OCCURRENCE OF CONTAMINANTS OF EMERGING CONCERN (CEC) IN CONVENTIONAL AND NON- CONVENTIONAL WATER RESOURCES IN TUNISIA

International audienceContaminants of emerging concern (CEC) include a wide variety ofcompounds like pharmaceuticalsand personal care products (PPCPs) and their metabolites. In developing countries, CECare gaining interest as they are contaminating the water resources. In Tunisia, for the first time, atotal of 25PPCPs and three of their metabolites were analysedin wastewater, reclaimed water, surface water and groundwater. Most of selected CECweredetected not only inraw wastewater,but also in treated wastewater and reclaimed water. High contents of Cl and Na in wastewater and reclaimed water were an indication of industrial discharge. PPCPs were detected in surface water from the Meliane River;the highest concentrations were measured close to the estuary to the Mediterranean Sea. High concentrations of 2-OH-ibuprofenein the Meliane River downstream a wastewater treatment plant might result from the biodegradation of ibuprofen during secondary wastewater treatment. Based on theirlevels of concentration,it is proposed to use carbamazepine, caffeine, ibuprofene, atenolol,fenofibric acid, methylparabene, bisphenol A, and 2-OH-ibuprofeneasindicatorsof wastewater-derived pollution of surfacewater resources in Tunisia.Salinity of the groundwater in the study area iscontrolled by sea waterentered decades ago due to over-pumping of groundwater. Groundwater quality isalso influencedby CECassulfamethoxazol, carbamazepine, methylparabene, propylparabene, bisphenol A, trichlosan, and 1-H-benzotriazole were detectedin groundwater collected from an area exposed toirrigation withreclaimed water.The presence of these compounds indicates that they are not completely removed during soil passageaccording to incomplete sorption and/orbiodegradation. Thus,these compounds are suggestedas indicators ofwastewater contamination confirming the pollution of groundwater resourcesat sites where wastewater isreused forirrigationin agriculture. Special attentionhas to be paid to theoccurrenceof TRSoccurringin groundwater since this compoundisrecognized to produce antibiotic resistance in the environmen