title: Nationwide reconnaissance of contaminants of emerging concern in source and treated drinking waters of the United States.
abstract: When chemical or microbial contaminants are assessed for potential effect or possible regulation in ambient and drinking waters, a critical first step is determining if the contaminants occur and if they are at concentrations that may cause human or ecological health concerns. To this end, source and treated drinking water samples from 29 drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) were analyzed as part of a two-phase study to determine whether chemical and microbial constituents, many of which are considered contaminants of emerging concern, were detectable in the waters. Of the 84 chemicals monitored in the 9 Phase I DWTPs, 27 were detected at least once in the source water, and 21 were detected at least once in treated drinking water. In Phase II, which was a broader and more comprehensive assessment, 247 chemical and microbial analytes were measured in 25 DWTPs, with 148 detected at least once in the source water, and 121 detected at least once in the treated drinking water. The frequency of detection was often related to the analyte's contaminant class, as pharmaceuticals and anthropogenic waste indicators tended to be infrequently detected and more easily removed during treatment, while per and polyfluoroalkyl substances and inorganic constituents were both more frequently detected and, overall, more resistant to treatment. The data collected as part of this project will be used to help inform evaluation of unregulated contaminants in surface water, groundwater, and drinking water.
authors.affiliation: USEPA, Office of Research and Development, National Exposure Research Laboratory, 26 W. Martin Luther King Dr, Cincinnati, OH 45268, United States. Electronic address: glassmeyer.susan@epa.gov.
authors.forename: Susan T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Glassmeyer
authors.affiliation: USGS, National Water Quality Laboratory, Denver Federal Center, Bldg 95, Denver, CO 80225, United States. Electronic address: efurlong@usgs.gov.
authors.forename: Edward T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Furlong
authors.affiliation: USGS, 400 S. Clinton St, Rm 269 Federal Building, Iowa City, IA 52240, United States. Electronic address: dwkolpin@usgs.gov.
authors.forename: Dana W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Kolpin
authors.affiliation: USEPA, Office of Research and Development, National Exposure Research Laboratory, 26 W. Martin Luther King Dr, Cincinnati, OH 45268, United States. Electronic address: batt.angela@epa.gov.
authors.forename: Angela L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Batt
authors.affiliation: USEPA, Region 8, 1595 Wynkoop St., Mail Code: 8P-W, Denver, CO 80202-1129, United States. Electronic address: benson.bob@epa.gov.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Benson
authors.affiliation: USEPA, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, Stennis Space Center, MS, United States. Electronic address: sboone@mscl.msstate.edu.
authors.forename: J Scott
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Boone
authors.affiliation: USEPA, Office of Water, Office of Science and Technology, William Jefferson Clinton Building, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N. W., Mail Code: 4304T, Washington, DC 20460, United States. Electronic address: conerly.octavia@epa.gov.
authors.forename: Octavia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Conerly
authors.affiliation: USEPA, Office of Research and Development, National Exposure Research Laboratory, 26 W. Martin Luther King Dr, Cincinnati, OH 45268, United States. Electronic address: donohue.maura@epa.gov.
authors.forename: Maura J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Donohue
authors.affiliation: USEPA, Office of Research and Development, National Exposure Research Laboratory, 26 W. Martin Luther King Dr, Cincinnati, OH 45268, United States. Electronic address: king.dawn@epa.gov.
authors.forename: Dawn N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: King
authors.affiliation: USEPA, Office of Research and Development, National Exposure Research Laboratory, 26 W. Martin Luther King Dr, Cincinnati, OH 45268, United States. Electronic address: kostich.mitchell@epa.gov.
authors.forename: Mitchell S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kostich
authors.affiliation: USEPA, Office of Research and Development, National Exposure Research Laboratory, 26 W. Martin Luther King Dr, Cincinnati, OH 45268, United States. Electronic address: mash.heath@epa.gov.
authors.forename: Heath E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Mash
authors.affiliation: USEPA, Office of Research and Development, National Exposure Research Laboratory, 26 W. Martin Luther King Dr, Cincinnati, OH 45268, United States. Electronic address: pfaller.stacy@epa.gov.
authors.forename: Stacy L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Pfaller
authors.affiliation: USEPA, Office of Research and Development, National Exposure Research Laboratory, 26 W. Martin Luther King Dr, Cincinnati, OH 45268, United States. Electronic address: Schenck.kathleen@epa.gov.
authors.forename: Kathleen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Schenck
authors.affiliation: USEPA, Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, United States. Electronic address: simmons.jane@epa.gov.
authors.forename: Jane Ellen
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Simmons
authors.affiliation: USEPA, Office of Research and Development, National Exposure Research Laboratory, 26 W. Martin Luther King Dr, Cincinnati, OH 45268, United States. Electronic address: varughese.eunice@epa.gov.
authors.forename: Eunice A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Varughese
authors.affiliation: USEPA, Office of Research and Development, National Exposure Research Laboratory, 26 W. Martin Luther King Dr, Cincinnati, OH 45268, United States. Electronic address: vesper.stephen@epa.gov.
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Vesper
authors.affiliation: USEPA, Office of Research and Development, National Exposure Research Laboratory, 26 W. Martin Luther King Dr, Cincinnati, OH 45268, United States. Electronic address: villegas.eric@epa.gov.
authors.forename: Eric N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Villegas
authors.affiliation: USEPA, Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, United States. Electronic address: wilson.vickie@epa.gov.
authors.forename: Vickie S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D060766:Drinking Water / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D060587:Groundwater / Q000032:analysis; D014481:United States; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D018508:Water Purification
chemical_list: D060766:Drinking Water; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Contaminants of emerging concern; Drinking water; Microorganisms; Pharmaceuticals; Source water