Tracking the distribution of persistent and mobile wastewater-derived substances in the southern and central North Sea using anthropogenic gadolinium from MRI contrast agents as a far-field tracer

A significant micro-contamination of the southern and central North Sea, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site Wadden Sea, with anthropogenic gadolinium (Gd) from MRI contrast agents has been identified. This contamination serves as a far-field tracer for tracking water masses and currents, revealing estuarine inputs from major rivers such as the Thames, Rhine, Ems, Weser, and Elbe. The study leverages the chemical persistence and conservative behavior of Gd-based contrast agents (GBCA), combined with advanced analytical methods, to propose anthropogenic Gd as a sensitive screening proxy for monitoring other stable yet potentially hazardous wastewater-derived substances in natural waters.

Kraemer, D., Schmidt, K., Klimpel, F., Rauch, U., Ernst, D. M., Paul, S. A. L., Haeckel, M., Koschinsky, A., & Bau, M. (2024). Tracking the distribution of persistent and mobile wastewater-derived substances in the southern and central North Sea using anthropogenic gadolinium from MRI contrast agents as a far-field tracer. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 207, 116794. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116794