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[Roentgen contrast media, source for AOX-contamination of waste water by hospitals]
T Erbe1, K Kümmerer, S Gartiser
1Institut für Umweltmedizin und Krankenhaushygiene, Klinikum der Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg i.Br.
Purpose:
To identify the sources for the exceeding of the upper limit of the AOX (adsorbable organic halogen, X = Cl, Br, I) in hospital waste-water and to estimate the contribution of hospital waste-water to the AOX of municipal waste-water.
Methods:
For several hospitals with different medical directions, the expected AOX-concentration, as far as it is caused by iodine contrast media, was ascertained by the contrast media consumption and the water consumption. The results were compared with the measured AOX concentrations.
Results:
The AOX-concentration of hospital waste-water varies between 0.41 mg/l and 0.94 mg/l.
Conclusion:
As a source of AOX iodine contrast media have been identified and may contribute considerably to the AOX. Hospitals with a radiological department may exceed the upper limit of the AOX which has to be observed in German municipal waste-water.