Contamination of nonylphenolic compounds in creek water, wastewater treatment plant effluents, and sediments from Lake Shihwa and vicinity, Korea: Comparison with fecal pollution

Nonylphenolic compounds (NPs), coprostanol (COP), and cholestanol, major contaminants in industrial and domestic wastewaters, were analyzed in creek water, wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent, and sediment samples from artificial Lake Shihwa and its vicinity, one of the most industrialized regions in Korea. We also determined mass discharge of NPs and COP, a fecal sterol, into the lake, to understand the linkage between discharge and sediment contamination. Total NP (the sum of nonylphenol, and nonylphenol mono- and di-ethoxylates) were 0.32–875 μg L−1 in creeks, 0.61–87.0 μg L−1 in WWTP effluents, and 29.3–230 μg g−1 TOC in sediments. Concentrations of COP were 0.09–19.0 μg L−1 in creeks, 0.11–44.0 μg L−1 in WWTP effluents, and 2.51–438 μg g−1 TOC in sediments. The spatial distributions of NPs in creeks and sediments from the inshore region were different from those of COP, suggesting that Lake Shihwa contamination patterns from industrial effluents differ from those from domestic effluents. The mass discharge from the combined outfall of the WWTPs, located in the offshore region, was 2.27 kg d−1 for NPs and 1.00 kg d−1 for COP, accounting for 91% and 95% of the total discharge into Lake Shihwa, respectively. The highest concentrations of NPs and COP in sediments were found in samples at sites near the submarine outfall of the WWTPs, indicating that the submarine outfall is an important point source of wastewater pollution in Lake Shihwa.

► Sediments and freshwater in Lake Shihwa are contaminated by wastewater contaminants.
► High levels of NPs and COP were found in sediments close to the outfall of WWTPs.
► Their high mass discharge through a major WWTP outfall was estimated.
► The submarine outfall is an important point source of wastewater pollution.