Anthropogenic gadolinium in freshwater and drinking water systems

• Published in: Water research (Oxford) Vol. 182; p. 115966
• Main Authors: Brünjes, Robert, Hofmann, Thilo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2020; The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd
• Subjects: Anthropogenic gadolinium; Betacoronavirus; Contrast Media; Coronavirus Infections; COVID-19; COVID-19 infection; Drinking Water; Fresh Water; freshwater; Gadolinium; Gadolinium anomaly; Gadolinium-based contrast agents; groundwater flow; Humans; hydrologic cycle; ligands; magnetism; Micropollutants; Pandemics; Pneumonia, Viral; Review; risk; river water; SARS-CoV-2; uncertainty; urine; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; water reuse; COVID-19; Drinking water; Micropollutants; Gadolinium anomaly; Gadolinium-based contrast agents; Anthropogenic gadolinium

The increasing use of gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) for magnetic resonance imaging is leading to widespread contamination of freshwater and drinking water systems. Contrary to previous assumptions that GBCAs are stable throughout the water cycle, they can degrade. The stability of GBCAs d...