{"id":2256,"date":"2024-01-12T15:44:43","date_gmt":"2024-01-12T15:44:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/groundwater\/quality\/diffuse-pollution\/emerging-contaminants-in-groundwater\/"},"modified":"2026-04-01T14:49:22","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T13:49:22","slug":"emerging-contaminants-in-groundwater","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/groundwater\/quality\/diffuse-pollution\/emerging-contaminants-in-groundwater\/","title":{"rendered":"Emerging contaminants in groundwater"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t\t<section class=\"hero-section hero-section-with-social\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hero-info-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hero-info\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1>Emerging contaminants in groundwater<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"social-wrap social-wrap-inline-them\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sea-background-f\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Share this article<\/span><a target=\"_blank\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/groundwater\/quality\/diffuse-pollution\/emerging-contaminants-in-groundwater\/\"><span class=\"icon-facebook\"><span class=\"hidden\">Facebook<\/span><\/span><\/a><a target=\"_blank\"  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=Emerging%20contaminants%20in%20groundwater&#038;url=https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/groundwater\/quality\/diffuse-pollution\/emerging-contaminants-in-groundwater\/\"><span class=\"icon-twitter\"><span class=\"hidden\">Twitter<\/span><\/span><\/a><a   onclick=\"javascript:void( (function() {var e=document.createElement('script' );e.setAttribute('type','text\/javascript' );e.setAttribute('charset','UTF-8' );e.setAttribute('src','\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinmarklet.js?r='+Math.random()*99999999);document.body.appendChild(e)})());\"  href=\"javascript:void(0);\"><span class=\"icon-pinterest\"><span class=\"hidden\">Pinterest<\/span><\/span><\/a><a target=\"_blank\"  href=\"https:\/\/wa.me?text=https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/groundwater\/quality\/diffuse-pollution\/emerging-contaminants-in-groundwater\/\"><span class=\"icon-whatsapp\"><span class=\"hidden\">WhatsApp<\/span><\/span><\/a><a   href=\"mailto:?subject=Emerging%20contaminants%20in%20groundwater&#038;body=Improvements%20in%20analysis%20mean%20that%20more%20organic%20compounds%20are%20being%20detected%20in%20groundwater.%20(https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/groundwater\/quality\/diffuse-pollution\/emerging-contaminants-in-groundwater\/)\"><span class=\"icon-mail\"><span class=\"hidden\">Email<\/span><\/span><\/a><a href=\"#\" data-copy=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/groundwater\/quality\/diffuse-pollution\/emerging-contaminants-in-groundwater\/\" class=\"copy-url-on-click\"><span class=\"icon-link\"><span class=\"hidden\">Copy Link<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-bgs-blocks-content-container content-section\"><div class=\"container\"><div class=\"row\"><div class=\"col-12\">\n<p>BGS undertook a&nbsp;review of emerging contaminants in groundwater (Stuart et al., 2011), which is available for <a href=\"#ref\">free download<\/a>. The report includes a review of previous literature and a new assessment of Environment Agency monitoring data for less commonly analysed compounds in groundwater. The&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/groundwater\/download\/emerging-contaminants-in-groundwater-briefing-note\/\">Emerging contaminants in groundwater briefing note<\/a>&nbsp;provides a summary of our findings.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure  class=\"img-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/groundwater\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/medications-1851178_640.jpg\" class=\"lazy-blur\" alt=\"Lots of blister packs of tablets\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/groundwater\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/medications-1851178_640.jpg\" \/><figcaption class=\"caption \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/groundwater\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/info-caption.svg\" alt=\"Information icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-text\"><p>Compounds such as medicines and other pharmaceuticals are now being detected in UK groundwaters. Image \u00a9 Pexels via pixabay.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What are emerging contaminants?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We are now seeing previously undetected organic micropollutants in the aqueous environment due to improvements in analytical techniques. These are known as emerging contaminants and include chemicals such as caffeine, nicotine and ibuprofen. Many of the contaminants are currently unregulated. Some of these contaminants can have human or ecological health effects and there is a need for better understanding of their fate in environmental systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Metaldehyde<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Metaldehyde\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Metaldehyde<\/a>&nbsp;is an example of a compound that has emerged relatively recently as a groundwater contaminant. Metaldehyde is a selective pesticide used to control slugs. First introduced in 1940, it has been widely used in all sectors (agriculture; horticulture; recreational land; gardens) since the 1970s. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Until 2007, there was not a satisfactory method for measuring metaldehyde concentrations in treated water. The development of a new methodology has enabled monitoring for metaldehyde in drinking water supply catchments. Levels in some sources have been close to or above the 0.1&nbsp;\u03bcg\/L EU drinking water limit for pesticides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What types of compounds have been identified in groundwater?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The types of organic micropollutants that have been found in groundwater worldwide include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>mirco-and nanomaterials (very small particles)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>pesticides and their metabolites or breakdown products<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>pharmaceuticals and hormones, including veterinary medicines<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>personal care products and fragrances<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>industrial additives and by-products<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>water treatment by-products<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>flame or fire retardants and surfactants<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>caffeine and nicotine, and their metabolites<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<figure  class=\"img-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/groundwater\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/caffeine.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;Mean concentration of caffeine in groundwater in England and Wales. Data from the Environment Agency&#8217;s database. (From Stuart et al, 2001.) BGS \u00a9 UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_35973\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/groundwater\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/caffeine.jpg\" class=\"lazy-blur\" alt=\"A map of England and Wales with red dots showing where caffeine was detected in groundwater. The larger the dot, the greater the concentration of caffeine.\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/groundwater\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/caffeine.jpg\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"caption \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/groundwater\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/info-caption.svg\" alt=\"Information icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-text\"><p>Mean concentration of caffeine in groundwater in England and Wales. Data from the Environment Agency&#8217;s database. (From Stuart et al, 2001.) BGS \u00a9 UKRI.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"expand-box expand-box-top\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/groundwater\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/caffeine.jpg\" ><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/groundwater\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/expand.svg\" alt=\"Expand icon\"><\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How does contamination get into groundwater?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There is a wide variety of sources and pathways that allow these compounds to enter the environment. Sources include: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>agriculture<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>animal husbandry<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>industry<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>waste disposal <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>urban areas<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Pathways to groundwater include leaching from cultivated areas or animal waste, effluent discharged from waste-water treatment works to ponds that infiltrate to groundwater, or to surface water that then interacts with groundwater.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many of the compounds are relatively small, polar molecules that are not effectively removed by conventional drinking-water treatment using activated carbon. They can potentially persist in supplied water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How can we identify possible groundwater contaminants?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In order to assess the hazards presented by potential organic micropollutants, information on usage, persistence and leachability, as well as a robust, sensitive analytical method, is required. The UK metaldehyde problem was not originally discovered due to lack of an analytical method and was exacerbated by its recalcitrance in water treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Further reading<\/h2>\n\n\n<div  class=\"accordions\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"acc-top secondary-background icon-arrow button no-btn\"><span class=\"button-content\" tabindex=\"-1\">Publications<\/span><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-body sea-background-e\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span class=\"person orcid-person nerc_int_name\"><span class=\"person_name\">Lapworth, D J, Baran, N, Stuart , M E, Manamsa, K, and Talbot, J. 2015. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.envpol.2015.02.030\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Persistent and emerging micro-organic contaminants in Chalk groundwater of England and France<\/a>. Environmental Pollution, Vol. 203, 214\u2013225. DOI: https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.envpol.2015.02.030<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"person orcid-person nerc_int_name\"><span class=\"person_name\">Lapworth, D J,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<span class=\"person nerc_int_name\"><span class=\"person_name\">Crane, E J,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<span class=\"person nerc_int_name\"><span class=\"person_name\">Stuart, M E,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<span class=\"person nerc_int_name\"><span class=\"person_name\">Talbot, J C,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<span class=\"person\"><span class=\"person_name\">Besien, T, and<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<span class=\"person\"><span class=\"person_name\">Civil, W.<\/span><\/span> 2018.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/nora.nerc.ac.uk\/id\/eprint\/524322\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Micro-organic contaminants in groundwater in England: summary results from the Environment Agency LC-MS and GC-MS screening data<\/a>. <em>British Geological Survey Open Report<\/em> OR\/18\/052. (Nottingham, UK, British Geological Survey.)<\/p>\n<p>Lapworth, D J, Lopez, B, Laabs, V, Kozel, R, Wolter, R, Ward, R, Amelin, E V, Besien, T, Claessens, J, Delloye, F, Ferretti, E, and Grath, J. 2019. <a href=\"http:\/\/doi.org\/10.1088\/1748-9326\/aaf4d7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Developing a groundwater watch list for substances of emerging concern: a European perspective<\/a>.\u00a0<em>Environmental Research Letters<\/em>, Vol. 14(3), 035004. DOI: http:\/\/doi.org\/10.1088\/1748-9326\/aaf4d7<\/p>\n<p>Stuart, M E, and Lapworth, D J. 2014. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/9781118339558.ch02\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Transformation products of emerging organic compounds as future groundwater and drinking water contaminants<\/a>. 65\u201386 in\u00a0<em>Transformation Products of Emerging Contaminants in the Environment<\/em>. Lambropoulou, D A, and Nollet, L M L (editors). (UK: John Wiley and Sons Ltd.)<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><div id=\"ref\" class=\"accordions\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"acc-top secondary-background icon-arrow button no-btn\"><span class=\"button-content\" tabindex=\"-1\">References<\/span><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-body sea-background-e\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span class=\"person nerc_int_name\"><span class=\"person_name\">Stuart, M E,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<span class=\"person nerc_int_name\"><span class=\"person_name\">Manamsa, K,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<span class=\"person nerc_int_name\"><span class=\"person_name\">Talbot, J C, and<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<span class=\"person nerc_int_name\"><span class=\"person_name\">Crane, E J<\/span><\/span>. 2011. <a href=\"https:\/\/nora.nerc.ac.uk\/id\/eprint\/14557\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Emerging contaminants in groundwater<em>.<\/em><\/a> <em>British Geological Survey Open Report<\/em> OR\/11\/013. (Wallingford, UK: British Geological Survey.)<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n<section class=\"cta-section  sea-background-e \">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"row md-row\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t<h2>Need more information?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"btn-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/people\/lapworth-daniel\/\"  class=\"button primary-background   \">Contact Dan Lapworth<\/a><\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Improvements in analysis mean that more organic compounds are being detected in groundwater.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":4775,"parent":64,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"1","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2256","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - 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