Investigating contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in the Venice Lagoon: A suspect screening approach for the analysis of water and sediment contamination

Abstract

The presence of Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs) in the environment poses significant concern, yet their occurrence, sources, and fate remain not fully understood. This study provides the first investigation of a broad range of CECs, including active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), plant protection products (PPPs), and personal care products (PCPs), across raw and treated wastewater, surface water, and sediment in the Venice Lagoon and selected tributaries. Using a suspect screening analysis methodology based on high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), 14 sampling stations were selected to identify contamination patterns and potential emission sources. APIs were the most frequently detected class of compounds (150 compounds), with flecainide, harman, carbamazepine, and venlafaxine found in more than 80 % of sampling stations. Analgesics were the dominant therapeutic class, followed by antidepressants and cardiovascular drugs. Among PCPs (17 compounds), icaridin, and climbazole were the most prevalent, detected at 11 and 9 sampling stations, respectively. PPPs (26 compounds) were also detected, with diuron being the most widespread as it was found at 10 sampling stations. To the best of the authors' knowledge, 92 compounds (68 APIs, 17 PCPs, and 7 PPPs) were qualitatively identified for the first time in the Venice Lagoon, although many of them are known to occur in natural waters worldwide.

The results highlight rivers and treated wastewater as major contributors to CEC emissions in the lagoon. These findings offer valuable insights for future research and targeted monitoring strategies, advancing the understanding of unmonitored contaminants in vulnerable aquatic environments.