Occurrence and Human Health Risk Assessment of Pharmaceuticals and Hormones in Drinking Water Sources in the Metropolitan Area of Turin in Italy.

Dimitra Papagiannaki,Gianluca Bocina,Rita Binetti,Paola Calza,Stefania Morgillo

doi:10.3390/toxics9040088

Dimitra Papagiannaki, Gianluca Bocina + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics9040088

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Journal: Toxics	Publication Date: Apr 20, 2021
Citations: 9	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Metropolitana Milanese (Italy), University of Turin

Abstract

Pharmaceuticals and hormones (PhACs) enter the aquatic environment in multiple ways, posing potential adverse effects on non-target organisms. They have been widely detected in drinking water sources, challenging water companies to reassure good quality drinking water. The aim of this study was to evaluate the concentration of sixteen PhACs in both raw and treated drinking water sources in the Metropolitan Area of Turin—where Società Metropolitana Acque Torino (SMAT) is the company in charge of the water cycle management—and evaluate the potential human health risks associated to these compounds. Multivariate spatial statistical analysis techniques were used in order to characterize the areas at higher risk of pollution, taking into account the already existing SMAT sampling points’ network. Health risks were assessed considering average detected concentrations and provisional guideline values for individual compounds as well as their combined mixture. As reported in the just-issued Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184/UE, in order to establish priority substances, a risk assessment of contaminants present in raw drinking water sources is required for monitoring, identifying potential health risks and, if necessary, managing their removal. The results showed negligibly low human health risks in both raw water sources and treated water.

Highlights

IntroductionThe majority of European countries rely on surface and groundwater sources for their drinking water needs
The present study focused on the occurrence of pharmaceuticals and hormones in the Metropolitan Area of Turin (Piemonte, in surface water from the Po Valley (Italy)), where Società Metropolitana Acque Torino (SMAT) is in charge of water distribution to 2.3 million inhabitants, supervising 293 municipalities
As this study focused on the determination of selected pharmaceuticals and hormones in surface and groundwater for drinking water production, a human health risk assessment was necessary and was done by comparing the pharmaceuticals’ detected concentrations to guideline values

Summary

Introduction

The majority of European countries rely on surface and groundwater sources for their drinking water needs. The distribution of safe drinking water is one of the most important— intricate—issues nowadays since these sources can often be contaminated. Surface and groundwater quality may be affected by both natural and anthropogenic factors [1]. Single organic ions, more complex organic molecules, and biological components can derive from various sources, such as natural disasters, rural run-off, industrial and sewage discharge, population, and economic growth [1,2]. Water utilities and the scientific community are called to find efficient contaminants’ remediation systems in order to improve the performance of treatment plants and deliver safe drinking water to the population. The techniques usually in place include conventional methods such as precipitation, activated carbon adsorption, biological processes, and innovative methods such as advanced oxidation processes, membrane filtration using reverse osmosis, nano- and ultrafiltration processes, and biochar [3,4]

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