Identification and screening of Emerging organic contaminants (EOCs) in wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) and their discharge behavior have become an urgent concern over past two decades due to their potential harmful effects on human health and aquatic ecosystems. However, most EOCs are still unregulated. To better evaluate the removal efficiency of target pollutants in sewage treatment process, explore time distribution characteristics of detected substances, and their correlation with epidemic indicators, here we optimize the target, suspect and non-targeted screening methods based on UPLC-Q-Tof for the broad-spectrum screening and identification of EOCs from influent and effluent in WWTP, with mainly concerning the major categories of drugs, antibiotics, endocrine disruptors, prohibited chemicals, personal care products, pesticides and food additives. A quantitative or semi-quantitative analysis of identified substances is then carried out for substances that have reached a certain confidence value. In addition, another time-series investigation during the COVID-19 epidemic helps to reveal relationship between emerging organic contaminants (EOCs) emission in WWTP and Public Health Events.
 

Emerging Organic Contaminants,High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry,Broad Screening