Selection of pharmaceuticals of concern in reclaimed water for crop irrigation in the Mediterranean area
Marc Castaño-Trias, Sara Rodríguez‐Mozaz, Paola Verlicchi, Gianluigi Buttiglieri
Abstract
The reuse of reclaimed water in agriculture is being fostered in areas suffering from water scarcity. However, water pollutants can compromise food safety and pose a risk for the environment. This study aims to select the pharmaceutical compounds worth monitoring and investigating when reclaimed water is used for tomato and lettuce irrigation. A comprehensive study was first conducted to identify the pharmaceuticals frequently detected in secondary wastewater effluents in Catalonia (Northeast Spain). Priority pharmaceuticals were further selected based on their occurrence in secondary effluents, persistence (removal in conventional treatment), bioaccumulation potential, toxicity for aquatic organisms, and the risks they pose to the terrestrial environment and human health (through the consumption of crops). Out of the 47 preselected priority compounds, six could pose a risk to organisms living in soil irrigated with reclaimed water and seven could be potentially taken up by the crops. Nonetheless, no risk for human consumption was foreseen. In a world suffering from water stress, the search for alternative water sources is gaining importance. Among them, reclaimed water is a promising option for irrigation purposes, but its safe usage must be ensured. In the present manuscript, the authors elaborate a list of waterborne pharmaceuticals considered of concern based on the assessment of their risk to the environment and human health in a specific scenario: reclaimed water used to irrigate tomato and lettuce in a Mediterranean region. Monitoring and evaluating the presence of these priority pharmaceuticals contributes to a safer use of reclaimed water.