Assessing the Leaching Potential of Trace Organic Contaminants in Turfgrass Soils Irrigated with Reclaimed Wastewater.

Reuse of reclaimed water is growing in importance in many areas of the world. One of the major constraints is the emerging pollutants such as endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs), steroid hormones, pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) inherent to the reclaimed wastewater. A field study was conducted to assess the environmental behavior of these chemicals in turfgrass soils irrigated with reclaimed wastewater. Nine selected PPCPs and EDCs compounds were spiked in the irrigation water. The leachates were collected after each irrigation event and analyzed for the targeted compounds. The treatments included two irrigation rates, two types of soils, and with/without turfgrass sod. Soil samples were collected at the end of the experiment to analyze the residuals in the soil profiles. No compound was detected in the leachates during a 4 month of irrigation. Their retention in the soil profile varied with chemicals and with soil type and irrigation rate. High irrigation rate and favored soil texture enhanced the downward movement of chemicals in turfgrass soil. But no chemical was detected deeper than 30 cm. Batch experiments showed that microbial degradation was the dominant dissipation pathway for tested compounds in turfgrass soils. Assessment results from screening models suggested a potential risk to groundwater contamination for clofibric acid and ibuprofen under studied field conditions.