Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in water, sediment and freshwater mollusks of the Dongting Lake downstream the Three Gorges Dam

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) are a group of emerging anthropogenic pollutants. Here we investigated the occurrence and concentrations of 35 typical PPCPs in water, sediment, and freshwater mollusks (Hyriopsis cumingii, Unio douglasiae, Sinanodonta woodiana, Lamprotula leai and Corbicula fluminea) of the Dongting Lake downstream of the Three Gorges Dam. As results, 33 PPCPs were detected in water and sediment of the lake. Ketoprofen (not detected (ND)-292.8 ng/L, mean 91.1 ng/L) and roxithromycin (13.7-141.9 ng/L, mean 30.4 ng/L) were the primary PPCPs measured in lake water, while ibuprofen (ND-105.0 ng/g, mean 30.0 ng/g) and ketoprofen (ND-142.9 ng/g, mean 27.6 ng/g) were dominant in the sediment. Distinct seasonal difference in PPCP compositions was observed in both water and sediment of the Dongting Lake, potentially associated with the water-level fluctuations driven by the Three Gorges Dam operations. Ketoprofen and ibuprofen were also frequently detected in the soft tissues of freshwater mollusks, with concentrations of 42.5-1206.6 and 44.9-992.7 ng/g, respectively. Significant species-specific accumulation characteristics of PPCPs in mollusks were observed, with the highest total contents being reported for Corbicula fluminea (3.18 +/- 1.13 mu g/g). Moreover, gonads of mollusks were identified as the target organ to accumulate these compounds. Correlation analysis further revealed the strong associations of PPCP concentrations in mollusks with those in water and sediment, suggesting the importance of controlling dissolved and sedimentary bioavailability of PPCPs for ecological risk management in this freshwater lake ecosystems.

Automated summary

This study investigated the occurrence and concentrations of 35 typical PPCPs in the water, sediment, and freshwater mollusks of Dongting Lake. The results showed distinct seasonal differences in PPCP compositions and the presence of PPCPs in the soft tissues of mollusks. The findings highlight the importance of controlling the bioavailability of PPCPs in water and sediment for ecological risk management in freshwater lake ecosystems.