Abstract
Personal care products (PCPs) are stable and are recognized as important chemicals of emerging concern in freshwater resources in the United States (US), including surface water. Although little is known about the bio acces-sibility or biodegradation of these chemicals in the environment. Their primary source of entry into water bodies includes activities such as bathing and showering as well as improper disposal of unused personal care products. We conducted a study to monitor the incidence of personal care products in two rivers (surface water) in Middle Tennessee. The objectives were to determine the incidence of personal care products in surface water of urban and rural sub-watersheds. Secondly, to identify the most frequently detected PCPs in the rivers monitored in the sub-watershed. Water samples were collected from the Cumberland River and Collins River. These rivers represented surface water drained by urban and rural watersheds respectively in Middle Tennessee. The surface water samples were analyzed for the presence of personal care products using GC-MS. During sampling, water quality parameters of interest were collected in-situ with a multi-parameter data-sonde. Low-level concentration of compounds containing PCPs was detected in the two rivers monitored. Personal care products detected included the active ingredients in perfumes (Docosane, Heptadecane, Methyl hexadecanoate, and Undecane), antiperspirants (Octadecanol, and Pentadecalactone), skin conditioners (Cyclotrisiloxane, Isohexyl palmitate, Methyl palmitate, and Cedrol), and shampoos (1-Hexadecanol, Hexadecanoic acid, and Nonanal).
Highlights
Personal care products are chemicals marketed for direct use by consumers on the human body
The results of the data presented reflect the findings in the two rivers (Cumberland River and Collins River) monitored
1) Personal care products detected in Cumberland River during Summer 2014, Fall 2014, Winter 2015, Summer 2015, Fall 2015, and Winter of 2016; 2) Personal care products detected in Collins River during Summer 2014, Fall 2014, Winter 2015, Summer 2015, Fall 2015, and Winter of 2016
Summary
Personal care products are chemicals marketed for direct use by consumers on the human body. While these chemicals exclude over the counter drugs, a majority of the chemicals have active ingredients or preservatives associated with cosmetics or fragrances. PCPs have been released into the environment in significant quantities via different sources that have included but not limited to recreational and human activities. These chemicals have been detected in aquatic environment including rivers, lakes, groundwater; and tissues of some organisms (crustacean, fish, mussels, and mollusks) [2]-[8]. In recent years, the active ingredients of these personal care products have come under intense scrutiny by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) due to the environmental and human health concerns [9]
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