Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) are a ubiquitous class of chemicals that are of emerging concern in aquatic ecosystems. Wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent remains their major source. Detectable levels of certain PPCPs, trace metals and nutrients have been found downstream of a WWTP discharge point. The question we ask is: is there a unique identifiable chemical fingerprint for WWTP effluent? This study explores the feasibility of quantifying concentrations of PPCPs, trace metals, and nutrients, as fingerprints of wastewater effluent.

Target PPCP, trace metals and nutrients include: musk ketone, ibuprofen, diphenhydramine HCl, naproxen, epicoprostanol, 17 β-estradiol, triclosan, ketoprofen, caffeine, zinc, silver, iron, manganese, boron, gadolinium, aluminum, copper, cadmium, bismuth, rubidium, strontium, chloride, sulfate, nitrate, and phosphate. These chemicals are all found in wastewater effluent.

Samples from the Susquehanna River have been collected monthly since March of 2006 and filtered (0.7 μm) into particulate and dissolved phases. Preliminary PPCP data for dissolved phase samples suggest that ibuprofen and naproxen are detectable during this low flow regime in the river. In March, concentrations of ibuprofen and naproxen ranged from 0.1533 – 0.2871 ug/L and 6.787 – 8.146 ug/L, respectively. In April, concentrations of ibuprofen ranged from 0.0107 – 0.05265 ug/L. Preliminary trace metal data for January also during low flow includes: iron, manganese and strontium, for which concentrations range from 0.125 – 0.159 ug/L, 0.072 – 0.087 ug/L and 0.11 – 0.128 ug/L respectively. Work is ongoing to test the hypothesis that PPCPs combined with trace metals and nutrients can accurately fingerprint sewage discharge.