Occurrence and fate of endocrine disrupters in Greek sewage treatment plants
Athanasios S Stasinakis1, Georgia Gatidou, Daniel Mamais
1Department of Environment, University of the Aegean, University Hill, Mytilene 81 100, Greece. astas@env.aegean.gr
Abstract:
The occurrence of five endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs), namely 4-n-nonylphenol (4-n-NP), nonylphenol monoethoxylate (NP1EO), nonylphenol diethoxylate (NP2EO), triclosan (TCS) and bisphenol A (BPA), was assessed in the raw, treated wastewater and sewage sludge of eight sewage treatment plants (STPs) in Greece. The analytes were extracted by solid-phase extraction (dissolved phase) or sonication (solid phase). Qualitative and quantitative analyses were performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The average concentrations in the raw and treated wastewater ranged from 0.23 (4-n-NP) to 5.76microgL(-1) (NP1EO) and from 0.15 (BPA) to 1.84microgL(-1) (NP2EO), respectively. A great part of the detected EDCs was sorbed on suspended solids. In sewage sludge, the average concentrations ranged between 0.17 (4-n-NP) and 12.3microgg(-1)dw (NP1EO). Analysis of daily mass flows in STP of Athens showed that, with the exception of 4-n-NP, all other EDCs were significantly removed (>85%) during wastewater treatment. Regarding the fate of these compounds, a significant part ranging from 45% (for TCS) to more than 70% (for NP1EO, NP2EO and BPA) was transformed by abiotic or biotic mechanisms, while the rest was accumulated in sewage sludge or disposed to the environment via the effluents. Calculation of risk quotients showed the existence of possible threat due to the presence of certain EDCs in treated wastewater and sludge.
More Related Videos
08:00Screening for Endocrine Activity in Water Using Commercially-available In Vitro Transactivation Bioassays
Published on: December 4, 2016
05:46Identification of Pharmaceuticals in The Aquatic Environment Using HPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS and Elimination of Erythromycin Through Photo-Induced Degradation
Published on: August 1, 2018
Related Concept Videos
Biological Treatment of Effluent and Waste Water
Microbial Wastewater Treatment
Types of Toxins
Air pollutants, primarily gases, pose significant threats to respiratory health, leading to conditions like hypoxia, lung cancer, and in extreme cases, death.
Environmental pollutants like...
Toxicity Testing in Animals
Microbial Bioremediation of Pesticides
Oogenesis
