Alkylphenolic compounds and bisphenol A contamination within a heavily urbanized area: case study of Paris.

Mathieu Cladière (1) , Johnny Gasperi (1) , Catherine Lorgeoux (1) , Céline Bonhomme (1) , Vincent Rocher (2) , Bruno Tassin (1)

1 LEESU - Laboratoire Eau, Environnement et Systèmes Urbains
2 SIAAP - Direction du Développement et de la Prospective

This study evaluates the influence of a heavily urbanized area (Paris Metropolitan area), on receiving water contamination by both bisphenol A (BPA) and alkylphenol ethoxylate (APE) biodegradation product. The study began by investigating concentrations within urban sources. In addition to the more commonly studied wastewater treatment plant effluent, wet weather urban sources (including combined sewer overflows, urban runoff, and total atmospheric fallout) were considered. The initial results highlight a significant contamination of all urban sources (from a few nanograms per liter in atmospheric fallout to several micrograms per liter in the other sources) with clearly distinguishable distribution patterns. Secondly, concentration changes along the Seine River from upstream of the Paris Metropolitan area to downstream were investigated. While the concentrations of BPA and nonylphenoxy acetic acid (NP(1)EC) increase substantially due to urban sources, the 4-nonylphenol concentrations remain homogeneous along the Seine. These results suggest a broad dissemination of 4-nonylphenol at the scale of the Seine River basin. Moreover, the relationship between pollutant concentrations and Seine River flow was assessed both upstream and downstream of the Paris conurbation. Consequently, a sharp decrease in dissolved NP(1)EC concentrations relative to Seine River flow underscores the influence of single-point urban pollution on Seine River contamination. Conversely, dissolved 4-nonylphenol concentrations serve to reinforce the hypothesis of its widespread presence at the Seine River basin scale.

Mots clés: Nonylphenol; bisphenol A; urban sources; Seine River; atmospheric fallout; heavily; urbanized area; 2

Mots clés: Alkylphénols; bisphénol A; eaux de surface; sources urbaines

Domaines: Sciences de l'environnement; Ingénierie de l'environnement

Mathieu Cladière, Johnny Gasperi, Catherine Lorgeoux, Céline Bonhomme, Vincent Rocher, et al.. Alkylphenolic compounds and bisphenol A contamination within a heavily urbanized area: case study of Paris.. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2013, 20 (5), pp.2973- 2983. ⟨10.1007/s11356-012-1220-6⟩. ⟨hal-00756694⟩