Monitoring of the Surfactants in Surface Waters in Slovakia and the Impact COVID-19 Pandemic for their Presence

Abstract

Abstract In order to keep the home and occupational environment clean and noninfectious, the consumption of the cleaners and disinfectants, including cosmetics, is increasing. Excessive use of the products results in their accumulation in an aquatic environment. The conventional wastewater treatment plants are unable to effectively remove the emergent pollutants, including the personal care products. The article is focused on the monitoring the presence of the personal care products in surface waters in two river basins in the Slovak Republic, in terms of the surfactant content. Ecotoxicological evaluation of the selected samples from monitored river basins is performed by an acute toxicity test using the test organism Daphnia magna. The monitoring results indicate the presence of the personal care products in the aquatic environment, where pose an ecological and environmental risk. Monitoring in the Hron and Nitra river basins confirmed contamination with the surfactants, to which the measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic contributed. The content of the surfactants in the personal care products is significant and their impact on the aquatic environment is not sufficiently monitored.