Co-occurrences of EDCs and PPCPs in Surface Water Using Chemometrics

This study investigated co-occurrences of endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs), and pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in order to develop effective monitoring strategies. EDCs/PPCPs were clustered on the basis of similarities in their occurrence in surface waters to reduce analytical complexity. Chemometric approaches were applied to three water bodies with different water systems and climate conditions: Lake Mead in Nevada, the Assabet River in Massachusetts, and the Santa Ana River in California. The results show that site-specific co-occurrences among EDCs/PPCPs exist, though these co-occurrences do not translate well between sites. Therefore, the usefulness of this study is in demonstrating the approach of selecting indicator/surrogate compounds using chemometrics rather than providing a single list of recommended compounds for long-term monitoring. This study offers a systematic and practical approach to selecting a suite of analytes when implementing a monitoring program for EDCs/PPCPs in surface waters. © 2016 American Water Works Association.