Sources and Mass Flows of Xenobiotics in Urban Water Cycles—an Overview on Current Knowledge and Data Gaps

Abstract

In this study, several emerging compounds of concern in waste water are identified and discussed in relation to data available on their sources and mass flows in urban waters. In most western European situations, the highest contributions to the mass flow of xenobiotics to the urban water cycle stems from household and services applications (e.g. personal care compounds, pharmaceuticals, steroid hormones, flame retardants, fluorinated detergents etc.) as well as building and constructing environments (e.g. flame retardants, plasticizers, UV-blockers and biocides). The contribution from industrial point sources such as incineration industries e.g. coal, tar, steel and gas production (such as PAHs, PCBs, dioxins, etc.) and chemical industries are decreasing in relevance in terms of input and are hence currently of more local relevance only. In relation to identified compounds, this paper considers current data availability and its use in a range of management strategies for the mitigation or controlling of xenobiotics ‘at source’. However it also identifies major knowledge gaps relating to the behaviour and fate of organic pollutants in various sectors of the urban water cycle including stormwater management, bank- and soil infiltration as well as underground and soil passage of polluted waters. It is also discussing the major sources of a range of current day urban pollutants. The paper considers the sources of emerging pollutants in a qualitative way.