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Report2023Open access

Environmental monitoring of organic micropollutants and PFAS in river outlets

Golovko, Oksana; Skrobonja, Aleksandra; Ahrens, Lutz; Wiberg, Karin

Abstract

Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management (Havs- och vattenmyndigheten) sees a need to increase knowledge about the presence of organic micropollutants (OMPs) in the water environment. The need for monitoring applies particularly to the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), but also other persistent substances such as drug residues, pesticides and industrial chemicals.

A range of potentially harmful OMPs, such as pharmaceuticals, personal care products, industrial chemicals and pesticides, have been detected in surface water [1, 2]. OMPs detected in the surface water can lead to a variety of concerns for human and ecosystem health, including endocrine disruption, antibiotic resistance, and developmental disorders [2-4].

In Sweden, there are several water bodies where concentrations of PFOS or the sum of 11 PFAS are exceeding current guideline values or environmental quality standards (EQS) (according to HVMFS 2019:25). Therefore, there is a need to perform monitoring of PFAS in Swedish aquatic environment.

The purpose of the current project was to monitor rivers for extended chemical analyzes in order to:

• increase knowledge about the presence of OMPs in the water environment, and

• strengthen monitoring resulting from the water management regulation.

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Publisher: Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences