Steffanie H. Keefe Joseph N. Ryan Imma Ferrer Michael E Thurman Larry B. Barber Jeffrey Writer 2011 <div id="aep-abstract-id10" class="abstract author" lang="en"><div id="aep-abstract-sec-id11"><p id="sp010">Wastewater treatment plants are often the most substantial contributor of trace organic compounds including pharmaceuticals, steroidal hormones, and surfactants to surface waters. Studying stream reaches below wastewater treatment plants provide valuable information on the environmental persistence of these compounds. Three methods for conducting field investigations to evaluate in-stream attenuation of trace organic compounds are presented: (1) using intrinsic tracers in wastewater, (2) environmental sampling coupled with dye studies to assess travel times between sample locations, and (3) Lagrangian sampling. Advantages and limitations of each method are discussed, along with key findings from several investigations.</p></div></div> application/pdf 10.1016/j.apgeochem.2011.03.071 en Elsevier Methods for evaluating in-stream attenuation of trace organic compounds article