PPCPs: An Emerging Source of Chemical Pollution

1. PPCPs: An Emerging Source of Chemical Pollution By: Arienne Barnes Nicolette Foster Aaron Stover Ingrid Tobar Sara Vogt Jennifer Wolfe

2. Introduction Goal: Evaluate and assess emerging pollution problem introduced by widespread use of PPCPs. This overview covers the methodology, types, sources, quantities, pathways, fates and impacts of these substances.

3. Methodology • Small concentrations, variety and complex behavior pose challenges in sampling and detection processes. • Polar compounds (dissolve easily in water) are easier to detect than those attached to sediments. • Detecting PPCPs in water samples involves extraction procedures, solvent exchange or column chromatography to form derivatives. • Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry is used to isolate and quantify chemicals from derivatives. • Isolating PPCPs from solid particles (soil or sediments) is more complicated than from water samples.

4. Triclosan Caffeine Cholesterol Types of chemicals • Typical groups found in water samples: Steroids, repellants, detergent metabolites, plasticizers, antibiotics, insecticides, hormones, prescription and nonprescription drugs, antioxidants, fragrances, disinfectants, fire retardants and solvents. • Highest frequency: Cholesterol, caffeine, comprastanol (fecal steroid), N-N-diethyltoluamide (insect repellant), triclosan (antimicrobial disinfectant), tri phosphate (fire retardant) and 4-nonylphenol (nonionic detergent metabolite). • Highest concentration: Detergent metabolites, steroids and plasticizers. • Some chemicals yield carcinogenic effects, hormonal mutations and bacterial resistance.

5. Sources and Quantities • The main source of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in the environment is the individual. • Household or domestic use of pharmaceuticals and personal care products has been overlooked and under researched. • Quantities of PPCPs correlate to amount made available for human consumption. • Quantities vary by product and part of the world, but it can safely be estimated that the quantity of PPCPs amounts to thousands of tons per year.

6. Pathways and Fate • PPCPs can enter the environment through medical waste from hospitals, leaching from municipal landfills, runoff from CAFOs, leaching from biomass and households. • During storms, drainage systems can overflow allowing PPCP saturated wastewater to enter rivers and streams. • Water treatment plants extract some PPCPs. Filtrate is used to make biosolids, nutrient rich compounds, used as fertilizers. • PPCPs not filtered at the treatment plant may remain in water made available for consumption on tap.

7. Impacts on water, air and soil • Research regarding the effects of PPCPs is rare, especially effects to air and soil. • The vast number of chemicals compounds and pairings of chemicals makes identifying specific effects difficult. • In aquatic life there are three main impacts: Gender and reproductive cycles, behavioral changes and development of resistance in bacteria to anti-bacterials and antibiotics.

8. Snapping Turtle American Bullfrog Channel Catfish Impacts on nontarget species • The effects of PPCPs on non-target species are virtually unknown. Most of the research done has been on how aquatic species are affected. • They are at the most risk because they cannot leave the water and are exposed to PPCPs continuously and throughout the life cycle. • Even low concentrations of chemicals can be damaging. • More research is needed to determine the effects of PPCPs on humans and other animals.

9. Conclusion • Further research is still needed since it has been observed that PPCPs can have adverse effects on the environment and the organisms that may come in contact with them. • Some technological advances in the identification of chemical pollutants in nature have been made thus enhancing research on this field. • This controversial issue has not achieved the level of public attention it deserves. • Legislature may help curb the negative impacts already observed and hopefully prevent further environmental degradation caused by PPCPs.

10. Questions?