Inflow and outflow loads of 484 daily-use chemicals in wastewater treatment plants across Japan

With the increasing number and volume of chemicals used in modern life, their adverse effects on human health aquatic organisms have increased concerns as well. To formulate appropriate management plans, amounts/volumes emitted these must be regulated. However, no data are available use most chemicals, particularly daily-use such pharmaceuticals personal care products (PPCPs). Herein, we tested eight activated sludge wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) across Japan, each servicing populations over 200,000, to investigate emissions 484 including 162 PPCPs. Twenty-four-hour composite samples were collected before after component season 2017. Targeted substances solid-phase extracted subsequently measured by LC-QTOF-MS-Sequential Window Acquisition All Theoretical Fragment-Ion Spectra Acquisition. The mean detected total concentrations inflows (n=32) outflows 87 92 108,517 31,537 ng L?1, respectively. Pharmaceuticals comprised 50% screened inflow. median removal efficiency was 31.3%: 29.2% for 20.2% pesticides, which similar those literature. Cluster analysis showed that spatial differences among WWTPs larger than seasonal same WWTP. Regardless, amounts inflows: sucralose, UV-filters, insecticides summer winter, whereas ibuprofen chlorpheniramine winter summer. inflow outflow population equivalent loads estimated using volume, concentrations, 44.7 13.0 g 1,000 capita?1 d?1, extrapolated annual Japan-wide 2,079 671 tons y?1, Using obtained this study, identified 13 candidates marker estimating real-time a sewage area 22 contamination.