Gadolinium and platinum in wastewater and sludge as tracers of medical activities

A preliminary survey of anthropogenic gadolinium in water and sediment of a constructed wetland

Gadolinium (Gd) is a rare earth element used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents that has recently been identified as an emerging contaminant of concern due to its possible toxic effects and accumulation in the environment. The objectives of this preliminary study were to determine the occurrence and fate of Gd in surface water and sediment of a constructed wetland that receives effluent from a wastewater treatment plant. The rate of anthropogenic Gd entering the wetland was determined to be approximately 25 g Gd day^-1, with surface water concentrations in the parts per trillion. Anthropogenic Gd concentrations in surface waters decreased as a function of distance from the inlet site to near the outfall, and were three orders of magnitude higher in sediment than in surface water suggesting that the wetland was providing a sink for Gd possibly through plant uptake and incorporation in organic biomass. An anthropogenic Gd anomaly was observed with an average Gd_Ant/Gd_Geo ratio of 5.34. Sediment with higher total organic carbon (TOC) tended to be higher in anthropogenic Gd, suggesting that Gd sequestration may occur through uptake by plants and/or through flocculation and deposition of natural organic matter.