estrone, bisphenol A (BPA), and nonylphenol were detected in seawater. Concentrations of BPA that was the predominant EDC in coastal groundwater ranged from 35.9 to 52.9 ng/L and estradiol was easy to accumulate in groundwater under reclaimed water irrigation. Concentrations of all target EDCs in seawater ranged from 18.9 to 30.9 ng/L, much lower than those in groundwater. Ecological risks posed by EDCs in groundwater and seawater were very high. Estrone contributed to 51.3%–62.9% of total acute risk quotients for seawater while detected 17-α-ethynylestradiol contributed to 41.1%–56.2% of total acute risk quotients for groundwater. Estradiol equivalent concentrations of target EDCs in groundwater/seawater were in the range of (3.5–7.6)/(1.4–2.3) ng/L while non-cancer risks posed by EDCs in groundwater/seawater were acceptable. Dual-isotope analysis illustrated that reclaimed water was the main source of EDCs in coastal groundwater. About 82% of EDCs was discharged into the Laizhou Bay through the submarine groundwater discharge based on the flux analysis. The pollution of the coastal groundwater through reclaimed water irrigation subsequently led to EDCs pollution of the adjacent seawater through the submarine groundwater discharge. Therefore, effective control of EDCs in reclaimed water for irrigation will be beneficial to control EDCs in groundwater and seawater of the coastal regions. [Display omitted] •Total concentrations of EDCs in groundwater were in the range of 46.3–66.5 ng/L.•Ecological risks posed by EDCs in groundwater and seawater were very high.•Estrone averagely contributed to 65.2% of total estradiol equivalent concentration.•Reclaimed water was proved to be the main source of EDCs in coastal groundwater.•82% of EDCs was discharged into Laizhou Bay through submarine groundwater discharge.