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Cycle 5 (2015 Deadline)
The occurrence and fate of pharmaceutical residues from their sources to water bodies and food chain
PI: Othman Almashaqbeh (othman.mashaqbeh@rss.jo), Scientific Research / Royal Scientific Society
U.S. Partner: Shannon Bartelt-Hunt, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Project dates: December 2016 - April 2021
Project Overview:
Jordan is facing a future of very limited water resources, among the lowest in the world on a per capita basis. Water scarcity is the single most important natural constraint to the country’s economic growth and development. Therefore, wastewater reuse is increasingly viewed as the primary long-term strategy for conservation of limited freshwater resources. In Jordan, the reuse of treated wastewater for irrigation has been practiced since the 1980s to overcome the severe water shortage. In 1998, the Ministry of Water and Irrigation commenced a wastewater management policy, stating that wastewater is a resource and cannot be treated as waste. More than 129 million cubic meters of wastewater is treated and reused for irrigation in agriculture activities, which are considered as one of the highest reuse rates among the Arab countries (95%). The treated wastewater is mixed with freshwater at the dams and then used for unrestricted irrigation in Jordan. Given these water reuse practices, the potential threats posed pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in treated wastewater to water resources and the food chain through plant uptake merit evaluation.
The results of this project will provide a comprehensive overview of the occurrence and behavior of PPCPs in the Middle East and North Africa region. The research team will assess information on the impacts of wastewater irrigation on water quality and human health in the region and will establish a baseline on the level of pharmaceutical contamination in Jordan’s water supply, irrigation water specifically, and vegetables grown using it. Moreover, this project should also help the water authorities in Jordan and worldwide take effective measures to protect water resources (groundwater and surface water), protect public health from the impact of PPCPs, and facilitate the rational reuse of treated wastewater in agriculture. The partnership with the U.S. researcher will allow for capacity building of researchers at the Jordan Royal Scientific Society in conducting scientific research on the impacts of emerging pollutant accumulation in the aquatic environment. The project outcomes will be disseminated to appropriate stakeholders.
Final Summary of Project Activities
The project conducted in Jordan aimed to address the issue of emerging contaminants, specifically pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs), which have received inadequate attention and data in Jordanian water systems. Over a three-year period, the project monitored the occurrence of PPCPs in various sources including water resources (surface and groundwater), wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), soil, manure, and irrigated vegetables using treated wastewater.
Key findings revealed that domestic WWTPs, such as As-Samra and Wadi Al-Seer, were significant sources of PPCPs, with 15 compounds detected in wastewater samples. Some compounds, notably caffeine and carbamazepine (CBZ), showed higher concentrations than reported elsewhere, indicating incomplete removal by conventional WWTPs. The study also identified PPCPs in sludge from these WWTPs, where substances like caffeine predominated due to high absorption rates.
Livestock manure from chicken and cow farms was another source of PPCPs, with specific substances detected in each type of manure. These contaminants were found to transport through water resources and into the food chain, evidenced by detections in groundwater aquifers, drinking water treatment plants (WTPs), and surface water dams. Additionally, vegetables irrigated with treated wastewater were found to contain PPCPs, highlighting potential human exposure pathways.
Efforts to mitigate PPCP contamination included testing Jordanian natural adsorbents like raw zeolitic tuff (RZT), though initial tests showed limited effectiveness in removing CBZ. Surface modification of RZT using a surfactant method improved removal efficiency to some extent, demonstrating potential for future application in water treatment.
Beyond scientific investigations, the project focused on raising public awareness and engaging policymakers through seminars, workshops, and training sessions. These activities aimed to underscore the risks associated with PPCPs in water and food sources and promote strategies for protection and mitigation.
Overall, the project underscored WWTPs as primary sources of PPCPs in Jordan, exacerbated by the widespread reuse of treated wastewater for agriculture. As a response, the establishment of the Emerging Pollutants Research Unit aimed to advance research, consulting, and policy initiatives regarding PPCPs in Jordan, including proposals for take-back programs to reduce PPCP levels in households.
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