Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
6316998 | Environmental Pollution | 2015 | 11 Pages |
Abstract
Sewage input into a karst aquifer via leaking sewers and cesspits was investigated over five years in an urbanized catchment. Of 66 samples, analyzed for 25 pharmaceuticals, 91% indicated detectable concentrations. The former standard iodinated X-ray contrast medium (ICM) diatrizoic acid was detected most frequently. Remarkably, it was found more frequently in groundwater (79%, median: 54Â ng/l) than in wastewater (21%, 120Â ng/l), which is supposed to be the only source in this area. In contrast, iopamidol, a possible substitute, spread over the aquifer during the investigation period whereas concentrations were two orders of magnitude higher in wastewater than in groundwater. Knowledge about changing application of pharmaceuticals thus is essential to assess urban impacts on aquifers, especially when applying mass balances. Since correlated concentrations provide conclusive evidence that, for this catchment, nitrate in groundwater rather comes from urban than from rural sources, ICM are considered useful tracers.
Related Topics
Life Sciences
Environmental Science
Environmental Chemistry
Authors
Moritz Zemann, Leif Wolf, Felix Grimmeisen, Andreas Tiehm, Jochen Klinger, Heinz Hötzl, Nico Goldscheider,