title: Emerging contaminants (pharmaceuticals, personal care products, a food additive and pesticides) in waters of Sydney estuary, Australia.
abstract: The current investigation of marine water from 30 sites adjacent to stormwater outlets across the entire Sydney estuary is the first such research in Australia. The number of analytes detected were: 8/59 pharmaceutical compounds (codeine, paracetamol, tramadol, venlafaxine, propranolol, fluoxetine, iopromide and carbamazepine), 7/38 of the pesticides (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 3,4-dichloroaniline, carbaryl, diuron, 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (MCPA), mecoprop and simazine) and 0/3 of the personal care products (PCPs) analysed. An artificial sweetener (acesulfame) was detected, however none of the nine antibiotics analysed were identified. Sewage water is not discharged to this estuary, except infrequently as overflow during high-precipitation events. The presence of acesulfame (a recognised marker of domestic wastewater) and pharmaceuticals in water from all parts of the estuary after a dry period, suggests sewage water is leaking into the stormwater system in this catchment. The pesticides are applied to the environment and were discharged via stormwater to the estuary.
authors.affiliation: School of Geosciences, The University of Sydney, 2006 NSW, Australia. Electronic address: gavin.birch@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Birch
authors.affiliation: National Research Centre for Environmental Toxicology, The University of Queensland, 39 Kessels Road, Coopers Plains, QLD 4108, Australia.
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Drage
authors.affiliation: National Research Centre for Environmental Toxicology, The University of Queensland, 39 Kessels Road, Coopers Plains, QLD 4108, Australia.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.affiliation: National Research Centre for Environmental Toxicology, The University of Queensland, 39 Kessels Road, Coopers Plains, QLD 4108, Australia.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Eaglesham
authors.affiliation: National Research Centre for Environmental Toxicology, The University of Queensland, 39 Kessels Road, Coopers Plains, QLD 4108, Australia.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Mueller
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D003358:Cosmetics / Q000032:analysis*; D063366:Estuaries; D005503:Food Additives / Q000032:analysis*; D010575:Pesticides / Q000032:analysis*; D012722:Sewage; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D003358:Cosmetics; D005503:Food Additives; D010575:Pesticides; D012722:Sewage; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Analgesics; Antidepressants; Emerging contaminants; Sewage; Stormwater; Wastewater