Cited by 123Water Quality and Pollution AssessmentPharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental ImpactsWater Quality and Resources Studies

Chemical Loading into Surface Water along a Hydrological, Biogeochemical, and Land Use Gradient: A Holistic Watershed Approach

Barber, Larry B., Murphy, Sheila F., Verplanck, Philip L., Sandstrom, Mark W., Taylor, Howard E., Furlong, Edward T.·2006·Environmental Science & Technology

Abstract

Identifying the sources and impacts of organic and inorganic contaminants at the watershed scale is a complex challenge because of the multitude of processes occurring in time and space. Investigation of geochemical transformations requires a systematic evaluation of hydrologic, landscape, and anthropogenic factors. The 1160 km2 Boulder Creek Watershed in the Colorado Front Range encompasses a gradient of geology, ecotypes, climate, and urbanization. Streamflow originates primarily as snowmelt and shows substantial annual variation. Water samples were collected along a 70-km transect during spring-runoff and base-flow conditions, and analyzed for major elements, trace elements, bulk organics, organic wastewater contaminants (OWCs), and pesticides. Major-element and trace-element concentrations were low in the headwaters, increased through the urban corridor, and had a step increase downstream from the first major wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). Boron, gadolinium, and lithium were useful inorganic tracers of anthropogenic inputs. Effluent from the WWTP accounted for as much as 75% of the flow in Boulder Creek and was the largest chemical input. Under both hydrological conditions, OWCs and pesticides were detected in Boulder Creek downstream from the WWTP outfall as well as in the headwater region, and loads of anthropogenic-derived contaminants increased as basin population density increased. This report documents a suite of potential endocrine-disrupting chemicals in a reach of stream with native fish populations showing indication of endocrine disruption.

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Crossref · 10.1021/es051270q

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Authors
Barber, L. B., Murphy, S. F., Verplanck, P. L., Sandstrom, M. W., Taylor, H. E., & Furlong, E. T.
Affiliations
United States Geological Survey (US)
Corresponding author
Barber, Larry B.
Venue
Environmental Science & Technology
Published
2005-12-13
Volume
40
Issue
2
Pages
475-486
ISSN
  • 0013-936X (ISSN-L)
  • 1520-5851
OpenAlex
W1993141390
Cited by
123
References
63
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 5
FWCI
7.25
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Environmental Science & Technology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health
  • U.S. Geological Survey
  • National Institute of Mental Health
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Water Science and Technology › Water Quality and Pollution Assessment
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Water Science and Technology › Water Quality and Resources Studies
Keywords
surface water contamination, urban-rural gradient, wastewater treatment plant effluent, pesticides, endocrine disruptors, anthropogenic tracers, boron, gadolinium, lithium, major elements, trace elements, baseflow, snowmelt, land use, native fish
MeSH terms
Colorado, Geology, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Geological Phenomena

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