Ecological risk assessment of the impacts of pharmaceuticals and personal care product contamination in the Alaksen National Wildlife Area watershed

Twenty-six pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) were detected within sediments or surface waters of the Alaksen National Wildlife Area (ANWA), British Columbia, Canada. This is the most comprehensive study measuring PPCPs (a total of 141) in a watershed along the South Arm of the Fraser River. It is predicted that these PPCPs mainly originate from upstream municipal wastewater treatment plants. Thirteen classes of PPCPs were detected including NSAIDs, beta-blockers, anti-depressants, stimulants, illicit drugs, and more. An ecological risk assessment of these PPCPs present in surface waters and sediments in the ANWA was conducted using a deterministic risk assessment approach. This assessment shows that surface water concentrations of PPCPs are not likely to pose a risk to aquatic wildlife. However, PPCP sediments concentrations may be of ecological concern and sediments are a significant sink for PPCPs. Bioaccumulation data indicates potential acute toxicity in avian predators from azole antifungal accumulation.