Distribution of phthalates, pesticides and drug residues in the dissolved, particulate and sedimentary phases from transboundary rivers (France-Belgium)

Various drug residues, pesticides and phthalates are ubiquitous in the environment. Their presence in the environment has attracted considerable attention due to their potential impacts on ecosystem functioning and on public health. In this work, 14 drug residues, 24 pesticides and 6 phthalates have been quantified in three matrices (in the dissolved phase, associated to suspended solid matter (SSM), and in sediment) collected from fifteen watercourses and rivers located in a highly industrialized zone at the cross-border area of Northern France and Belgium. The extractions have been carried out using accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) for solid matrices (SSM and sediment) and using solid phase extraction (SPE) for liquid matrix. The final extract was analyzed using GC-MS technique. Among the three classes of compounds, phthalates have been found at highest level compared to pesticides and drug residues. The Σ6PAE concentrations were ranging from 17.2 ± 2.58 to 179.1 ± 26.9 μg L− 1 in dissolved phase, from 2.9 ± 0.4 to 21.1 ± 3.2 μg L− 1 in SSM and from 1.1 ± 0.2 to 11.9 ± 1.8 μg g− 1 dw in sediment. The Σ14drug residue concentrations were lower than 1.3 μg L− 1 in the dissolved phases, lower than 30 ng L− 1 associated to SSM and from nondetectable levels to 60.7 ± 9.1 ng g− 1 dw in sediment. For pesticides, all compounds were below the LOQ values in dissolved phase and in sediment, and only EPTC could be quantified in SSM.