Spatial and temporal distribution of emerging contaminants in the San Juan Bay Estuary, Puerto Rico.

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1 Spatial and temporal distribution of emerging contaminants in the San Juan Bay Estuary, Puerto Rico. Xochitl Pérez 1, Liz Diaz 2, and Loretta Roberson 1 1 Department of Environmental Science, UPR-Río Piedras, 2 Department of Chemistry, UPR-Río Piedras

2 Overview Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs) Case of study: San Juan Bay Estuary Aims, Methods, and Results Conclusions Future directions

3 Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs) Pharmaceuticals, Personal Care Products Industrial and Commercial Chemicals Plasticizers Risks: Unknown hazard thresholds Threat to ecosystems Synergistic exposure Human health

4 Possible Sources Of Contaminants

5 San Juan Bay Estuary (SJBE) localization Puerto Rico

6 San Juan Bay Estuary (SJBE) Large estuary in Puerto Rico Generates an average of 350,000 tons of fresh fish per year Densely populated ~1.2 million people Known contaminants PCBs, PAHs, DDT, and metals

7 San Juan Bay Estuary (SJBE)

8 Characterize and monitor the CEC s in the SJBE Correlation between land use around the estuary and contaminant distribution. Determine the effects of most neurotoxic and persistent CEC s on estuary fish and invertebrates (Blue crab)

9 Environmental Neuroscience Multidisciplinary approach is essential. The nervous system is the interface between an organism and its environment Nervous system communication can be disrupted by environmental contaminants Dichloromethane Inhibition of the sodium channel currents.

10 Water samples: Benthic and superficial 2012 Solid Phase 2013 Liquid Liquid Dichloromethane Recovery 50 % Recovery 19% Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS) Library: AMDIS/NIST

11 Monitoring Stations

12 No. of organic pollutants Results: Number of contaminants per year Classification Pharmaceuticals Fuels 80 Personal care products 60 Pesticides Several uses Ej. Diisobutyl phthalate Energy-petroleum, plastic, food and beverage, cosmetics

13 Some Results of new contaminants in 2013 Name Caffeine Levetiracetam Meprobamate 3-Methyl-pyrrolo(2,3-b)pyrazine Hexanenitrile Trimethylthiazole 5-Hydrazino-3-methyl-1,2,4-thiadiazole 2-Amino-4,6-dihydroxypyrimidine General uses Uses anticonvulsant medication hypnotic, sedative, and some muscle relaxant medicinal preparation fragrance agents flavor and fragrance agents antibiotics Intermediate in the production of antimicrobial guanylsulfonamides.

14 Concentration (ppb µg/l) 2012 Dibutyl phthalate distribution in in the San Juan Bay Estuary's monitoring stations Superficial Water Benthic Water LSJ1 QSA CS LT4 LT3 CB LP Monitoring Stations

15 Concentration (ppb µg/l) 2013 Dibutyl phthalate distribution in in the San Juan Bay Estuary's monitoring stations Superficial Water Benthic Water Fish and shellfish ingestion : 2100 µg/l Drinking water standards : 700 µg/l 0 LSJ1 QSA CS LT4 LT3 CB LP Monitoring Stations

16 Concentration (ppb µg/l) Concentration (ppb µg/l) 2013 Benzene, 1,4-dichloro distribution in the San Juan Bay Estuary's monitoring stations Superficial Water Benthic Water LSJ1 QSA CS LT4 LT3 CB LP LSJ1 QSA CS LT4 LT3 CB LP Monitoring Stations

17 Conclusions This is the first comprehensive analysis of total semi-volatile and volatile CEC s in the San Juan Bay Estuary. Our results identify a wide variety of pollutants, in water, sediment and in tissue samples within the San Juan Bay Estuary. Additional studies must be done to determine sources and sinks, retention time, as well as the impact on the ecosystem flora and fauna.

18 Future directions Continue measuring the impact of pollutants in the heart preparation of our crab model (Callinectes sapidus). Identify the principal metabolites of the most persistent CEC s. Measure bioaccumulation of CEC s in the Blue Crab Using GIS tools, correlate land use with levels of contamination In collaboration with CariCOOS, understand the movement of contaminants using a flow model between water bodies

19 Thanks to My mentors: Dr. Loretta Roberson Dr. Liz Diaz Dr. Mark Miller Dr. Joshua Rosenthal External collaborations: Dr. Steve Zottolli, Williams College Dr. Bryan Brooks Undergraduate students: Keishla Valentin Yerlin Perez Vannesa Santiago Isamarie Rivera Alexandra Burgos Yanice Duquesne