Priority substances and emerging pollutants in urban rivers in Ukraine: Occurrence, fluxes and loading to transboundary European Union watersheds

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 637-638; pp. 1358 - 1362
• Main Authors: Vystavna, Y., Frkova, Z., Celle-Jeanton, H., Diadin, D., Huneau, F., Steinmann, M., Crini, N., Loup, C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01-10-2018; Elsevier
• Subjects: Chemical Sciences; Diclofenac; Diclofenac - analysis; Emerging pollutants; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental Sciences; PAH; PCB; Phenols - analysis; Polychlorinated Biphenyls - analysis; Rivers - chemistry; Transboundary water; Ukraine; Water framework directive; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Transboundary water; Water framework directive; PAH; Emerging pollutants; PCB; Diclofenac
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.05.095

The occurrence and fluxes of 18 priority substances and emerging pollutants listed in the European Union Water Framework Directive and a Watch List (trace metals (Cd, Pb and Ni), nonylphenols, octylphenols, 8 polyaromatic hydrocarbons, 4 dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls and diclofenac) were investigated in a Ukrainian city and the mass discharge loads of these compounds into EU-transboundary watersheds were estimated. Fluxes of chemicals were calculated per capita and per area of the Ukrainian urban territory and used to estimate mass loading of priority and emerging concern compounds from Lviv, Uzhorod and Chernivtsi (West Ukraine) to neighbouring EU-transboundary rivers. The highest loading was found for trace metals (1.15 t a−1), diclofenac (0.7 t a−1) and nonylphenols (0.4 t a−1). Transboundary water contamination must be considered in order to successfully manage water resources in a manner that fulfils the requirements of EU environmental quality standards.
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•Priority substances and emerging pollutants in urban waters in Ukraine exceed EU standards.•Loading of priority substances from Ukrainian cities into EU rivers can be over 2 t a−1.•Chemicals banned in the EU can reach EU water resources from this transboundary country.•Transboundary water management is needed to fulfil EU water quality standards.