Occurrence, fate and potential risks of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in Elbe river water during water treatment in Dresden, Germany

•116 PPCPs were investigated between 2019 and 2021 in the Elbe river.•The observed levels of PPCPs showed large variation in the study area.•Potential risks to water organisms were assumed for four substances.•Advanced drinking water treatment is required to remove PPCPs from raw water.•Further research of long-term removal performance of mobile PPCPs is required. Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) are found in most rivers facing sewage input worldwide. This study investigated the occurence of 116 PPCPs in the Elbe river in Dresden, Germany, as well as the removal efficiency at a riverbank filtration (RBF) site. The data obtained were compared with data from two additional surface water monitoring stations along the Elbe river operated by a state environmental agency. 21 PPCPs were frequently detected in all water samples with concentrations up to 1270 ng/L. Spatial occurrence and sociodemographic aspects are discussed. According to the European Guideline for Environmental Risk Assessment, carbamazepine, diclofenac, iomeprol and venlafaxine indicate a suspected risk for the aquatic environment but not for drinking water quality in the Dresden region. Water treatment using a combination of natural treatment techniques and post-treatment using activated carbon filtration and disinfection proved to be an efficient barrier to drinking water pollution by PPCPs. [Display omitted]

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