CONCENTRATIONS OF ALKYLPHENOLS IN RIVERS AND ESTUARIES IN ENGLAND ANDWALES

A preliminary survey of concentrations of nonylphenol and octylphenol in rivers and estuaries in England and Wales was undertaken to establi sh environmental concentrations and to support a biological field prog ramme. The analytes were quantified by GC/MS in MID mode after concent ration onto C18 solid phase extraction columns. A concentration of 330 mu g/l total nonylphenol was found in wastewaters from a sewage treat ment works discharging into the river Aire, and up to 180 mu g/l was m easured at sites on the same river. Nonylphenol concentrations in the river Aire exceed Daphnia chronic effect levels and approach acute tox icity levels. Elsewhere, concentrations in rivers and sewage effluents were in the range <0.2-12 mu g/l total nonylphenol and are below chro nic effect levels. Estuarine concentrations were considerably lower. T he highest concentrations were recorded in the outer Tees estuary (5.2 mu g/l nonylphenol, 13 mu g/l octylphenol) and in the Mersey estuary (up to 0.32 mu g/l nonylphenol). Over 80% of the samples contained <0. 1 mu g/l total nonylphenol, and octylphenol was present only in the Te es.