Occurrence and health risk assessment of organic amine pesticides in drinking water of the Yangtze River delta urban agglomeration

Organic amine pesticides (OAPs) are widely used in modern agriculture and these compounds can contaminate drinking water sources in different ways. However, there is a lack of data on the occurrence of OAPs in drinking water and their potential human health risks. In this study, tap water (TW) and bottled water (BW) samples were collected from eight cities in the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration in China, and their OAP levels were analyzed using high-throughput organic analysis testing coupled with high-volume solid-phase extraction (Hi- throat/Hi-volume SPE techniques). This study is the first to systematically characterize the trace levels of OAPs in drinking water in China. Our findings indicated that the total concentration of OAPs (∑OAPs) in TW (average 11.06 ± 4.99 ng/L) was 29.4% higher than in BW (average 8.55 ± 3.98 ng/L) and fewer kinds (7) of OAPs were detected in BW. Furthermore, the long-term intake of TW in some areas was linked to carcinogenic risks even at an acceptable OAP range, particularly in males, with molinate being the major contributor (61.3%) to OAP exposure. Further analysis revealed that the occurrence and health risks of OAPs in drinking water were mainly influenced by the quality of water sources and the technologies adopted in drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs). Furthermore, our findings demonstrated that advanced treatment technologies such as nanofiltration could more effectively remove OAPs in raw water (up to 87.5%). Therefore, our findings highlighted the importance of selecting appropriate advanced treatment technologies in DWTPs.