Algal bioaccumulation of triclocarban, triclosan, and methyl-triclosan in a North Texas wastewater, treatment plant receiving stream

Algae comprise the greatest abundance of plant biomass in aquatic environments and are a logical choice for aquatic toxicological studies, yet have been underutilized in this capacity. The lipid content of many algal species provides a point of entry for trophic transfer of lipophilic organic contaminants. Triclosan (TCS) and triclocarban (TCC), widely used antimicrobial agents found in numerous consumer products, are incompletely removed by wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) processing. Methyl-triclosan (M-TCS) is a metabolite of TCS more lipophilic than the parent compound. The focus of this study was to quantify algal bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) for TCS, M-TCS, and TCC in Pecan Creek, the receiving stream for the City of Denton, Texas WWTP. The complex algal compartment was field identified for collection and verified by laboratory microscopic description as being comprised of mostly filamentous algae (Cladophora spp.) and varying inconsequential levels of epiphytic diatoms and biofilm. Algae and water column samples were collected from the WWTP outfall, an upstream site, and two downstream sites and analysed by isotope dilution gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) for TCS and M-TCS and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) for TCC. TCS, M-TCS, and TCC in Pecan Creek water samples taken at and downstream from the WWTP were at low ppt concentrations of 50-200 ng l(-1) and were elevated to low ppb concentrations of 50-400 ng g(-1) fresh weight in algae collected from these stations. The resulting BAFs were approximately three orders of magnitude. TCS, M-TCS and TCC appear to be good candidate marker compounds for evaluation of environmental distribution of trace WWTP contaminants. Residue analysis of filamentous algal species typically occurring in receiving streams below WWTP discharges is a readily obtained indicator of the relative bioaccumulative potential of these trace contaminants. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.