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Survey of phthalates, alkylphenols, bisphenol A and herbicides in Spanish source waters intended for bottling

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Abstract

Background, aim and scope

Groundwaters and source waters are exposed to environmental pollution due to agricultural and industrial activities that can enhance the leaching of organic contaminants. Pesticides are among the most widely studied compounds in groundwater, but little information is available on the presence of phthalates, alkylphenols and bisphenol A. These compounds are used in pesticide formulations and represent an emerging family of contaminants due to their widespread environmental presence and endocrine-disrupting properties. Knowledge on the occurrence of contaminants in source waters intended for bottling is important for sanitary and regulatory purposes. So the aim of the present study was to evaluate the presence of phthalates, alkylphenols, triazines, chloroacetamides and bisphenol A throughout 131 Spanish water sources intended for bottling. Waters studied were spring waters and boreholes which have a protection diameter to minimize environmental contamination.

Materials and methods

Waters were solid-phase extracted (SPE) and analysed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Quality control analysis comprising recovery studies, blank analysis and limits of detection were performed.

Results and discussion

Using SPE and GC-MS, the 21 target compounds were satisfactorily recovered (77–124 %) and limits of quantification were between 0.0004 and 0.029 μg/L for pesticides, while for alkylphenols, bisphenol A and phthalates the limits of quantification were from 0.0018 μg/L for octylphenol to 0.970 μg/L for bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate. Among the 21 compounds analysed, only 9 were detected at levels between 0.002 and 1.115 μg/L. Compounds identified were triazine herbicides, alkylphenols, bisphenol A and two phthalates. Spring waters or shallow boreholes were the sites more vulnerable to contaminants. Eighty-five percent of the samples did not contain any of the target compounds.

Conclusions

Target compounds were detected in a very low concentration and only in very few samples. This indicates the good quality of source waters intended for bottling and the effectiveness of the protection measures adopted in Spain. None of the samples analysed exceeded the maximum legislated levels for drinking water both in Spain and in the European Union.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully thank the Spanish water bottling industries for their collaboration, support and assistance in the sampling procedure. This study was financed by the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation in Spain (INNPACTO, IPT-2011-0709-060000), by the Torres Quevedo Program (PTQ-08-02-07512) and the “Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca (AGAUR)” of the Catalan Government for the Talent-Empresa grant (TEM-DGR 2009). Francisca Pérez, Yolanda Espelta, Sara Malo and Jacob Varela are acknowledged for the assisting in the extraction and processing of samples. Dr. Roser Chaler, Dori Fanjul and María Comesana are thanked for the GC-MS assistance. Jorge Oliver-Rodés and Dr. Benito Oliver-Rodés are acknowledged for their support in this study and for their help and contribution in the sampling procedure.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Chemistry, IDAEA-CSIC, Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

    Francisco Bono-Blay, Albert Guart & Silvia Lacorte

  2. Laboratorio Dr. Oliver Rodés, S.A. C/Moreres 21 (Polígono Estruc), 08820, El Prat de Llobregat, Spain

    Francisco Bono-Blay, Albert Guart, Boris de la Fuente, Marta Pedemonte, Maria Cinta Pastor & Antonio Borrell

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  1. Francisco Bono-Blay
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  2. Albert Guart
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  3. Boris de la Fuente
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  5. Maria Cinta Pastor
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  6. Antonio Borrell
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  7. Silvia Lacorte
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Correspondence to Silvia Lacorte.

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Responsible editor: Leif Kronberg

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Bono-Blay, F., Guart, A., de la Fuente, B. et al. Survey of phthalates, alkylphenols, bisphenol A and herbicides in Spanish source waters intended for bottling. Environ Sci Pollut Res 19, 3339–3349 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-012-0851-y

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