Assessing pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) and their environmental risk in a lake in North Quebec

This study investigated the occurrence and ecological risks of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in lake Osisko, northern Quebec, Canada. Ten sites, including storm outfalls and lake stations, were sampled for three summer campaigns. Results showed clear spatial and temporal variation, with storm outfalls acting as major entry points of contaminants into the lake. Among the 11 targeted PPCPs, caffeine, salicylic acid, and methylparaben were most frequently detected in surface water and sediments. Their presence highlights both urban runoff and recreational activities as important pollution sources. Environmental risk assessment revealed that caffeine posed a high risk to aquatic organisms, while ciprofloxacin presented medium risk, and other compounds were classified as low risk when assessed individually. Although some PPCPs are short-lived in the environment, their continuous inputs sustain measurable concentrations that may impact sensitive species. This study provides evidence-based insights for implementing monitoring and pollution control strategies to protect the ecological and recreational functions of Lake Osisko. ∗ PPCPs- Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products; SPE- Solid Phase Extraction; LC-MS/MS- Liquid Chromatography- Tandem Mass Spectrometry. • First targeted monitoring of PPCPs in Lake Osisko, Quebec. • Storm outfalls were the main entry points, with higher PPCP levels than lake stations. • Caffeine posed high ecological risk, ciprofloxacin medium, with others showed low risk. • Continuous PPCP inputs highlight the need for monitoring and pollution control strategies.