led by Dr. Mark Servos, Canada Research Chair in Water Quality Protection; Professor, Department of Biology, University of Waterloo

Concern is increasing over a variety of emerging contaminants that have not traditionally been viewed as environmental contaminants. These compounds include thousands of pharmaceuticals, personal care products and endocrine disruptors that enter the environment from municipal wastewater or runoff from farms.

Antibiotics, blood lipids, anti-inflammatories, estrogens, beta-blockers, cosmetics, fragrances, skin care products, disinfectants and antiseptics are now being detected in the environment and drinking water sources. Many of these chemicals have the potential to subtly alter growth, reproduction and development of aquatic animals even at extremely low concentrations.

This research project investigated the effects of emerging contaminants in the environment and drinking water systems to support risk assessment and management. It examined the fate of specific chemicals in wastewater and drinking water systems under different treatment technologies and processes, as well as under different agricultural practices. The potential impacts on aquatic ecosystems were examined in an affected watershed, under controlled lab conditions, and in in vitro test systems.

Exposure to fluoxetine (the active ingredient in Prozac), a beta-blocker and a serotonin re-uptake inhibitor, was assessed in fish and snapping turtles in the lab to assess risk to support a collaborative study known as ERAPharm. The effects of effluents from domestic sewage treatment plants on the biochemical responses in fish were also examined in the lab and field using both caged and feral fish. These experiments verified the potential of low doses of these contaminants to cause endocrine and energetic responses in exposed animals.

Analysis of drinking water samples for pharmaceuticals from two local drinking water treatment plants found that these compounds were common in source waters and that many remained in treated water. Comparison of the treatment plants suggested that treatment processes, especially oxidation by ozone, may be effective in eliminating these compounds from finished water.

This research contributed to the operators’ understanding of the potential impacts of emerging contaminants and the effectiveness of treatment options and innovations in removing them.