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

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 up stream of the Paris Metropolitan area to downstream were investigated. While the concentrations ofBPA and nonylphenoxy acetic acid (NP1EC) increase substantially due to urban sources, the 4-nonylphenolconcentrations remain homogeneous along the Seine. These results suggestabroaddisseminationof4-nonylphenolatthescaleof 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 NP1EC concentrations relativeto Seine River flowunderscores the influence of single-point urban pollution onSeine River contamination. Conversely, dissolved 4-nonylphenol concentrations serve to reinforce the hypothesis of its widespread presence at the Seine River basin scale.

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