Sources, transport and reactivity of anionic and non-ionic surfactants in several aquatic ecosystems in SW Spain: a comparative study.
Presence, distribution and transport mechanisms of the four major synthetic surfactants--linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS), alkyl ethoxysulfates (AES), nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEOs) and alcohol ethoxylates (AEOs)--have been simultaneously studied in different aquatic ecosystems. Urban wastewater discharges and industrial activities were identified as the main sources for these compounds and their metabolites. LAS, AES and carboxylic metabolites remained in the dissolved form (87-99%). However, NPEOs and AEOs were mostly associated with particulate matter (65-86%), so their degradation in the water column was limited due to their lower bioavailability. It was also observed that sorption to the particulate phase was more intense for longer homologs/ethoxymers for all surfactants. With respect to surface sediments, AES levels were considerably below (<0.25 mg/kg) the values detected for LAS and NPEOs. Concentrations of AEOs, however, were occasionally higher (several tens of ppm) than those found for the rest of the target compounds in several sampling stations.
Lara-Martín
Pablo A
PA
Departamento de Química Física, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Universidad de Cádiz, Campus Río San Pedro s/n, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain. pablo.lara@uca.es
Gómez-Parra
Abelardo
A
González-Mazo
Eduardo
E
D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000032:analysis; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000032:analysis*; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D007220:Industrial Waste; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical