Triclosan: its occurrence, fate and effects in the Australian environment

2011 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 598-604 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. S. Kookana ◽  
G-G. Ying ◽  
N. J. Waller
Keyword(s):  
Surface Waters ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Removal Rate ◽  
Aquatic Organisms ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Biological Degradation ◽  
Microbiological Processes ◽  
Household Products ◽  
Loam Soil ◽  
Receiving Waters

Triclosan (TCS) is an antimicrobial agent used widely in household products such as soaps, household cleaners, cosmetics, sportswear, mouthwash and toothpaste. It is a bioaccumulative compound known for its high toxicity to algae, daphnids, fish and other aquatic organisms. We investigated its occurrence in effluents, biosolids and surface waters in Australia, as well as its fate in Australian soils and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), including the effects on microbial processes in soils. The concentrations of TCS in 19 effluents ranged from 23 to 434 ng/L (median 108 ng/L) and in 17 biosolids from 0.09 to 16.79 mg/kg on dry weight basis (median 2.32 mg/kg). TCS at concentrations of up to 75 ng/L were detected in receiving waters from five creeks affected by effluent discharge from WWTPs. The removal rate of TCS in five selected WWTPs ranged from 72 and 93%, ascribed mainly to sorption onto sludge and biological degradation. Biodegradation in a clay loam soil was noted with a half life of 18 days. However the half-lives under field conditions are expected to be very different. The studies on the effect of TCS on soil microbiological processes showed that triclosan can disrupt the nitrogen cyclein sensitive soils at concentrations ≥5 mg/kg. In view of the recent risk assessment by the Australian regulatory agency NICNAS, there is an urgent need to assess exposure to TCS and its effect on ecosystem health.

scholarly journals Environmental quality standards for diclofenac derived under the European Water Framework Directive: 1. Aquatic organisms

2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dean Leverett ◽  
Graham Merrington ◽  
Mark Crane ◽  
Jim Ryan ◽  
Iain Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Water Framework Directive ◽  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Surface Waters ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Aquatic Organisms ◽  
Quality Standards ◽  
Environmental Quality Standards ◽  
Direct Toxicity ◽  
Freshwater Monitoring ◽  
Assessment Factor

AbstractDiclofenac is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory human and veterinary medicine widely detected in European surface waters, especially downstream from Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs). Veterinary uses of diclofenac in Europe are greatly restricted, so wastewater is the key exposure route for wildlife. Proposed Environmental Quality Standards (EQS) which include an assessment of toxicity to aquatic organisms are under consideration by the European Commission (EC) to support the aims of the Water Framework Directive (WFD). The EC approach favours the use of a deterministic (single test value and an assessment factor) approach to the derivation of a direct toxicity EQS for diclofenac, resulting in an EQS of 0.040 µg L−1 based on a single mesocosm study. In this paper, we discuss potential issues with this approach with respect to the EC’s own guidance on EQS derivation and derive an evidence-driven alternative EQS of 0.126 µg L−1 using a probabilistic (species sensitivity distribution) approach that accounts for all of the reliable and relevant data and is in accordance with the guidance. Europe-wide freshwater monitoring data for diclofenac are used in an indicative compliance assessment using the EC and the alternative evidence-driven EQS. The implications of using only some data to derive an EQS that does not adhere to the guidance, compared to a guidance-compliant approach that uses all the data available are also discussed.

scholarly journals Environmental Risk and Risk of Resistance Selection Due to Antimicrobials’ Occurrence in Two Polish Wastewater Treatment Plants and Receiving Surface Water

Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 1470 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna Giebułtowicz ◽  
Grzegorz Nałęcz-Jawecki ◽  
Monika Harnisz ◽  
Dawid Kucharski ◽  
Ewa Korzeniewska ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Surface Waters ◽  
Environmental Risk ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Spectrometry Method ◽  
Resistance Risk ◽  
Resistance Selection ◽  
Eukaryotic Species ◽  
Receiving Waters ◽  
Watch List

In this study, a screening of 26 selected antimicrobials using liquid chromatography coupled to a tandem mass spectrometry method in two Polish wastewater treatment plants and their receiving surface waters was provided. The highest average concentrations of metronidazole (7400 ng/L), ciprofloxacin (4300 ng/L), vancomycin (3200 ng/L), and sulfamethoxazole (3000 ng/L) were observed in influent of WWTP2. Ciprofloxacin and sulfamethoxazole were the most dominant antimicrobials in influent and effluent of both WWTPs. In the sludge samples the highest mean concentrations were found for ciprofloxacin (up to 28 μg/g) and norfloxacin (up to 5.3 μg/g). The removal efficiency of tested antimicrobials was found to be more than 50% for both WWTPs. However, the presence of antimicrobials influenced their concentrations in the receiving waters. The highest antimicrobial resistance risk was estimated in influent of WWTPs for azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, clarithromycin, metronidazole, and trimethoprim and in the sludge samples for the following antimicrobials: azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, clarithromycin, norfloxacin, trimethoprim, ofloxacin, and tetracycline. The high environmental risk for exposure to azithromycin, clarithromycin, and sulfamethoxazole to both cyanobacteria and eukaryotic species in effluents and/or receiving water was noted. Following the obtained results, we suggest extending the watch list of the Water Framework Directive for Union-wide monitoring with sulfamethoxazole.

Detection of estrogenic activity in Slovenian wastewaters by bioassay

2011 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 829-837 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mirjana Bistan ◽  
Romana Logar ◽  
Tatjana Tišler
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Surface Waters ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Estrogenic Activity ◽  
Screening Method ◽  
Monitoring Program ◽  
Aquatic Organisms ◽  
Sampling Period

AbstractEstrogenic activity has been detected in aquatic ecosystems across the world. However, there is a lack of such data for Slovenian wastewaters and surface waters. The Slovenian monitoring program of effluents discharged into surface waters does not require that emissions of natural and synthetic estrogens into aquatic environments be assessed and controlled. In our study, we assessed the potential estrogenicity of wastewater samples from three wastewater treatment plants using a yeast estrogen screen assay (YES assay). Due to the high inhibition of yeast growth in samples obtained during our first sampling period, it was impossible to detect any estrogenic activity. An additional silica gel clean-up step reduced the toxicity of samples collected during our second sampling period; as a result, we were able to record up to 95% relative estrogenic activity inhibition. Deconjugation of the estrogens did not significantly influence our results. We detected estrogenic activity using a YES assay in almost all influent and effluent samples tested, which suggests that the wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) examined do not effectively remove (xeno)estrogens from wastewaters. Our results suggest that a YES assay is an appropriate screening method for monitoring estrogenic activity in effluents. However, prediction of the potential impacts of wastewater (xeno)estrogens on aquatic organisms require additional in vitro and in vivo assays.

scholarly journals Surfactants in the Environment

2010 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomislav Ivanković ◽  
Jasna Hrenović
Keyword(s):  
Surface Waters ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Aquatic Organisms ◽  
Primary Treatment ◽  
Secondary Treatment ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Commercial Use ◽  
Untreated Wastewater ◽  
Sewage Systems ◽  
Environmental Compartments

Surfactants in the EnvironmentSurfactants are a diverse group of chemicals that are best known for their wide use in detergents and other cleaning products. After use, residual surfactants are discharged into sewage systems or directly into surface waters, and most of them end up dispersed in different environmental compartments such as soil, water or sediment. The toxic effects of surfactants on various aquatic organisms are well known. In general, surfactants are present in the environment at levels below toxicity and in Croatia below the national limit. Most surfactants are readily biodegradable and their amount is greatly reduced with secondary treatment in wastewater treatment plants. The highest concern is the release of untreated wastewater or wastewater that has undergone primary treatment alone. The discharge of wastewater polluted with massive quantities of surfactants could have serious effects on the ecosystem. Future studies of surfactant toxicities and biodegradation are necessary to withdraw highly toxic and non-biodegradable compounds from commercial use and replace them with more environmentally friendly ones.

scholarly journals Characterization of Five Portuguese Wastewater Treatment Plants: Removal Efficiency of Pharmaceutical Active Compounds through Conventional Treatment Processes and Environmental Risk

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (16) ◽  
pp. 7388
Author(s):  
Sofia Silva ◽  
Vitor Vale Cardoso ◽  
Lúcia Duarte ◽  
Rui Neves Carneiro ◽  
Cristina Maria Martins Almeida
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Surface Waters ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Solid Phase ◽  
Aquatic Organisms ◽  
Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography ◽  
Mass Detection ◽  
Active Compounds ◽  
Treatment Processes ◽  
Removal Efficiencies

Due to the high consumption and incorrect disposal of pharmaceutical active compounds (PhACs), they are recognized as contaminants of emerging concern. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) may be inefficient in removing PhACs, therefore discharging them into surface waters. The removal efficiencies of five WWTPs located in the south of Portugal (Alentejo) were evaluated in 2020. Twenty-six PhACs were analyzed in wastewater influents, effluents, and surface waters, upstream and downstream of the WWTPs by solid-phase extraction (SPE) and ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass detection (UPLC–MS/MS). The most representative PhACs in influents were acetaminophen, caffeine, naproxen, ibuprofen, and diclofenac with minimum-maximum concentrations of 49–225 µg/L, 26–46 µg/L, 5.9–13 µg/L, 5.2–22 µg/L, and 1.3–2.5 µg/L, respectively. For effluents, it was acetaminophen, caffeine, and diclofenac with minimum-maximum concentrations of 0.054–7.8 µg/L, 0.084–4.8 µg/L, and 0.28–3.3 µg/L, respectively. The highest removal efficiencies were observed for acetaminophen, sulfadiazine, cortisone, testosterone, metoprolol, and propranolol (100%). The lowest removal efficiencies were observed for carbamazepine (2.7%) and diclofenac (−13.2%). The risk quotient of sulfamethoxazole and diclofenac were higher than 1 for receiving waters, indicating they probably pose high risks to aquatic organisms.

scholarly journals Environmental quality standards for diclofenac derived under the european water framework directive: 1. Aquatic organisms

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dean Leverett ◽  
Graham Merrington ◽  
Mark Crane ◽  
Jim Ryan ◽  
Iain Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Water Framework Directive ◽  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Surface Waters ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Aquatic Organisms ◽  
Quality Standards ◽  
Environmental Quality Standards ◽  
Direct Toxicity ◽  
Freshwater Monitoring ◽  
Assessment Factor

Abstract Diclofenac is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory human and veterinary medicine widely detected in European surface waters, especially downstream from Wastewater Treatment Plants. Veterinary uses of diclofenac in Europe are greatly restricted, so wastewater is the key exposure route for wildlife. Proposed Environmental Quality Standards (EQS) which include an assessment of toxicity to aquatic organisms are under consideration by the European Commission (EC) to support the aims of the Water Framework Directive (WFD). The EC approach favours the use of a deterministic (single test value and an assessment factor) approach to the derivation of a direct toxicity EQS for diclofenac, resulting in an EQS of 0.040 µg L− 1 based on a single mesocosm study. In this paper, we discuss potential issues with this approach with respect to the EC’s own guidance on EQS derivation and derive an evidence-driven alternative EQS of 0.126 µg L− 1 using a probabilistic (Species Sensitivity Distribution) approach that accounts for all of the reliable and relevant data and is in accordance with the guidance. Europe-wide freshwater monitoring data for diclofenac are used in an indicative compliance assessment using the EC and the alternative evidence-driven EQS. The implications of using only some data to derive an EQS that does not adhere to the guidance, compared to a guidance compliant approach that uses all the data available is also discussed.

scholarly journals Combating paraben pollution in surface waters with a variety of photocatalyzed systems: Looking for the most efficient technology

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 1317-1327 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joaquin R. Dominguez ◽  
Teresa Gonzalez ◽  
Eduardo M. Cuerda-Correa ◽  
Maria J. Muñoz-Peña
Keyword(s):  
Surface Waters ◽  
Natural Waters ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Removal Rate ◽  
Present Report ◽  
Emerging Pollutants ◽  
Fenton Process ◽  
Efficient Technology ◽  
Persistent Contaminants

AbstractThe constant presence of parabens in natural surface waters has raised a growing concern of the potential long-term toxic effects that parabens may have in wildlife, mainly as endocrine disruptors. The present report describes the results of a study in which different photocatalyzed systems, such as photo-Fenton, Fenton, UV-H2O2, UV-TiO2 and UV-TiO2-H2O2, were applied to the removal of these recalcitrant pollutants in some surface waters, including natural (e.g. rivers) and man-made (e.g. reservoirs and wastewater treatment plants). Degradation of four widely-used parabens (methyl-paraben, ethyl-paraben, propyl-paraben and butyl-paraben) was analyzed. Experimental results reveal that the most efficient method to combat these emerging pollutants was photo-Fenton. When this process was optimized, optimal removal efficiency was attained using doses of H2O2 and Fe(II) equal to 2.92·10−4 mol dm-3 and 1.85·10−5 mol dm-3, respectively. It is also worth noting that the removal rate of these contaminants is slower in natural waters. The results suggest that the photo-Fenton process is promising and maybe an adequate technology for the treatment of these persistent contaminants.

The Malachite Green Biodegradation in Bioreactors on Various pH Domains

2019 ◽  
Vol 70 (8) ◽  
pp. 2996-2999
Author(s):  
Viorel Gheorghe ◽  
Catalina Gabriela Gheorghe ◽  
Andreea Bondarev ◽  
Vasile Matei ◽  
Mihaela Bombos
Keyword(s):  
Malachite Green ◽  
Contact Time ◽  
Dominant Species ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Organic Substances ◽  
Biological Degradation ◽  
Growth Promoters ◽  
Ph Values ◽  
Biological Sludge ◽  
Ph Range

In the experimental study was studied the malachite green colorant biodegradation in biological sludge with biological activity. The biodegradability tests were carried out in laboratory bioreactors, on aqueous solutions of green malachite contacted with microorganisms in which the dominant species is Paramecium caudatum, in a pH range between 8 and 12, temperatures in the ranges 25-350C, using pH neutralizing substances and biomass growth promoters. The colorant initial concentrations and those obtained after biological degradation depending on the contact time, at certain pH values, were established through UV-Vis spectrometry. The studies have shown the measure of possible biological degradation of some organic substances with extended uses, with largely aromatic structure, resistance to biodegradation of microorganisms, commonly used in wastewater treatment plants.

Sludge minimization by disintegration at different wastewater treatment plants

2008 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Luchien Luning ◽  
Paul Roeleveld ◽  
Victor W.M. Claessen
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Anaerobic Digestion ◽  
Sewage Sludge ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Biological Degradation ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
Sludge Minimization

In recent years new technologies have been developed to improve the biological degradation of sewage sludge by anaerobic digestion. The paper describes the results of a demonstration of ultrasonic disintegration on the Dutch Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) Land van Cuijk. The effect on the degradation of organic matter is presented, together with the effect on the dewatering characteristics. Recommendations are presented for establishing research conditions in which the effect of sludge disintegration can be determined in a more direct way that is less sensitive to changing conditions in the operation of the WWTP. These recommendations have been implemented in the ongoing research in the Netherlands supported by the National Institute for wastewater research (STOWA).

Viruses and Water: Problems, Detection, and Control

1993 ◽  
Vol 27 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 127-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Dizer ◽  
J. Dürkop ◽  
A. Grohmann ◽  
H. Kopecka ◽  
J. M. López-Pila
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Surface Waters ◽  
Membrane Filtration ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Health Hazard ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
Detection Methods ◽  
Secondary Effluent ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Water Problems

Secondary effluent of wastewater treatment plants contains a high number of viruses and other pathogens, which pose a health risk to the population, (especially when receiv ng waters are used for bathing and swimming, or for growing shellfish. In areas with a high density of population, where drinking water supply is dependent on surface waters and contaminated rivers are the primary source of drinking water, failure of the filtration or of the disinfection step, or of any other “barriers” supposed to warrant safe potable water, will increase the risk of health hazard for the consumer. We have compared the efficiency of viral elimination in secondary effluent by flocculation, uv rradiation and membrane filtration taking naturally occurring, or additionally seeded f2 phages, as indicator for viruses. Flocculation decreased the number of phages present in secondary effluent by more than two logs. If combined with uv irradiation, the elimination reached five additional logs. Membrane filtration eliminated essentially all naturally occurring phages. Improvement of the quality of surface waters calls for a refinement of detection methods for viruses. We have found that the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) might be used for detecting viruses in surface waters.

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