Occurrence of pesticides in the Arno River and in potable water: a survey of the period 1992-1995

• Published in: Bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicology Vol. 59; no. 2; pp. 202 - 209
• Main Authors: Griffini, O. (Water Supply of Florence, Florence, Italy.), Bao, M.L, Barbieri, C, Burrini, D, Pantani, F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Springer-Verlag 01-08-1997; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: AGUA; AGUA POTABLE; Applied sciences; Chromatography, Gas; CONTAMINACION; CONTAMINATION; COURS D'EAU; CURSOS DE AGUA; Data Collection; DRINKING WATER; Drinking water and swimming-pool water. Desalination; EAU; EAU POTABLE; Exact sciences and technology; Fresh Water - analysis; Freshwater; Fungicides, Industrial - analysis; Fungicides, Industrial - isolation & purification; Herbicides - analysis; Herbicides - isolation & purification; Insecticides - analysis; Insecticides - isolation & purification; ITALIA; ITALIE; ITALY; Longitudinal Studies; PESTICIDE; Pesticide Residues - analysis; Pesticide Residues - isolation & purification; PESTICIDES; PLAGUICIDAS; Pollution; Reproducibility of Results; RIVERS; WATER; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water Pollutants, Chemical - isolation & purification; Water treatment and pollution; Italy; Europe; Italy, Arno R; Italy, Toscana, Arno R; Italy, Firenze, Firenze, Arno R; Freshwater environment; Drinking water; Pollutant; Chemical analysis; Seasonal variation; Pesticides; Stream; Monitoring control system; Biological monitoring; Concentration distribution
• ISSN: 0007-4861; 1432-0800
• DOI: 10.1007/s001289900465

Water samples from the Arno river in Italy were analysed for 45 pesticides during 1992-1995 using solid-phase extraction and GC with ion-trap mass spectrometry detection. Detection limits were 0.005-0.03 ug per litre. Nineteen pesticides were detected in at least one sample. Alachlor, atrazine, carbofuran, ethofumesate, metolachlor, simazine and terbutylazine were detected during each year of the survey. Metolachlor and terbutylazine were detected most frequently and at the highest concentrations. Triazine herbicide concentrations decreased from 1992 to 1995. The pesticides detected were predominantly in the dissolved phase. Maximal pesticide concentrations were detected in May and June and after heavy rainfall. Total and individual pesticide concentrations in finished drinking water in Florence did not exceed 0.5 and 0.1 ug per litre, respectively. The purification process at the Anconella water treatment plant (prechlorination with chlorine dioxide, coagulation, sand filtration) removed less than 40 per cent of metolachlor and terbutylazine from raw water. Maximal pesticide removal was achieved with powdered activated carbon adsorption.