Spatial and temporal distribution of BPA in the Canadian freshwater environment

Abstract

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a man made chemical which is only found in the environment due to anthropogenic activities. Eleven hundred and fifty surface freshwater samples were collected and analysed for BPA at 44 sampling sites in Canada from 2012 to 2018 and the resultant concentrations ranged from 3.05 to 1888.51 ng/L. In addition, 64% of the samples were reported to be under the detection limit of the laboratory. In comparison, the Federal Environmental Quality Guideline for the protection of aquatic life is 3500 ng/L. Sampling sites were categorised into four groups based on the dominant activities present upstream in their watersheds; reference sites, mixed use sites, urban sites and municipal waste water treatment plants (MWWTP) associated sites. Based on the results of this study, detections of BPA in water samples were more frequent in urban and MWWTP-associated sites. Additionally, there does not seem to be a statistically significant temporal (upward or downward) or spatial trend in BPA concentrations in Canadian surface waters from 2012-2018 only. Overall, Canadian BPA results are of similar concentrations to that of other countries in Asia and Europe.