title: A framework for screening sites at risk from contaminants of emerging concern.
abstract: Trace levels of a variety of currently unregulated organic chemicals have been detected in treated wastewater effluents and surface waters that receive treated effluents. Many of these chemicals of emerging concern (CECs) originate from pharmaceuticals and personal care products that are used widely and that frequently are transported "down the drain" to a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). Actual effects of CECs on aquatic life have been difficult to document, although biological effects consistent with effects of some CECs have been noted. There is a critical need to find appropriate ways to screen wastewater sites that have the greatest potential of CEC risk to biota. Building on the work of several researchers, the authors present a screening framework, as well as examples based on the framework, designed to identify high-risk versus lower-risk sites that are influenced by WWTP effluent. It is hoped that this framework can help researchers, utilities, and the larger water resource community focus efforts toward improving CEC risk determinations and management of these risks.
authors.affiliation: Center for Ecological Sciences, Tetra Tech, Owings Mills, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Jerry
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Diamond
authors.affiliation: Canada's Oil Sands Innovation Alliance, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Munkittrick
authors.affiliation: Waterborne Environmental, Leesburg, Virginia, USA.
authors.forename: Katherine E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Kapo
authors.affiliation: Center for Ecological Sciences, Tetra Tech, Owings Mills, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Flippin
mesh_terms: D058448:Biota; D003358:Cosmetics; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D018570:Risk Assessment; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D003358:Cosmetics; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Contaminants of emerging concern; Ecological risk assessment; Personal care products; Pharmaceuticals