The occurrence and distribution of a group of organic micropollutants in Mexico City's water sources

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 454-455; pp. 109 - 118
• Main Authors: Félix–Cañedo, Thania E., Durán–Álvarez, Juan C., Jiménez–Cisneros, Blanca
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier B.V 01-06-2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Bisphenol A; Cities; Continental surface waters; Developing Countries; Drinking water; Drinking Water - analysis; Drinking water and swimming-pool water. Desalination; Endocrine disrupting chemicals; Environmental Exposure; Environmental Monitoring; Exact sciences and technology; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Groundwater; Groundwater - analysis; Groundwaters; Megacity; Mexico; Natural water pollution; Pharmaceuticals; Pollutants; Pollution; Salicylic acid; Storage tanks; Surface water; Tanks; Target detection; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water treatment and pollution; Central America; Mexico; America; Mexico, Distrito Federal, Mexico City; Drinking water; Groundwater; Megacity; Surface water; Endocrine disrupting chemicals; Pharmaceuticals; Drug; Mimetic hormone; Endocrine disruptor; Urban area; Tap water; Water quality; Emerging pollutant; Micropollutant; Water pollution; Organic compounds; Ground water
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.02.088

The occurrence and distribution of a group of 17 organic micropollutants in surface and groundwater sources from Mexico City was determined. Water samples were taken from 7 wells, 4 dams and 15 tanks where surface and groundwater are mixed and stored before distribution. Results evidenced the occurrence of seven of the target compounds in groundwater: salicylic acid, diclofenac, di-2-ethylhexylphthalate (DEHP), butylbenzylphthalate (BBP), triclosan, bisphenol A (BPA) and 4-nonylphenol (4-NP). In surface water, 11 target pollutants were detected: same found in groundwater as well as naproxen, ibuprofen, ketoprofen and gemfibrozil. In groundwater, concentration ranges of salicylic acid, 4–NP and DEHP, the most frequently found compounds, were 1–464, 1–47 and 19–232ng/L, respectively; while in surface water, these ranges were 29–309, 89–655 and 75–2282ng/L, respectively. Eleven target compounds were detected in mixed water. Concentrations in mixed water were higher than those determined in groundwater but lower than the detected in surface water. Different to that found in ground and surface water, the pesticide 2,4-D was found in mixed water, indicating that some pollutants can reach areas where they are not originally present in the local water sources. Concentration of the organic micropollutants found in this study showed similar to lower to those reported in water sources from developed countries. This study provides information that enriches the state of the art on the occurrence of organic micropollutants in water sources worldwide, notably in megacities of developing countries.
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•Organic micropollutants were detected in drinking water sources from Mexico City.•Higher concentrations were found in surface water than in groundwater.•Concentrations detected in both water sources were lower than the reported elsewhere.•The study enhances the state of art of micropollutants occurrence in water sources.