Performance of UK wastewater treatment works with respect to trace contaminants

This is the post-print version of the final paper published in Science of Total Environment. The published article is available from the link below. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. Copyright @ 2013 Elsevier B.V.This study examined the performance of 16 wastewater treatment works to provide an overview of trace substance removal in relation to meeting the objectives of the Water Framework Directive (WFD). Collection and analysis of over 2400 samples including sewage influent, process samples at different stages in the treatment process and final effluent has provided data on the performance of current wastewater treatment processes and made it possible to evaluate the need for improved effluent quality. Results for 55 substances, including metals, industrial chemicals and pharmaceuticals are reported. Data for sanitary parameters are also provided. A wide range of removal efficiencies was observed. Removal was not clearly related to the generic process type, indicating that other operational factors tend to be important. Nonetheless, removals for many substances of current concern were high. Despite this, current proposals for stringent water quality standards mean that further improvements in effluent quality are likely to be required

Assessment of risks related to agricultural use of sewage sludge, pig and cattle slurry

In April 2017, the Organic Business Development Team released a report with 25 recommendations for the Minister of Environment and Food (Det økologiske erhvervsteam 2017). Among these was a recommendation that organic farmers should have opportunities for utilizing nutrients from treated domestic wastewater for nutrient recycling. A prerequisite for future use of nutrients from treated wastewater is, that quality requirements are met and that application can be explained to (and accepted by) consumers. In partial fulfilment of this, the business team identified a need for a scientific overview of the risks of using nutrients from treated municipal wastewater in relation to other authorized fertilizer sources – e.g. conventional animal manures. Thus, it was assumed that a comparative approach to assess potential risk of using sewage sludge and conventional manures, could usefully inform decision makers in the future regulation of organic farming systems. Dependent on the result of the scientific investigation, the Organic Business Development Team foresaw that Denmark could chose to work to expand Annex 1 of the EU Ecology Regulation, to allow the organic farmers to use nutrients from municipal wastewater or other acceptable derived sludge products. Mobilization of support for this should be done by the Ministry of Environment and Food in collaboration with the Organic Farming Industry. Thus, based on available literature, this report aims at creating an overview of the environmental and human risks associated with application of pig and cattle slurry as well as sewage sludge to agricultural soils. The risk evaluation was performed for the following compound groups: Metals, Chlorophenyls, Dioxins, Furans, Halogenated aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons (HAH), Linear alkylbenzenesulfonates (LAS), Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), Poly- and perfluorinated alkylated substances (PFAS), Phenols, Phosphate-triesters VII, Phthalates, Polychlorinated naphtalenes (PCN), Polychlorinated alkanes (PCA), Triclosan, Triclocarban, Medicines, Estrogens, Antibiotic resistance genes. Additionally the fertilizer potential of the two nutrient sources was characterized and compared

Determination of fluphenazine, related phenothiazine drugs and metabolites by combined high-performance liquid chromatography and radioimmunoassay.

Antibodies have been produced in rabbits immunized with a fluphenazine succinate-human serum albumin conjugate. By radioimmunoassay it is possible to quantify fluphenazine (FPZ), related phenothiazine drugs and several of their metabolites at the femtomole level. As little as 370 fmol (160 pg) of FPZ can be detected and up to 0.4 ml of plasma can be added to the incubation mixture (final volume = 1.1 ml). The phenothiazine heterocyclic nucleus is immunodominant and determines the specificity of the antiserum. When a parent drug cross-reacts significantly with antibody, its 7-hydroxide, N-oxide and N-10 side chain altered metabolites can also be determined by the assay. The 8-hydroxide, sulfoxide and 7-hydroxyglucuronide metabolites are not detectable unless present in large amounts. High-performance liquid chromatography was used to separate phenothiazine drugs and metabolites. Since the antiserum has broad specificity, a combined high-performance liquid chromatography and radioimmunoassay procedure permits the identification and quantification of a phenothiazine drug and its serologically reactive metabolites. Patterns of high-performance liquid chromatographic elution and extent of immunologic cross-reaction are characteristic for metabolites relative to the parent drug. This procedure offers distinct advantages in the analysis of this complex family of compounds. FPZ was quantitatively extracted from plasma samples obtained from patients receiving FPZ per os. Although large amounts of serological activity were present in the samples 2 to 6 hr after FPZ ingestion, only 2 to 23% was extractable. The major contributors to the serological activity at times greater than 6 hr were FPZ metabolites. In a preliminary application of the combined techniques, FPZ and a metabolite identified as N-[alpha-(trifluoromethylphenothiazinyl-10)propyl]perazine were quantified in the organic extract of one plasma sample

SUSTAINABILITY OF POULTRY PRODUCTION USING THE EMERGY APPROACH: COMPARISON OF CONVENTIONAL AND ORGANIC REARING SYSTEMS

The organic production system is an important strategy, compatible with sustainable agriculture, avoiding the use of chemical compounds,limiting the intensity of production and providing controls along the entire chain of production. The aim of this study is to compare conventional and organic poultry production in terms of emergy analysis. The main differences in the two systems were the emergy cost for poultry feed and for cleaning/sanitization of the buildings between successive productive cycles. In both production systems the poultry feed represented more than 50% of the emergy flow. Regarding the agronomic phase, it was shown that almost all the organic crops, avoiding chemical fertilizers and pesticides, saved around 60% emergy. The emergetic costs for housing of the birds were very similar in both systems. Relating the emergy results with productive performance it is possible to show that, although the annual productive performance was much lower in organic than in conventional (206%), transformity of organic poultry was around 10% lower. Comparison of the organic poultry system with a conventional one from the viewpoint of sustainability showed that all the emergy-based indicators are in favour of the organic farming system with a higher efficiency in transforming the available inputs in the final product, a higher level of renewable inputs, a higher level of local inputs and a lower density of energy and matter flows

Introduction to fungal physiology

This chapter describes some basic aspects of fungal cell physiology, focusing primarily on nutrition, growth, metabolism in unicellular yeasts and filamentous fungi, and cell death. It considers the most common growth forms, the filamentous fungi and unicellular yeasts. Fungal growth involves transport and assimilation of nutrients, followed by their integration into cellular components, followed by biomass increase and eventual cell division or septation. The physiology of vegetative reproduction and its control in fungi has been most widely studied in two model eukaryotes, the budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and the fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe. An understanding of the death of fungal cells is important from a fundamental viewpoint because fungi, especially yeasts, represent valuable model systems for the study of cellular aging and apoptosis (programed cell death). Recycling and redeployment of cellular material also helps drive the apical growth of filamentous fungi and the mycelium explores and extends through the environment

Effects of composting manures and other organic wastes on soil processes and pest and disease interactions

Introduction Composts and manures are of major importance in providing fertility in organic farming systems, since synthetic fertilisers are prohibited. It is understood that composts have radically different nutrient release characteristics to those of uncomposted materials and manures, and it is believed that composting increases the beneficial effects of organic materials on soil health, soil quality, soil fertility and nutrient use efficiency. It has also been shown that some plant pests and diseases are suppressed through the application of composts and compost extracts to soils. There is considerable potential to use a wider range of feedstocks from on and off-farm sources and to improve the composting process and compost/manure application techniques. This review of scientific work to date was urgently required to help determine key research priorities to achieve this potential (Defra project OF0313). Project aims 1.To document the current standards, regulations and legislation relevant to recycling, compost/manure preparation and application and to review common UK practices relating to the preparation and application of uncomposted materials, manures, composts and compost extracts. 2. To review current scientific knowledge (from the literature) of the effects of different composting processes on chemical and biological parameters in the finished compost or compost extract. 3. To review (from the literature) the effects of uncomposted materials, manures and composts on soil health and quality, soil fertility and crop development and nutrition. 4. To review (from the literature) the effects of uncomposted materials, manures, composts and compost extracts on pest and disease incidence and severity in agricultural and horticultural crops. 5. To outline a proposed strategy for research which seeks to develop composting systems and compost/manure application protocols with a view to optimising soil fertility management and pest and disease control in organic agriculture and horticulture. Objective 1 - The current standards, regulations and legislation relevant to recycling, compost/manure preparation and application are documented in detail in the full report on Objective 1 (Appendix 2). Manures and uncomposted plant materials (e.g. green manures) are commonly used on UK organic farms. True composts (defined in the glossary, Appendix 1) are rarely prepared on UK organic farms, although there is increasing interest in their use, particularly on farms producing high value horticultural crops. An increasing number of companies are producing (or are interested in producing) composts suitable for use on organic farms as soil amendments or growing media. Objective 2 - The effects of different composting processes on chemical and biological parameters in the finished compost or compost extract are reviewed in detail in the full report on Objective 2 (Appendix 3). A short version of this review appears on pages 7-10 of this report. Objective 3 - The effects of uncomposted materials, manures and composts on soil health and quality, soil fertility and crop development and nutrition are reviewed in detail in the full report on Objective 3 (Appendix 4). A short version of this review appears on pages 10-13 of this report. Objective 4 - The effects of uncomposted materials, manures, composts and compost extracts on pest and disease incidence and severity in agricultural and horticultural crops are reviewed in detail in the full report on Objective 4 (Appendix 5). A short version of this review appears on pages 13-17 of this report. Objective 5 - A proposed strategy for research was outlined which seeks to develop composting systems and compost/manure application protocols with a view to optimising soil fertility management and pest/disease control in organic agriculture/horticulture Organic farming systems are by nature holistic. In other words, they function as a whole and all aspects of the system are interdependent on many other aspects of the system. It is essential therefore that research which is carried out to optimise the use of uncomposted plant residues, composts, manures and compost extracts is interdisciplinary; that is it must be carried out with reference to the organic farming system as a whole and not just a single aspect of it. Technology transfer and knowledge transfer are key elements to the proposed strategy for research. Seminars and conferences, farm walks, demonstration farms and a wide range of publishing formats must be used to ensure that end users have full access to the results of research carried out in the UK and abroad. The amount of information which is available for dissemination to those who wish to make or use composts will naturally depend on the amount of relevant research and development work which is going on in the UK, Europe and worldwide

Pharmaceuticals removal from wastewater with microalgae: a pilot study

Urban wastewaters contain pharmaceuticals that are not appropriately removed in conventional wastewater treatments, limiting treated water reuse. Microalgae have been shown to remove pharmaceuticals from urban wastewater in laboratory trials, but few studies have been conducted under natural conditions. In this work, pharmaceutical removal was assessed in a pilot-scale microalgal tertiary wastewater treatment in real conditions. Even after secondary treatment, the water contained measurable amounts of pharmaceuticals (an average of 218.4 ng/L) that significantly decreased to 39.83 ng/L at the exit of the microalgal system. Pharmaceuticals’ average removal rates were slightly higher in the summer (79.1%) than in autumn (71.1%). Antibiotics and antipsychotics were better removed (88.8 and 86.4%, respectively) than antihypertensives (75.3%) and others (Bezafibrate and Diclofenac; 64.0%). Physicochemical characteristics of the wastewater influenced pharmaceutical removal; significant positive correlations were observed between anti-hypertensive drug removal and ammonium concentration (r = 0.53; p r = 0.46; p r = 0.47; p < 0.05). The results demonstrate the effectiveness of microalgal tertiary treatment in the removal of pharmaceuticals.DL 57/2016—Norma transitória (REF. DL-57-2016/ICETA/02)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Fungal endophytes enhance growth and production of natural products in Echinacea purpurea (Moench.)

Echinacea purpurea is a native herbaceous perennial with substantial economic value for its medicinal and ornamental qualities. Arbuscular mycorrhizae are symbiotic fungi that form relationships with plant roots and are known to enhance growth in the host. Mycorrhizae and other fungal endophytes often affect stress resistance and secondary metabolism in the host, as well as the ecology of other endophytes in the plant. A newly emerging paradigm in sustainable biotechnique is the targeted use of fungal endophytes to enhance growth and secondary metabolism in crops. Many of the therapeutic compounds in E. purpurea could be affected by fungal colonization. In this research the effects of inoculation of Echinacea purpurea with two classes of fungal endophytes: the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi Glomus intraradices and Gigaspora margarita and the entomopathogenic endophyte Beauveria bassiana were evaluated . Endophyte colonization and impacts on plant growth and phytochemistry were tested in multiple greenhouse experiments. Arbuscular mycorrhizae and B. bassiana effectively colonized E. purpurea with some significant interactive effects. Consistent, substantial, and significant increases in all growth parameters were observed in mycorrhizal plants; mycorrhizal plants produced up to four times the biomass of controls in 12 weeks. Broad spectrum changes in fertilization were necessary to produce mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal samples of equal size, and severely nutrient-limited mycorrhizal E. purpurea seedlings maintained growth rates comparable to well fertilized samples. Treatment with B. bassiana had minor and inconsistent effects on some plant growth parameters, and there were significant interactive effects with arbuscular mycorrhizae. Phytochemical concentrations in all metabolite classes tested responded significantly to inoculation with both classes of fungal endophytes. Changes were observed in various pigments, caffeic acid derivatives, alkylamides, and terpenes. Many of the affected compounds have important roles in metabolism or have bioactive value as natural products. When considered from a net production perspective (concentration X dry weight), compared to controls, plants inoculated with endophytes produced as much as 30 times the content of some compounds in 12 weeks. This work effectively demonstrates that fungal endophytes can enhance the bioactivity of plant tissues and the production of natural products in E. purpurea