Presentation Abstract
The occurrence and fate of Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs) in the environment is a function of source strength, hydrodynamics, and susceptibility to environmental degradation. Puget Sound is an ideal location for the investigation of CECs due to the wide variety and magnitude of anthropogenic impacts on source strength. In this study, the spatial and temporal variability of a suite of CECs was investigated in samples collected in the estuarine waters of Puget Sound. The investigated CECs were comprised of approximately 20 pharmaceuticals (acetaminophen, ibuprofen), food ingredients (caffeine, sucralose), metabolites (paraxanthine, cotinine), and herbicides (atrazine, mecoprop). Spatial variability was investigated via a 3-day, “snapshot” sampling event coordinated with citizen scientists in June of 2013 that encompassed sampling locations ranging from Padilla Bay in Anacortes to Budd Inlet in South Puget Sound. Temporal variability was investigated through repeated monitoring of the Thea Foss Waterway in Tacoma over approximately 6 months. Approximately 1 liter of water was collected at all sampling locations, filtered through 0.2 micron filters, adjusted to pH 8, extracted with solid phase extraction, and eluted with organic solvent. Final extract volumes were approximately 1.5 ml, (a concentration factor of approximately 1000). Extracts were analyzed with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (triple quadrupole mass analyzers). Method detection limits for most CECs investigated were below 5 ng/L (mass CEC per sample volume). Some of the CECs investigated were ubiquitous (Detection Frequency greater than 75%) in both the spatial and temporal variability sample sets, including caffeine, sucralose, mecoprop, and sulfamethoxazole. However, the measured CEC concentrations exhibited pronounced differences depending on the CEC, from mean concentrations of ~25 ng/L for sucralose to below 0.25 ng/L for mecoprop in the snapshot samples. In the snapshot samples, positive correlations (R2 greater than 0.6) were observed between carbamazepine and sulfamethoxazole, carbamazepine and sucralose, and theobromine and paraxanthine. These measurements of CECs represent some of the first of their kind in Puget Sound and demonstrate variability, or lack thereof, in CEC concentrations in space and time.
Session Title
Session S-08C: Occurrences and Impacts of Emerging Contaminants
Conference Track
Emerging Contaminants and Emergencies
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2014 : Seattle, Wash.)
Document Type
Event
Start Date
2-5-2014 8:30 AM
End Date
2-5-2014 10:00 AM
Location
Room 606
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Pollutants--Research--Washington (State)--Puget Sound
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Puget Sound (Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Included in
Contaminants of Emerging Concern in Puget Sound: A Comparison of Spatial and Temporal Levels and Occurrence
Room 606
The occurrence and fate of Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs) in the environment is a function of source strength, hydrodynamics, and susceptibility to environmental degradation. Puget Sound is an ideal location for the investigation of CECs due to the wide variety and magnitude of anthropogenic impacts on source strength. In this study, the spatial and temporal variability of a suite of CECs was investigated in samples collected in the estuarine waters of Puget Sound. The investigated CECs were comprised of approximately 20 pharmaceuticals (acetaminophen, ibuprofen), food ingredients (caffeine, sucralose), metabolites (paraxanthine, cotinine), and herbicides (atrazine, mecoprop). Spatial variability was investigated via a 3-day, “snapshot” sampling event coordinated with citizen scientists in June of 2013 that encompassed sampling locations ranging from Padilla Bay in Anacortes to Budd Inlet in South Puget Sound. Temporal variability was investigated through repeated monitoring of the Thea Foss Waterway in Tacoma over approximately 6 months. Approximately 1 liter of water was collected at all sampling locations, filtered through 0.2 micron filters, adjusted to pH 8, extracted with solid phase extraction, and eluted with organic solvent. Final extract volumes were approximately 1.5 ml, (a concentration factor of approximately 1000). Extracts were analyzed with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (triple quadrupole mass analyzers). Method detection limits for most CECs investigated were below 5 ng/L (mass CEC per sample volume). Some of the CECs investigated were ubiquitous (Detection Frequency greater than 75%) in both the spatial and temporal variability sample sets, including caffeine, sucralose, mecoprop, and sulfamethoxazole. However, the measured CEC concentrations exhibited pronounced differences depending on the CEC, from mean concentrations of ~25 ng/L for sucralose to below 0.25 ng/L for mecoprop in the snapshot samples. In the snapshot samples, positive correlations (R2 greater than 0.6) were observed between carbamazepine and sulfamethoxazole, carbamazepine and sucralose, and theobromine and paraxanthine. These measurements of CECs represent some of the first of their kind in Puget Sound and demonstrate variability, or lack thereof, in CEC concentrations in space and time.
