Dataset comprising pesticides, pharmaceuticals and personal care products, and industrial chemicals detected in streams and rivers of Central Chile

Pedro A Inostroza; Sebastian Elgueta; Melis Muz; Martin Krauss; Werner Brack; Thomas Backhaus

doi:10.1016/j.dib.2023.109600

Dataset comprising pesticides, pharmaceuticals and personal care products, and industrial chemicals detected in streams and rivers of Central Chile

Data Brief. 2023 Sep 20:50:109600. doi: 10.1016/j.dib.2023.109600. eCollection 2023 Oct.

Authors

Pedro A Inostroza¹, Sebastian Elgueta^{2

3}, Melis Muz⁴, Martin Krauss⁴, Werner Brack^{4

5}, Thomas Backhaus^{1

6}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
² Núcleo en Ciencias Ambientales y Alimentarias (NCAA), Universidad de las Américas, Chile.
³ Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Agronomía, Universidad de las Américas, Sede Providencia, Chile.
⁴ Department of Effect-Directed Analysis, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig, Germany.
⁵ Department of Evolutionary Ecology and Environmental Toxicology, Goethe University Frankfurt/Main, Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
⁶ Institute for Environmental Research, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.

Abstract

Chemical pollution caused by synthetic organic chemicals at low concentrations in the environment poses a growing threat to the ecological status of aquatic ecosystems. These chemicals are regularly released into surface waters through both treated and untreated effluents from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), agricultural runoff, and industrial discharges. Consequently, they accumulate in surface waters, distribute amongst environmental compartments according to their physicochemical properties, and cause adverse effects on aquatic organisms. Unfortunately, there is a lack of data regarding the occurrence of synthetic organic chemicals, henceforth micropollutants, in South American freshwater ecosystems, especially in Chile. To address this research gap, we present a comprehensive dataset comprising concentrations of 153 emerging chemicals, including pesticides, pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs), surfactants, and industrial chemicals. These chemicals were found to co-occur in surface waters within Central Chile, specifically in the River Aconcagua Basin. Our sampling strategy involved collecting surface water samples from streams and rivers with diverse land uses, such as agriculture, urban areas, and natural reserves. For sample extraction, we employed an on-site large-volume solid phase extraction (LVSPE) device. The resulting environmental extracts were then subjected to wide-scope chemical target screening using gas chromatography and liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry (GC- and LC-HRMS). The dataset we present holds significant value in assessing the chemical status of water bodies. It enables comparative analysis of pollution fingerprints associated with emerging chemicals across different freshwater systems. Moreover, the data can be reused for environmental risk assessment studies. Its utilisation will contribute to a better understanding of the impact and extent of chemical pollution in aquatic ecosystems, facilitating the development of effective mitigation strategies.

Keywords: Chemicals of emerging concern; LVSPE; River pollution; Surface waters; Target screening.