Occurrence of Pharmaceuticals, Hormones, and Organic Wastewater Compounds in Pennsylvania Waters, 2006–09
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Prepared in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Occurrence of Pharmaceuticals, Hormones, and Organic Wastewater Compounds in Pennsylvania Waters, 2006–09 Scientific Investigations Report 2012–5106 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Cover. Susquehanna River at Harrisburg, Pa. Photo by J. Kent Crawford, U.S. Geological Survey. Occurrence of Pharmaceuticals, Hormones, and Organic Wastewater Compounds in Pennsylvania Waters, 2006–09 By Andrew G. Reif, J. Kent Crawford, Connie A. Loper, Arianne Proctor, Rhonda Manning, and Robert Titler Prepared in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Scientific Investigations Report 2012–5106 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior KEN SALAZAR, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Marcia K. McNutt, Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2012 For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment, visit http://www.usgs.gov or call 1–888–ASK–USGS. For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, visit http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod To order this and other USGS information products, visit http://store.usgs.gov Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report. Suggested citation: Reif, A.G., Crawford, J.K., Loper, C.A., Proctor, Arianne, Manning, Rhonda, and Titler, Robert, 2012, Occurrence of pharmaceuticals, hormones, and organic wastewater compounds in Pennsylvania waters, 2006–09: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2012–5106, 99 p. iii Acknowledgements Funding support from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is gratefully acknowledged. USGS researchers Dana Kolpin, William Foreman, Edward Furlong, Michael Meyer, Steven Zaugg, Keith Loftin, and James Gray conducted laboratory analyses and provided valuable advice throughout the study; without them the study would not have been possible. John Clune, Justin Knudson, Leif Olson, Tom Noonan, Heather Eggleston, and Emily Eggler, played an important role in sample collection. Linda Zarr contributed her expertise to the data analysis. Scott Hoffman provided valuable graphics support. Kim Otto (retired) provided editorial support. USGS reviewer Kevin Breen provided a particularly insightful review of an early draft of the manuscript. Other USGS reviewers, Lisa Senior, Pat Philips, and Doug Chambers offered valuable suggestions for improving the manuscript. The interest and support of Pat Bowling of the PADEP is greatly appreciated. The authors also wish to extend thanks to the landowners and the wastewater- treatment-plant operators who graciously allowed access to the wells and streams. To all who assisted in any way, the authors convey sincere thanks. iv Contents Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................................iii Abstract ...........................................................................................................................................................1 Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................2 Purpose and Scope ..............................................................................................................................2 Categories of Contaminants of Emerging Concern .........................................................................2 Potential Sources of Contaminants of Emerging Concern ..........................................................11 Agricultural Sources .................................................................................................................11 Wastewater Effluents ................................................................................................................11 Other Potential Sources of Contaminants of Emerging Concern ......................................11 Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Facilities ....................................................................11 Land Application of Biosolids .........................................................................................11 Landfill Leachate ...............................................................................................................11 Combined Sewer Overflows ...........................................................................................12 On-Site Wastewater Systems .........................................................................................12 Previous and Current Investigations ...............................................................................................12 Study Design .................................................................................................................................................13 Methods.........................................................................................................................................................13 Site Selection and Sampling Locations ..........................................................................................13 Wells in Agricultural Areas Used to Supply Livestock ........................................................13 Streams Draining Areas with Animal-Feeding Operations .................................................19 Streams Receiving Municipal Wastewater Effluents ..........................................................19 Stream Sites near Drinking-Water Intakes ...........................................................................19 Stream Sites Used to Evaluate Fish Health ...........................................................................20 Streamflow Measurement and Water-Quality Characteristics ..................................................20 Collection and Processing of Water-Quality Samples..................................................................23 Streamwater ...............................................................................................................................23 Groundwater ...............................................................................................................................23 Streambed Sediments ...............................................................................................................24 Laboratory Analyses...........................................................................................................................24 Streamwater Samples ..............................................................................................................26 Pharmaceutical Compounds ...........................................................................................26 Antibiotics and Ibuprofen ................................................................................................26 Hormones ...........................................................................................................................26 Organic Wastewater Compounds ..................................................................................26 Streambed-Sediment Samples ................................................................................................26 Antibiotics and Ibuprofen ................................................................................................26 Hormones ...........................................................................................................................27 Organic Wastewater Compounds ..................................................................................27 Data Analysis .......................................................................................................................................27 Quality Assurance and Quality Control ....................................................................................................28 Quality Control for Field Measurements .........................................................................................28 Quality Control for Streamwater and Streambed-Sediment Samples .......................................28 v Blanks... ........................................................................................................................................28 Duplicates ...................................................................................................................................29 Laboratory-Matrix Spikes ........................................................................................................29 Pharmaceuticals, Hormones, and Organic Wastewater Compounds in Pennsylvania Waters .....31 Compounds in Groundwater Used to Supply Livestock ...............................................................31 Compounds in Streamwaters Upstream and Downstream from Animal-Feeding Operations ..............................................................................................................................31 Compounds in Streamwater and Streambed Sediments Upstream and Downstream from Wastewater Discharges .............................................................................................31