Review of the occurrence of emerging organic contaminants and pesticides in Italian surface water and groundwater

Meffe, R. and De Bustamante, I. (2016) Review of the occurrence of emerging organic contaminants and pesticides in Italian surface water and groundwater. In: AQUA 2015: Back to the Future! 42nd International Congress of International Association of Hydrogeologists. RENDICONTI Online della Società Geologica Italiana, 39 (1). Società Geologica Italiana, Roma, IT, p. 378. ISBN 2035-8008

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Abstract

This work provides the first review of the occurrence of 161 emerging organic contaminants (EOCs) and 137 pesticides, in surface and groundwater of Italy. The reported EOCs belong to the group of industrials, pharmaceuticals, estrogens and illicit drugs. The reviewed research works have been published between 1997 and 2013. Results show that the more frequently studied EOCs are pesticide (16), pharmaceuticals (15), industrials (13), estrogens (7) and illicit drugs (2). Among the reported contaminants, those occurring with the highest concentrations in both surface and groundwater are pesticides (up to 106 ng L-1) and industrials (up to 105 ng L-1). Reported maximum concentrations of pharmaceuticals in surface water are about 103 ng L-1. Whereas in the groundwater, this class of contaminants were rarely detected suggesting different contaminant sources and pathways and different degradation rates in comparison to pesticides and industrials. Both estrogens and illicit drugs appeared in surface water with concentrations lower than 50 ng L-1. Groundwater concentrations for estrogens were measured to be below the detection limits, whereas illicit drugs have so far not been studied in groundwater. Apart from the national reconnaissance study carried out by the ISPRA Institute in 2013, groundwater of several regions from Southern Italy has not been collected for EOC determination. Excluding pesticides, the same applies for surface water. The present review reveals the serious contamination status of Italian surface and groundwater especially by pesticides, industrials and to a lower extent by pharmaceuticals. Moreover, this study highlights the necessity to foster the research on EOC occurrence in Italian water resources, in particular in Southern Italian areas where a very limited number of investigations exists

Item Type:	Book Section
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences Q Science > Q Science (General) Q Science > QD Chemistry
Divisions:	Faculty of Engineering, Science and Mathematics > School of Civil Engineering and the Environment
Depositing User:	Dra. Raffaella Meffe
Date Deposited:	17 Jun 2016 07:23
Last Modified:	17 Jun 2016 07:23
URI:	http://eprints.imdea-agua.org:13000/id/eprint/621

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