title: Sources and processes affecting the spatio-temporal distribution of pharmaceuticals and X-ray contrast media in the water resources of the Lower Jordan Valley, Jordan.
abstract: The closed basin of the Lower Jordan Valley with the Dead Sea as final sink features high evapotranspiration rates and almost complete reuse of treated wastewater for irrigation farming. This study focuses on the water transfer schemes and the presence, spreading, and potential accumulation of pharmaceutical residues in the local water resources based on findings of a five-year monitoring program. Overall 16 pharmaceuticals and 9 iodinated X-ray contrast media were monitored in groundwater, surface water, and treated wastewater. A total of 95 samples were taken to cover all geographical settings and flow paths from origin (wastewater) to target (groundwater). Nine substances were detected in groundwater, with concentrations ranging between 11 ng/L and 33,000 ng/L. Sometimes, detection rates were higher than in comparable studies: Diatrizoic acid 75%, iopamidol 42%, iopromide 19%, iomeprol 11%, carbamazepine and iohexol 8%, ibuprofen 6%, and fenofibrate and iothalamic acid 3%. Concentrations in groundwater generally increase from north to south depending on the application of treated wastewater for irrigation. Almost all substances occurred most frequently and with highest concentrations in treated wastewater, followed by surface water and groundwater. As exception, diatrizoic acid was found more frequently in groundwater than in treated wastewater, with concentrations being similar. This indicates the persistence of diatrizoic acid with long residence times in local groundwater systems, but may also reflect changing prescription patterns, which would be in accordance with increasing iopamidol findings and surveys at local hospitals. Trend analyses confirm this finding and indicate a high probability of increasing iopamidol concentrations, while other substances did not reveal any trends. However, no proof of evaporative enrichment could be found. The high spatial and temporal variability of the concentrations measured calls for further systematic studies to assess the long-term evolution of organic trace substances in this reuse setting.
authors.affiliation: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute of Applied Geosciences, Kaiserstraße 12, 76133 Karlsruhe, Germany. Electronic address: moritz.zemann@kit.edu.
authors.forename: Moritz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zemann
authors.affiliation: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute of Applied Geosciences, Kaiserstraße 12, 76133 Karlsruhe, Germany.
authors.forename: Leif
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.affiliation: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute of Applied Geosciences, Kaiserstraße 12, 76133 Karlsruhe, Germany.
authors.forename: Antje
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pöschko
authors.affiliation: Water Technology Center (TZW), 76139 Karlsruhe, Germany.
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.affiliation: National Resources Authority, Amman, Jordan.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sawarieh
authors.affiliation: Jordan Valley Authority, Amman, Jordan.
authors.forename: Nayef
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Seder
authors.affiliation: Water Technology Center (TZW), 76139 Karlsruhe, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tiehm
authors.affiliation: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute of Applied Geosciences, Kaiserstraße 12, 76133 Karlsruhe, Germany.
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hötzl
authors.affiliation: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute of Applied Geosciences, Kaiserstraße 12, 76133 Karlsruhe, Germany.
authors.forename: Nico
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Goldscheider
mesh_terms: D003287:Contrast Media / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D007597:Jordan; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000032:analysis*; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry; D062211:Spatio-Temporal Analysis; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D062066:Water Resources / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Arid zone hydrogeology; Diatrizoic acid; Emerging pollutant; Groundwater quality; PPCP; Wastewater reuse