Reconnaissance of Pharmaceuticals and Wastewater Indicators in Streambed Sediments of the Lower Columbia River Basin, Oregon and Washington

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION Vol. 50, No. 2 AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION April 2014 RECONNAISSANCE OF PHARMACEUTICALS AND WASTEWATER INDICATORS IN STREAMBED SEDIMENTS OF THE LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN, OREGON AND WASHINGTON 1 Elena Nilsen, Edward T. Furlong, and Robert Rosenbauer 2 ABSTRACT: One by-product of advances in modern chemistry is the accumulation of synthetic chemicals in the natural environment. These compounds include contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), some of which are endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) that can have detrimental reproductive effects. The role of sediments in accumulating these types of chemicals and acting as a source of exposure for aquatic organisms is not well understood. Here we present a small-scale reconnaissance of CECs in bed sediments of the lower Columbia River and several tributaries and urban streams. Surficial bed sediment samples were collected from the Colum- bia River, the Willamette River, the Tualatin River, and several small urban creeks in Oregon. Thirty-nine com- pounds were detected at concentrations ranging from 1,000 ng [g sediment] 1 dry weight basis. Concentrations and frequencies of detection were higher in tributaries and small urban creeks than in the Columbia River mainstem, suggesting a higher risk of exposure to aquatic life in lower order streams. Ten known or suspected EDCs were detected during the study. At least one EDC was detected at 21 of 23 sites sam- pled; several EDCs were detected in sediment from most sites. This study is the first to document the occurrence of a large suite of CECs in the sediments of the Columbia River basin. A better understanding of the role of sediment in the fate and effects of emerging contaminants is needed. (KEY TERMS: environmental impacts; endocrine disruption; environmental sampling; organic chemicals; point source pollution; nonpoint source pollution; and streambed sediment.) Nilsen, Elena, Edward T. Furlong, and Robert Rosenbauer, 2014. Reconnaissance of Pharmaceuticals and Wastewater Indicators in Streambed Sediments of the Lower Columbia River Basin, Oregon and Washington. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 50(2): 291-301. DOI: 10.1111/jawr.12161 Contaminants enter the aquatic environment from many pathways, including, for example, treated industrial and municipal wastewater and private septic systems, untreated sewage overflows resulting from storm surges, biosolids applied to land as fertil- izer, landfill leachate, unintended cross-connections of storm and sewer systems, illegal dumping, and aquaculture. INTRODUCTION Modern chemistry has produced numerous com- pounds that facilitate everyday life and improve health through human and veterinary medicine. One by-product of these advances is the accumulation of synthetic chemicals in the natural environment. Paper No. JAWRA-13-0095-P of the Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA). Received April 12, 2013; accepted August 22, 2013. © 2014 American Water Resources Association. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. Discussions are open until six months from print publication. Research Chemist and Team Lead (Nilsen), Oregon Water Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, 2130 SW 5th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97201; Research Chemist (Furlong), National Water Quality Laboratory, U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado; Center Director (Rosenbauer), Pacific Coastal & Marine Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Santa Cruz, California (E-Mail/Nilsen: enilsen@usgs.gov). J OURNAL OF THE A MERICAN W ATER R ESOURCES A SSOCIATION JAWRA