Occurrence, distribution, and seasonality of emerging contaminants in urban watersheds
Open accessAbstract
The widespread occurrence of natural and synthetic organic chemicals in surface waters can cause ecological risks and human health concerns. This study measured a suite of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in water samples collected by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 8 around the Denver, Colorado, metropolitan area. The results showed that 109 of 144 analyzed pharmaceutical compounds, 42 of 55 analyzed waste-indicator compounds (e.g., flame retardants, hormones, and personal care products), and 39 of 72 analyzed pesticides were detected in the water samples collected monthly between April and November in both 2014 and 2015. Pharmaceutical compounds were most abundant in the surface waters and their median concentrations were measured up to a few hundred nanograms per liter. The CEC concentrations varied depending on sampling locations and seasons. The primary source of CECs was speculated to be wastewater effluent. The CEC concentrations were correlated to streamflow volume and showed significant seasonal effects. The CECs were less persistent during spring runoff season compared with baseflow season at most sampling sites. These results are useful for providing baseline data for surface CEC monitoring and assessing the environmental risks and potential human exposure to CECs.
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Bai et al. reported contaminant concentrations were higher in winter compared to summer in watersheds in Denver, Colorado.
“Bai et al. (2018) in their study of watersheds in Denver, Colorado, reported that contaminant concentrations were higher in winter as compared to summer, which is typically the runoff season.”
From Per and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as a contaminant of emerging concern in surface water: A transboundary review of their occurrences and toxicity effects (2021) · cites this paper as Bai et al., 2018
The widespread occurrence of new and emerging and persistent organic pollutants (NEPs and POPs) in surface water poses a risk to drinking water supply and consequently human health.
“The widespread occurrence of new and emerging and persistent organic pollutants (NEPs and POPs) in surface water poses a risk to drinking water supply and consequently human health.”
From Occurrence of emerging and persistent organic pollutants in the rivers Cam, Ouse and Thames, UK (2025) · cites this paper as Bai et al., 2018
Exposure to some NEPs and POPs e.g., PFAS and NSAIDs, at trace concentrations has been associated with a range of health effects including heart failure, ulcers, bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract, kidney disease, altered immune and thyroid function, liver disease and cancer.
“Exposure to some of these NEPs and POPs e.g., PFAS and NSAIDs, at trace concentrations has been associated with a range of health effects including heart failure, ulcers, bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract (Banerjee and Maric, 2021; Der Beek et al., 2016), kidney disease, altered immune and thyroid function, liver disease and cancer (Bai et al., 2018; Fenton et al., 2021).”
From Occurrence of emerging and persistent organic pollutants in the rivers Cam, Ouse and Thames, UK (2025) · cites this paper as Bai et al., 2018
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References 42 · Cited by 203
- Authors
- Bai, X., Lutz, A., Carroll, R., Keteles, K., Dahlin, K., Murphy, M., & Nguyen, D.
- Affiliations
- Desert Research Institute (US)
- Environmental Protection Agency (US)
- Corresponding author
- Bai, Xuelian
- Venue
- Chemosphere
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2018-06
- Volume
- 200
- Pages
- 133-142
- ISSN
- 0045-6535 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC6705126
- OpenAlex
- W2792908024
- Cited by
- 203
- References
- 42
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 32 · 2023: 27 · 2022: 30 · 2021: 33 · 2020: 28 · 2019: 20 · 2018: 5
- FWCI
- 8.06
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Chemosphere (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- Desert Research Institute
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Effects and risks of endocrine disrupting chemicals
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Toxic Organic Pollutants Impact
- Keywords
- emerging contaminants, pharmaceutical compounds, flame retardants, endocrine disruptors, personal care products, pesticides, urban watersheds, surface water contamination, seasonal variation, river discharge, wastewater effluent, Denver metropolitan area, human exposure
- MeSH terms
- Colorado, Environmental Monitoring, Humans, Seasons, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Wastewater
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