Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care
Products in Public Water Supplies
US Conference of Mayors: Mayors Water Council &
Sustainable Development Task Force
January 19, 2009
Herb Buxton
USGS Toxic Substances Hydrology Program
U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Geological Survey
2
Pharmaceuticals and Personal
Care Products (PPCPs)
• Drugs
• Detergents
• Antioxidants
• Fire retardants
• Disinfectants
• Fumigants
• Fragrances
• Insecticides/
Repellants
Chemicals that co-occur
and have similar MOA
• Biogenic Hormones
• Pesticides
• Industrial Chemicals
• Some Metals
• Natural hormones
• Natural antimicrobials
• Degradation byproducts
3
USGS Questions
• What contaminants have been found in
public drinking water in the US?
• Where have they been found?
• What levels have been detected?
• Do we have data on trends in terms of
geography and levels?
4
Are PPCP’s entering our
environment?
Results of National Stream & Groundwater Surveys
 Present in water at
sub-ppb conc.’s.
 Greater levels in
streams than wells
Ground (47)
80
Percent Detected
 Present in mixtures.
Surface (139)
100
60
40
20
0
N
.
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Kolpin, et al., 2002; Barnes et al., 2008
5
PPCPs in
Source Waters
70
Percentage of surface- or ground-water sites
No
with at least one detection of a compound in group
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Water Survey Surface-water sites; n=49
Percent Detection
60
50
Ground-water sites; n=25
Explanation
+ GW (25)
SW (49)
40
Surface Water
Ground Water
30
20
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Focazio et al., 2008
6
National Source Water Survey
60
Source-water reconnaissance (surface-water sites)
50
Source Waters (Streams)
Susceptible Streams
40
Stream reconnaissance (Kolpin, et al., 2002)
30
20
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Percent Detection
Frequency of Detection, in percent
Natural Dilution and Degradation
Focazio et al., 2008
7
Removal in Treatment, NJ Facility
Finished Water
Percent Detection
Percent Detection
Raw Water
Levels Generally Reduced by
Treatment with GAC Filters
Pharmaceutical/Antibiotic
Flame retardant/Plasticizer
Fragrance
Pesticide
Plant/Animal steroid
Detergent metabolite
PAHs
Others
Stackelberg et al., 2004 & 2007
8
PPCPs in Finished Drinking Water
*12 of 20 Pharm’s not detected
18 DW Facilities
Detections
14
15
42
12
10
8
6
4
2
19
18
18
Max. (ppt)
Pharm’s
PCPs
2.1 470
93
510
3
0.82 100
0.33 1.2 25
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Supported by AWWA
Research Fnd. &
WateReuse Fnd.
16
m
Conducted by
Southern Nevada
Water Authority
Detections in 18 Samples
18
Benotti et al. 2008
9
Finished Drinking Water Survey:
2007-Present, USEPA & USGS
•
•
•
•
Varied locations across the Nation.
Paired source/finished water samples.
Varied treatment types.
Significant QA/QC to ensure reliability
• Working with water suppliers
10
Thank you!
For more information:
http://toxics.usgs.gov
hbuxton@usgs.gov