Occurrence, sources, and spatial variation of POPs in a mountainous tropical drinking water supply basin by passive sampling.

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are widely distributed along the world and their levels in surface waters may pose a risk to human health due to consumption of contaminated water or fish long-term exposure to contaminated water. The occurrence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in the Piedras river (Colombia) is a problem of serious concern since freshwater is conducted to a drinking water supply system that provides more than 3 million users. In this research, we deployed silicone rubber membranes as passive samplers in two sampling campaigns at seven sampling stations selected along the river, to assess sources and spatial variation of POPs.