Dynamics of steroid estrogen daily concentrations in hospital effluent and connected waste water treatment plant

Hospital effluent and connected waste water treatment plant (WWTP) influent and effluent were sampled daily to determine the levels and inter-day variations of three naturally occurring steroid estrogens: estrone, 17β-estradiol, estriol, and synthetic 17α-ethinylestradiol. After solid phase extraction, interferences were removed with a silica gel clean-up step and the samples analysed using gas chromatography with mass selective detection (GC-MSD). The determined inter-day concentrations in hospital effluent were between 8.6 to 31.3 ng L(-1) for estrone, 相似文献   

Occurrence and removal of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in wastewater treatment plants in the Three Gorges Reservoir area, Chongqing, China

Concentrations of six endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs), bisphenol A (BPA), estrone (E(1)), 17β-estradiol (E(2)), estriol (E(3)), 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE(2)) and diethylstilbestrol (DES), were assessed in influents, effluents and excess sludge in ten municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) area, Chongqing, China. Three types of activated sludge treatment processes, oxidation ditch (OD), reversed anaerobic-anoxic-oxic (rA(2)/O) technology and sequential batch reactor (SBR), were used in the surveyed WWTPs. These WWTPs were all combined landfill leachate-sewage treatment plants. All analytes were extracted by solid-phase extraction (SPE) in the dissolved phase and by accelerated solvent-based extraction (ASE) in sludge. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was employed for the analysis of EDCs. Among these EDCs, BPA was the most frequently detected and abundant compound (100.0-10566.7 ng L(-1), 15.5-1210.7 ng L(-1) and 85.0-2470.4 ng g(-1) with respect to the influents, effluents and excess sludge samples). The greatest levels of steroidal estrogens in municipal influents were observed in E(3) which were all >100 ng L(-1), followed by E(1) (42.2-110.7 ng L(-1)) and E(2) (7.4-32.7 ng L(-1)), and in the effluents and sludge were E(1) > E(3) > E(2) which were all <31 ng L(-1) and 105 ng g(-1), respectively. Regarding synthetic estrogens, EE(2) was frequently detected in the influents, occurring below 50 ng L(-1), while DES was not detected at all. A high correlation coefficient was observed between the leachate-sludge ratio and concentrations of influent EDCs, and it was statistically significant (i.e., R > 0.65, P < 0.05), but removal efficiency of the EDCs did not show significant differences with OD, rA(2)/O and SBR processes. Furthermore, modification of treatment technology as well as operational parameters, such as hydraulic retention time (HRT), sludge retention time (SRT) and disinfection process (DP), were recommended to further eliminate the residual EDCs.     

Determination of Steroid Estrogens in Wastewater Treatment Plant of A Controceptives Producing Factory

Steroid estrogens such as estrone (E1), 17β-estradiol (E2), estriol (E3), and 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2) have been suspected to be the main contaminants, which can affect the endocrine system of animals. Many authors have investigated these chemicals in the domestic wastewater treatment plants (WTP). However, wastewater from industries producing steroid contraceptives has not got ample attention. From the environmental point of view, the four steroids are very significant because even very low concentrations (ng/L) can cause reproductive disturbances in human, livestock and wildlife. The main purpose of the present investigation was to develop an analytical method for the determination of the four steroid estrogens present in WTP of a pharmacy factory, mainly producing contraceptive medicine in Beijing, China. Analysis was performed by solid-phase extraction (SPE) system and liquid chromatography combined with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). The average recoveries from effluent samples ranged from 88% to 103% and the precision of the method ranged from 9% to 4%. Based on 0.5-L wastewater samples, the limit of quantification (LOQ) was determined at 0.7 ng/L for E1, 0.8 for E2, 0.9 ng/L for E3, and 0.5 ng/L for EE2 in influent, and 1.0 ng/L for E2 and EE2, and 2.0 ng/L for E1 and E3 in effluent. In the influent samples, average concentrations of 80, 85, 73 and 155 ng/L were determined for E1, E2, E3 and EE2, respectively, showing that they were removed in this WTP to the extent of 79, 73, 85 and 67%, respectively.     

Occurrence and fate of steroid estrogens in the largest wastewater treatment plant in Beijing, China

Concern over steroid estrogens has increased rapidly in recent years due to their adverse health effects. Effluent discharge from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) is the main pollutant source for environmental water. To understand the pollutant level and fate of steroid estrogens in WWTPs, the occurrence of estrone (E1), 17-β-estradiol (E2), estriol (E3), and 17-β-ethinylestradiol (EE2) was investigated in the Gaobeidian WWTP in Beijing, China. Water samples from influent as well as effluent from second sedimentation tanks and advanced treatment processes were taken monthly during 2006 to 2007. In influent, steroid estrogen concentrations varied from 11.6 to 1.1?×?10(2)?ng/l, 3.7 to 1.4?×?10(2)?ng/l, no detection (nd) to 7.6×10(2)?ng/l and nd to 3.3?×?10(2)?ng/l for E1, E2, E3, and EE2, respectively. Compared with documented values, the higher steroid estrogen concentrations in the WWTP influent may be due to higher population density, higher birthrate, less dilution, and different sampling time. Results revealed that a municipal WWTP with an activated sludge system incorporating anaerobic, anoxic, and aerobic processes could eliminate natural and synthetic estrogens effectively. The mean elimination efficiencies were 83.2%, 96.4%, 98.8%, and 93.0% for E1, E2, E3, and EE2, respectively. The major removal mechanism for natural estrogens and synthetic estrogen EE2 were biodegradation and sorption on the basis of mass balance in water, suspension particles, and sludge. In the WWTP effluent, however, the highest concentrations of E1, E2, E3, and EE2 attained were 74.2, 3.9, 5.1, and 4.6?ng/l, respectively. This is concerning as residual steroid estrogens in WWTP effluent could lead to pollution of the receiving water. Advanced flocculation treatment was applied in the WWTP and transformed the residual estrogen conjugates to free species, which were reduced further by filtration with removal shifting from 32% to 57% for natural estrogen, although no EE2 was removed.     

Comparison of TCPP concentrations in sludge and wastewater in a typical German sewage treatment plant-comparison of sewage sludge from 20 plants

Tris(chloro-isopropyl)phosphate (TCPP) was identified by GC-MS by comparing mass spectra and retention times to original standards. The concentrations in wastewater of a sewage treatment plant's influent and effluent were analysed (520 ng l(-1) and 380 ng l(-1), respectively (mean values). The concentrations of TCPP in the wastewater inflow exhibited a high variability. The elimination of this compound in the sewage treatment plant also exhibits a high variability but is low. Additionally the concentrations in sewage sludge of the same plant were determined (mean value 5100 ng g(-1) dry weight; 1700 ng g(-1) wet weight, respectively). For a comparison sludge samples from twenty other plants were analysed. In these samples concentrations ranging from 1000-20000 ng g(-1)(dry weight) were determined. Thus sorption to sludge does occur to some extent.     

Distribution pattern, behavior, and fate of antibacterials in urban aquatic environments in South China

Occurrence, behavior and fate of several groups of antibacterials were investigated in municipal wastewater, sewage sludge, and urban river water in China. Fluoroquinolones (e.g., ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, and ofloxacin), macrolides (dehydroerythromycin, roxithromycin, and clarithromycin), sulfonamides (sulfamethoxazole and sulfamethazine) and trimethoprim were ubiquitously detected in the wastewater in China. Fluoroquinolones were generally the most abundant in the raw sewage, with a maximum concentration of up to 6415 ng L(-1) observed for norfloxacin. Sulfonamides and macrolides transported predominantly in the aqueous phase. A median percentage of 67% of sulfonamides and 86% of macrolides remained in the final effluent after treatment in sewage treatment plants. On the contrary, sorption played a significant role in transport of fluoroquinolones and approximately half of the fluoroquinolones finally ended up and persisted in the dewatered sludge. In the urban section of the Pearl River at Guangzhou, sulfonamides, trimethoprim, and macrolides were widely present at median concentrations of 22-735 ng L(-1), whereas fluoroquinolones were only occasionally detected at 2-152 ng L(-1), probably due to their strong tendency of partition to sediment and/or photodegradability. The result of principal components analysis suggests input of non-sewage derived sulfamethazine in the Pearl River. Seasonal variations of the antibacterials distribution in the wastewater are mainly ascribed to different consumption. Dilution effect by precipitation, however, also plays an important role in seasonal distribution of the antibacterials in the Pearl River.     

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products in effluent matrices: A survey of transformation and removal during wastewater treatment and implications for wastewater management

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) represent pollutants of emerging concern, originating in surface and drinking waters largely from their persistence in wastewater effluent. Accordingly, a wealth of recent investigations has examined PPCP fate during wastewater treatment, focusing on their removal during conventional (e.g., activated sludge) and advanced (e.g., ozonation and membrane filtration) treatment processes. Here, we compile nearly 1500 data points from over 40 published sources pertaining to influent and effluent PPCP concentrations measured at pilot- and full-scale wastewater treatment facilities to identify the most effective series of technologies for minimizing effluent PPCP levels. Available data suggest that at best a 1-log(10) concentration unit (90%) of PPCP removal can be achieved at plants employing only primary and secondary treatment, a performance trend that is maintained over the range of reported PPCP influent concentrations (ca. 0.1-10(5) ng L(-1)). Relatively few compounds (15 of 140 PPCPs considered) are consistently removed beyond this threshold at facilities using solids removal and conventional activated sludge (CAS), and most PPCPs are removed to a far lesser extent. Further, increases in CAS hydraulic retention time or sludge retention time do not appreciably increase removal beyond this limit. In contrast, plants employing advanced treatment methodologies, particularly ozonation and/or membranes, remove the vast majority of PPCPs beyond 1-log(10) concentration unit and oftentimes to levels below analytical detection limits in effluent. Data also indicate that passive approaches for tertiary treatment (e.g., wetlands and lagoons) represent promising options for PPCP removal. We conclude by addressing future challenges and frontiers in wastewater management posed by PPCPs including analytical needs for their real-time measurement, energy demands associated with advanced treatment technologies, and byproducts arising from transformation of PPCPs during treatment.     

Polycyclic musks in the Ruhr catchment area--transport, discharges of waste water, and transformations of HHCB, AHTN and HHCB-lactone

The polycyclic musk fragrance compounds HHCB (1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethylcyclopenta-(g)-2-benzopyran; trade name, e.g. galaxolide) and AHTN (7-acetyl-1,1,3,4,4,6-hexamethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene, trade name, e.g. tonalide) and the transformation product of HHCB (HHCB-lactone) were analysed in surface water samples and sewage treatment plants (STP) effluents in the Ruhr megalopolis. The STPs were the dominant source for these pollutants. In the part of the river where the drinking water is extracted from the river, about 60 ng L(-1) HHCB, 10 ng L(-1) AHTN and 20-30 ng L(-1) HHCB-lactone were found as typical riverine concentrations, while none of the compounds were detected near the spring of the river. On the other hand sewage treatment plant effluents exhibited concentrations up to 600 ng L(-1). The STP's effluent resulted in elevated concentrations in some parts of the river and in the lakes into which they discharge. As some of the plants emit HHCB-lactone with a significantly changed enantiomeric pattern, biotransformation of HHCB to HHCB-lactone occurs in some waste water treatment plants operating with activated sludge. In those parts of the river where no relevant discharges of waste water or fresh water takes place neither the concentration nor the pattern changes significantly. This holds true especially for the HHCB versus HHCB-lactone ratios which indicates degradation less than 15% of the HHCB inventory in the river Ruhr itself. In other rivers, such as the Rhine, higher levels of HHCB-lactone in comparison to HHCB were detected (ratio 1 : 1).     

Source to sink tracking of selected human pharmaceuticals from two Oslo city hospitals and a wastewater treatment works

The occurrence of twenty pharmaceutical compounds was quantitatively determined in effluents from two major Oslo city hospitals, Rikshospitalet and Ullev?l, along with influent, sludge and final effluent from the city's VEAS wastewater treatment works (WTW). Composite hospital effluents were collected over a twelve week period and were showed to contain paracetamol, metoprolol, diclofenac, ibuprofen, 17beta-Estradiol, estriol, estrone, oxytetracycline, tetracycline, doxycycline, chlorotetracycline, demeclocycline, trimethoprim, ciprofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole, cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide. Three pharmaceuticals were not detected above the limit of detection; cefuroxime, 17alpha-ethinylestradiol and meclocycline. Composite influent, sludge and effluent samples were collected from VEAS WTW over a seven week period. The influent into VEAS WTW contained all of the same selected substances detected in the hospital effluents, except for oxytetracycline, chlorotetracycline, demeclocycline, cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide. The percentage of pharmaceuticals entering the works from the hospitals was <10% for all of the selected compounds. VEAS sludge samples contained a different profile of substances reflecting their physico-chemical properties. Hydrophobic antibiotics, such as oxytetracycline, tetracycline and ciprofloxacin, were detected in all of the collected sludge samples. Their absence in the collected influent samples suggests that they enter the works bound to effluent particles, with the dissolved fraction observed in the hospital effluents partitioning onto particulate matter within the sewerage network. The final effluent from VEAS WTW contained reduced concentrations of many pharmaceuticals, including paracetamol, ibuprofen and sulfamethoxazole. For other compounds, such as metoprolol, diclofenac and trimethoprim, there were often higher concentrations in the effluent than the influent. These effluent concentrations represent median inputs varying from low g day(-1) (e.g. paracetamol and ibuprofen) to nearly 200 g day(-1) (e.g. metoprolol and trimethoprim) into Oslofjord. A simple risk assessment showed that the antibiotic ciprofloxacin may at times pose an acute risk to the Oslofjord aquatic environment.     

Determination of micropollutants in combined sewer overflows and their removal in a wastewater treatment plant (Seoul,South Korea)

The present study investigated the occurrence of 29 selected micropollutants such as endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) and pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in surface waters and wastewaters in Seoul (South Korea) during both dry and wet weather conditions. The study area was selected based on the lack of available information regarding the suspected contamination of rivers/creeks by EDCs and PPCPs in the Seoul region and the presence of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), which serves approximately 4.1 million inhabitants and has a design capacity of 1,297?×?10³ m³/day. Many target compounds (83 %) were detected in samples collected from wastewater treatment influent/effluent, creek water, and combined sewer overflow (CSO). The total EDC/PPCP concentrations were as follows: WWTP influent (69,903 ng/L)?>?WWTP effluent (50,175 ng/L) >3 creek samples (16,035–44,446 ng/L) during dry weather, and WWTP influent (53,795 ng/L)?>?WWTP bypass (38,653 ng/L) >5 creek samples (15,260–29,113 ng/L) >2 CSO samples (11,109–11,498 ng/L) during wet weather. EDCs and PPCPs were found to be present at high daily loads (65.1 and 69.8 kg/day during dry and wet weather, respectively) in the WWTP effluent. Compound removal by the WWTP varied significantly by compound: caffeine, diclofenac, ibuprofen, naproxen, and propylparaben (>90 %), and acesulfame, DEET, iohexol, iopromide, and iopamidol (<5 %). These findings and literature information support the hypothesis that the efficiency of removal of EDCs and PPCPs is strongly dependent on both removal mechanism (e.g., biodegradation, adsorption to sludge, and oxidation by chlorine) and compound physicochemical properties (e.g., pK _a and hydrophobicity).     

In situ polar organic chemical integrative sampling (POCIS) of steroidal estrogens in sewage treatment works discharge and river water

A passive sampler (the polar organic chemical integrative sampler; POCIS) was assessed for its ability to sample natural estrogens (17β-estradiol, E2; estrone, E1 and estriol, E3) and the synthetic estrogen (17α-ethynylestradiol, EE2) in the outlet of a sewage treatment works over several weeks. The performance of the POCIS was investigated and optimised in the laboratory before field deployment with high recoveries (66-99%) were achieved for all estrogens. Moreover, it was shown that POCIS does not exhibit any preferential selectivity towards any of the target compounds. The sampling rates of E1, E2 and E3 were 0.018 ± 0.009, 0.025 ± 0.014 and 0.033 ± 0.019 L d(-1), respectively. Following field deployments of 28 days in the discharge of a sewage works, POCIS was shown to enhance the sensitivity of estrogen detection, especially for E3, and provide time-weighted average (TWA) concentrations of E1, E2 and E3, ranging from undetectable to 12 ng L(-1) upstream of the outflow of a sewage treatment works, 13 to 91 ng L(-1) at the outflow and 8 to 39 ng L(-1) downstream of the outflow. This revealed that E1, E2 and E3 are not completely removed during sewage treatment, with concentrations most likely being maintained by contributions from conjugated estrogen analogues. Grab water samples showed considerable variation in the concentrations of estrogens over a longer period (6 months). The results confirm that POCIS is an effective and non-discriminatory method for the detection of low concentrations of estrogens in the aquatic environment.     

Assessment of current status of zinc in wastewater treatment plants to set effluent standards for protecting aquatic organisms in Japan

New environmental standards for protecting aquatic organisms for zinc (e.g., 0.03 mg/L) in surface waters were set in Japan in 2003. Although wastewater effluent might be one of the major pathways of zinc to public water bodies in Japan, current status of concentration of zinc in wastewater effluent was not clear due to higher detection limits (e.g., 0.5 mg/L) than the level required by the new regulations. This study aims at assessing current status of zinc in wastewater effluent in Japan to revise wastewater effluent standards for protecting aquatic organisms. Survey of zinc in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) was carried out in Japan in 2005, setting the detection limits at least 0.01 mg/L. The results of the survey suggested the difficulty to remove zinc (especially dissolved zinc) with conventional activated sludge treatment if concentration of zinc in influent was relatively low. And it was suggested that high concentration of dissolved zinc might be derived from some industries discharging high concentration of zinc. The concentration of zinc in wastewater influent without industrial discharges was about 0.1 mg/L which might be lower than that in wastewater from industries discharging high concentration of zinc. Finally, effluent standards for point sources including WWTPs to public water bodies were set at 2 mg/L in 2006. Based on the results of the survey that it was difficult to remove dissolved zinc discharged from industries at WWTPs, the effluent standards from industries to sewerage were set at the same value of the effluent standards from WWTPs to public water bodies.     

Effect of process conditions on the analysis of free and conjugated estrogen hormones by solid-phase extraction–gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (SPE–GC/MS)

Simultaneous analysis of 11 free estrogen hormones and five conjugated estrogens in water and municipal wastewater was studied. The analytical method was developed and tested for different types of solid-phase extraction adsorbents, eluents, sample containers and storage conditions, derivatization, and matrix effects. Varian Bond Elut C-18 solid-phase extraction adsorbent cartridge was selected based on its high recoveries for both free and conjugated estrogens. Sample storage conditions, as well as selection and pretreatment of sample container materials, can affect the trace level analysis of estrogens. Silanization of glassware is observed to provide low relative standard deviation (RSD) in the analysis and less percentage loss due to contacting with sample container materials. Light exposure during the test can significantly impact the results. The derivatized samples stored at −20°C for at least 6 days showed less than 10.5% average RSD in the analysis. The recovery efficiency in clean water varies from 72% to 101% for free estrogens and 78% to 82% for conjugated estrogens. The method detection limits (MDL) for most of the compounds range from 30 to 870 ng/L using a sample volume of 200 mL. With a sample volume of 3 L, the most sensitive compound produces a MDL of 0.03 ng/L. Dilute methanol is used to wash the loaded cartridge as a cleanup step in order to remove interfering species during analysis of wastewater samples. Using the optimized analytical methods, the concentration level of free estrogens in the influent and effluent municipal wastewaters is tested.     

Migration of natural estrogens around a concentrated dairy-feeding operation

Concentrated animal feeding operations have been recognized as one of the most important contributors of natural estrogens which show significant endocrine-disrupting properties in aquatic environments. In this study, the concentrations of 17α-estradiol (17α-E2), 17β-estradiol (17β-E2), estrone (E1), and estriol (E3) in several matrices, including soils (surface and deep), sediments (surface and deep), and groundwaters, around a typical dairy farm were surveyed using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Of the two farmlands, surface and subsurface sediments in waste lagoon and along effluent drainage drench, the concentrations of 17α-E2, 17β-E2, and E1 ranged from below detection limit to the highest level of 6.60 μg/kg, except that E3 was not detectable. Three estrogens of 17α-E2, 17β-E2, and E1 with the concentrations of 3.18-31.61 ng/L were observed in two groundwater samples. The results clearly demonstrated the vertical migration and horizontal transport of estrogens in the investigated area. Within 750-m distance, it was observed the attenuation of 17α-E2, 17β-E2, and E1 along the effluent route and the horizontal migration of estrogens was less than 1,350 m in this survey.     

Estrogenic activity profiles and risks in surface waters and sediments of the Pearl River system in South China assessed by chemical analysis and in vitro bioassay

Estrogenic activity risks in the Pearl River system (Liuxi River, Zhujiang River and Shijing River) in South China were assessed by combined chemical analysis and recombinant yeast estrogen screen (YES) bioassay for surface waters and sediments collected in both dry and wet seasons. The xenoestrogens 4-tert-octylphenol, 4-nonylphenol and bisphenol A were detected at almost every sampling site at concentrations of several ng L(-1) (ng g(-1)) to tens of μg L(-1) (μg g(-1)) in surface waters (and sediments). The estrogens estrone and 17β-estradiol were also detected in most of the samples with concentrations from several ng L(-1) (ng g(-1)) to tens of ng L(-1) (ng g(-1)) in surface waters (and sediments). However, synthetic estrogens diethylstilbestrol and 17α-ethinylestradiol were only detected at a few sites. The 17β-estradiol equivalents (EEQ) screened by the YES bioassay were in the range of 0.23-324 ng L(-1) in surface waters and from not detected to 101 ng g(-1) in sediments. Shijing River displayed one to two orders of magnitude higher levels for both measured chemical concentrations and estrogenic activities than the Zhujiang River and the Liuxi River. A risk assessment for the surface waters showed high risks for the downstream reaches of the Liuxi River and the upstream to midstream reaches of the Zhujiang River and the Shijing River. Higher estrogenic risks were observed in the wet season than in the dry season for surface waters, probably due to the input of runoff and direct overflow of small urban streams during heavy rain events. Only small variations in estrogenic risk were found for the sediments between the two seasons, suggesting that sediments are a sink for these estrogenic compounds in the rivers.     

Occurrence and distribution of benzothiazole in the Schwarzbach watershed (Germany)

This study quantifies the regional distribution of the micropollutant benzothiazole (BT) in river water by sampling 15 river sites in the Schwarzbach watershed (about 400 km(2)) from November 2008 to February 2010. Additionally, wastewater samples from three municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Germany were analyzed. BT was detected in all wastewater influent and effluent samples as well as in all river water samples collected downstream of wastewater discharge. This corroborates the ubiquitous occurrence of BT in the aqueous environment. Concentrations were between 58 and 856 ng L(-1) in the river water. The observed mean concentration at the outlet of the investigated catchment was 109 ng L(-1). With only a few exceptions, temporal and spatial variations of BT concentrations in river water were low. Rather similar BT concentrations over a wide range of river discharge indicate that dilution along the mainstream is negligible and, thus, supports the hypothesis that paved surface runoff during rain events is an important BT source not only for wastewater influent but also for river water. This was supported by detecting the highest BT concentrations at sampling locations close to the dense highway network around the city of Frankfurt. Since BT was also detected in river water collected from locations that were clearly unaffected by wastewater effluent discharge, surface runoff must be considered as a diffuse source of BT in river water.     

Occurrence and removal of titanium at full scale wastewater treatment plants: implications for TiO2 nanomaterials

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles increasingly will be used in commercial products and have a high likelihood of entering municipal sewage that flows to centralized wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Treated water (effluent) from WWTPs flows into rivers and lakes where nanoparticles may pose an ecological risk. To provide exposure data for risk assessment, titanium concentrations in raw sewage and treated effluent were determined for 10 representative WWTPs that use a range of unit processes. Raw sewage titanium concentrations ranged from 181 to 1233 μg L(-1) (median of 26 samples was 321 μg L(-1)). The WWTPs removed more than 96% of the influent titanium, and all WWTPs had effluent titanium concentrations of less than 25 μg L(-1). To characterize the morphology and presence of titanium oxide nanoparticles in the effluent, colloidal materials were isolated via rota-evaporation, dialysis and lyophilization. High resolution transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis indicated the presence of spherical titanium oxide nanoparticles (crystalline and amorphous) on the order of 4 to 30 nm in diameter in WWTP effluents. This research provides clear evidence that some nanoscale particles will pass through WWTPs and enter aquatic systems and offers a methodological framework for collecting and analyzing titanium-based nanomaterials in complex wastewater matrices.     

Toxicity Assessment of Treated Wastewater Using Cultured Human Cell Lines

Bioassay using cultured human cell lines was applied to an effluent of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Sapporo to assess their toxicity, and in order to investigate the fate of toxicity in the WWTP, bioassay of the water samples from several points in WWTP (influent, effluent, return flow from thickener, from dewatering process and from incineration process) was performed. We also applied bioassay to the mixture of the activated sludge from the investigated plant and artificial sewage. These results showed that the toxicity of the effluent was more intensive than the influent, and organic matter released from activated sludge bacteria during their decay process contributed to the increase of toxicity in the effluent.     

Correlation of six anthropogenic markers in wastewater, surface water, bank filtrate, and soil aquifer treatment

Six trace contaminants (acesulfame (ACE), sucralose (SUC), carbamazepine (CBZ), diatrizoic acid (DTA), 1H-benzotriazole (BTZ) and its 4-methyl analogue (4-TTri)) were traced from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) to receiving waters and further to riverbank filtration (RBF) wells to evaluate their prediction power as potential wastewater markers. Furthermore, the persistence of some compounds was investigated in advanced wastewater treatment by soil aquifer treatment (SAT). During wastewater treatment in four conventional activated sludge WWTPs ACE, SUC, and CBZ showed a pronounced stability expressed by stable concentration ratios in influent (in) and effluent (out) (ACE/CBZ: in45, out40; SUC/CBZ: in1.8, out1.7; and ACE/SUC: in24, out24). In a fifth WWTP, additional treatment with powdered activated carbon led to a strong elimination of CBZ, BTZ, and 4-TTri of about 80% and consequently to a distinctive shift of their ratios with unaffected compounds. Data from a seven month monitoring program at seven sampling locations at the rivers Rhine and Main in Germany revealed the best concentration correlation for ACE and CBZ (r(2) = 0.94) and also a good correlation of ACE and CBZ concentrations to BTZ and 4-TTri levels (r(2) = 0.66 to 0.82). The comparison of ratios at different sampling sites allowed for the identification of a CBZ point source. Furthermore, in Switzerland a higher consumption of SUC compared to Germany can be assumed, as a steadily increasing ACE/SUC ratio along the river Rhine was observed. In RBF wells a good correlation (r(2) = 0.85) was again observed for ACE and CBZ. Both also showed the highest stability at a prolonged residence time in the subsurface of a SAT field. In the most peripheral wells ACE and CBZ were still detected with mean values higher than 36 μg L(-1) and 1.3 μg L(-1), respectively. Although SUC concentrations in wastewater used for SAT decreased by more than 80% from about 18 μg L(-1) to 2.1 μg L(-1) and 3.5 μg L(-1) in these outlying wells, the compound was still adequate to indicate a wastewater impact in a qualitative way.     

市政污水氧化沟处理工艺对人类致病菌群落组成的影响——以南京市某污水处理厂为例

人类致病菌(HPB)在市政污水中广泛存在,对人类健康产生严重威胁.以南京市某污水处理厂为例,采集1年内污水处理厂进水、污泥和生化处理出水样品,利用16S rRNA基因PCR扩增和高通量测序技术解析了 HPB群落组成特征,研究了生化处理过程中水质理化指标与HPB群落组成的相关性.结果表明,进水和生化处理出水中HPB的检出...