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Baseline Characterization of Emerging Contaminants with Probable Structures in a Karstic Groundwater-Dependent Urban System: A Non-Target Chemometric Approach
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Scientists testing groundwater in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, a region that relies entirely on underground water for drinking, found 57 chemical contaminants, mostly traces of pharmaceuticals and plastic-related compounds, in both wastewater and treated drinking water. Concerning, even the drinking water treatment plant showed these chemicals, and treatment processes didn't fully eliminate them, suggesting current water treatment may not catch everything before it reaches your tap. This matters because it highlights gaps in monitoring "emerging contaminants," chemicals we don't yet fully understand the health eff
While all groundwater systems are susceptible to pollution, karst aquifers are the most vulnerable, although they provide a vital water supply for regions like the Yucatan Peninsula, where they serve as the sole source of water. Despite their importance and the accelerated development of urban environments, research on emerging contaminants (ECs) in groundwater remains limited. In such complex environments, non-target screening (NTS) is essential to overcome the limitations of the traditional target approach, as it allows for the detection of a wider range of contaminants. This study established a qualitative chemical baseline of ECs with probable structural assignments (confidence level 2) in water of southeastern Mexico during the dry season, utilizing an NTS qualitative approach with solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Results tentatively identified 57 ECs, dominated by pharmaceuticals (68%). Chemical compounds associated with plasticizers and pharmaceuticals were detected across all sites, including both the municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and the groundwater-based drinking water treatment plant (DWTP). Chemometric analysis showed that while treatment processes drove a physicochemical convergence, water matrices retained distinct chemical profiles. Furthermore, temporal dynamics influenced the total variability of the system (explaining up to 80.8% of the variance), suggesting that monthly fluctuations had a stronger influence on water composition than treatment technologies. While this study offers a localized spatiotemporal snapshot, these results provide a framework to support groundwater protection and long-term sustainability in karstic regions.
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Revealing Hidden Interrelationships of PFAS-Pesticides-Microplastics in Urban Waters: Integrating Target and Non-Target Chemical Analyses Across Mexico
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Researchers found that Mexican urban water sources contain a dangerous cocktail of chemicals including pesticides, "forever chemicals" (PFAS), and microplastics that work together in ways we don't fully understand. The highest contamination levels were found near farming areas where irrigation water mixes with city sewage, and many of these pollutants aren't removed by current water treatment methods. This matters because millions of people rely on these water sources for drinking water, but we're not monitoring most of these chemical mixtures that could harm human health.
Detecting Emerging Contaminants in Groundwater: Risks to Ecosystems and Human Health
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This review examines how emerging contaminants including pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and microplastics infiltrate groundwater through landfill leaching, septic systems, and agricultural runoff. Researchers highlight the challenges of detecting these pollutants at low concentrations and their ability to persist and spread through groundwater systems. The study emphasizes the urgent need for advanced detection technologies and stronger regulatory frameworks to protect groundwater resources.
Trends of global concerns on groundwater contamination and future directions
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A bibliometric review of nearly 39,000 groundwater contamination studies from 1991–2024 tracks a shift in research focus from classic pollutants toward emerging contaminants including microplastics, PFAS, and pharmaceuticals, while noting most of these remain unregulated. The review is relevant to microplastic risk assessment because it identifies groundwater — a source of drinking water for billions — as a frontier where microplastic research and regulation urgently need to catch up.
Contaminación por microplásticos en el acuífero kárstico de la península de Yucatán
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Researchers sampled water from cenotes and wells throughout the Yucatan karst aquifer and identified microplastic particles in every groundwater sample, with fibers comprising 94% of particles and concentrations ranging from 10 to 936 particles per liter, establishing that this primary regional drinking water source is universally contaminated with microplastics.
Emerging and traditional contaminants in water resources: a review from the perspective of the American continent
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This systematic review examines emerging contaminants in water resources across the Americas, including microplastics, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products. The findings show that current water treatment systems are often inadequate for removing these pollutants, meaning people may be exposed to microplastics and other harmful substances through their drinking water.
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