New organic groundwater pollutants in the national groundwater monitoring network of Poland

Abstract

This article reports on emerging organic compounds (EOCs) discovered in groundwater samples collected within the national groundwater monitoring network of Poland. EOCs are very toxic substances that can significantly disrupt the functioning of living organisms. Monitoring of EOCs is not yet regulated within EU groundwater legislation, and so is rarely undertaken at national levels. In Poland EOCs are mainly monitored at local scales, usually undertaken by academic centres, except for the Polish Geological Institute – National Research Institute (PGI), which undertakes studies at broader scales, collecting samples from the national groundwater monitoring network. Data collected in 2016-2017 proved the presence of pharmaceutical substances in 53% of monitoring sites. Between 2022-2024 PGI continued sampling for pharmaceuticals, nonylophenol, 17-β-estradiol, PFAS, solvents and chelating agents. The results demonstrated the presence of EOCs in groundwater in Poland, especially in areas exposed to agriculture and industry, and in urban agglomerations. Pharmaceuticals have been found in 21%, PFAS compounds in 19% , nonylfenol in 17% and solvents and chelating substances in 45% of the boreholes sampled. Four substances were found sufficiently frequently to be placed on a list of substances to be regulated at EU level. These were carbamazepine, PFPeA, nonylfenol and 2-Ethoxy-2-methylpropane (ETBE).