Influence of operating parameters on the biodegradation of steroid estrogens and nonylphenolic compounds during biological wastewater treatment processes

This document is the unedited author's version of a Submitted Work that was subsequently accepted for publication in Environmental Science & Technology, copyright © American Chemical Society after peer review. To access the final edited and published work see http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es901612v.This study investigated operational factors influencing the removal of steroid estrogens and nonylphenolic compounds in two sewage treatment works, one a nitrifying/denitrifying activated sludge plant and the other a nitrifying/denitrifying activated sludge plant with phosphorus removal. Removal efficiencies of >90% for steroid estrogens and for longer chain nonylphenol ethoxylates (NP4−12EO) were observed at both works, which had equal sludge ages of 13 days. However, the biological activity in terms of milligrams of estrogen removed per day per tonne of biomass was found to be 50−60% more efficient in the nitrifying/denitrifying activated sludge works compared to the works which additionally incorporated phosphorus removal. A temperature reduction of 6 °C had no impact on the removal of free estrogens, but removal of the conjugated estrone-3-sulfate was reduced by 20%. The apparent biomass sorption (LogKp) values were greater in the nitrifying/denitrifying works than those in the nitrifying/denitrifying works with phosphorus removal for both steroid estrogens and nonylphenolic compounds possibly indicating a different cell surface structure and therefore microbial population. The difference in biological activity (mg tonne−1 d−1) identified in this study, of up to seven times, suggests that there is the potential for enhancing the removal of estrogens and nonylphenols if more detailed knowledge of the factors responsible for these differences can be identified and maximized, thus potentially improving the quality of receiving waters.Public Utilities Board (Singapore), Anglian Water Ltd, Severn Trent Water Ltd, Thames Water Utilities Ltd, United Utilities 393 Plc and Yorkshire Water Services

The fate and behavior of selected endocrine disrupting chemicals in full scale wastewater and sludge treatment unit processes

Endocrine disrupting chemicals are discharged into the environment mainly through wastewater treatment processes. There is a need for better understanding of the fate of these compounds in the unit processes of treatment plant to optimize their removal. The fate of oestrone, 17β-estradiol, 17α-ethinyestradiol and nonylphenol in the unit processes of full scale wastewater treatment plants in the UK, including activated sludge plant, oxidation ditch, biofilter and rotating biological contractor were investigated. The overall removal efficiencies of all the compounds ranged from 41 % to 100 %. The removals were predominantly during the secondary biological treatment with the rates of removal related to the nitrification rates and the sludge age. The removal efficiency of the treatment processes were in the order activated sludge > oxidation ditch > biofilter > rotating biological contractors. Activated sludge plant configured for biological nutrient removal showed better removal of the endocrine disrupting chemicals compared to conventional activated sludge plant effluents. Tertiary treatment was also significant in the removal process through solids removal. Overall mechanisms of removal were biodegradation and sorption unto sludge biomass. Phytoremediation was also significant in the removal processes. The endocrine disrupting chemicals persisted in the anaerobic sludge digestion process with percentage removals ranging fro 10-48 %. Sorption of the endocrine disrupting chemicals onto the sludge increased with increasing values for the partitioning coefficients and the organic carbon contents of the sludge

Removal and fate of endocrine disruptors chemicals under lab-scalepostreatment stage. Removal assessment using light, oxygen and microalgae

[EN] The aim of this study was to assess the effect of light, oxygen and microalgae on micropollutants removal. The studied micropollutants were 4-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)phenol (OP), technical-nonylphenol (t-NP), 4-n-nonylphenol (4-NP), Bisphenol-A (BPA). In order to study the effect of the three variables on the micropollutants removal, a factorial design was developed. The experiments were carried out in four batch reactors which treated the effluent of an anaerobic membrane bioreactor. The gas chromatography mass spectrometry was used for the measurement of the micropollutants. The results showed that light, oxygen and microalgae affected differently to the degradation ratios of each micropollutant. The results showed that under aerated conditions removal ratios higher than 91% were achieved, whereas for non-aerated conditions the removal ratios were between 50% and 80%, except for 4-NP which achieved removal ratios close to 100%. Besides, mass balance showed that the degradation processes were more important than the sorption processes. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.This research work has been supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO, Projects CTM2011-28595-C02-01/02) jointly with the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), The Government of the Region of Valencia (Generalitat Valenciana), within the research project "Application of Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC on endocrine disruptors and priority substances in coastal areas in the Comunitat Valenciana" and by the Spanish Research Foundation (MINECO, project CTM2008-060809-C02-01/TECNO), within the research project "Feasibility of the SAnMBR technology to treat urban wastewater, and the technical and economic feasibility to industrial implementation" which are gratefully acknowledged.Abargues Llamas, MR.; Ferrer, J.; Bouzas Blanco, A.; Seco Torrecillas, A. (2013). Removal and fate of endocrine disruptors chemicals under lab-scalepostreatment stage. Removal assessment using light, oxygen and microalgae. Bioresource Technology. 149:142-148. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2013.09.051S14214814

La sensorialité, vecteur de communication avec des patients en éveil de coma ?

MédecineRésumé : Une personne cérébrolésée en éveil de coma présente des manifestations interactionnelles minimes. Communiquer avec elle requiert de dépasser ses propres représentations pour découvrir et entrer dans son mode d’interaction singulier. En nous appuyant sur la littérature, nous avons approfondi la notion de communication interperson-nelle et étudié les particularités de l’éveil de coma. Nous avons ensuite exploré l’approche senso-rielle, souvent préconisée pour la prise en charge de ces patients. Nous avons alors posé l’hypothèse que les sens constitueraient, chez un patient en état de conscience altérée, un révélateur et un vecteur d’une capacité à entrer en relation. Afin d’identifier les prémices d’une communication, nous avons élaboré un outil d’observation des réponses comportementales des patients, en réponse à des stimulations pluri-sensorielles. Les mani-festations systématiques observées chez les huit patients étudiés ont confirmé le bien-fondé de l’approche sensorielle. Malgré l’hétérogénéité des situations rencontrées, des tendances ont pu être dégagées. Les stimula-tions les plus effectives ont été des stimulations thermiques, tactiles et gustatives, sollicitant les zones buccale et péribuccale. Nous avons également observé, chez plusieurs patients, une réactivité accrue à des stimulations à caractère auto-référentiel, telles que l’appel du prénom, la présentation de photos et d’objets personnels, l’écoute de musique familière… Pour chaque patient, nous avons établi un « profil de réactivité », caractérisant sa sensibilité aux diverses modalités de sollicitations ainsi que ses modes de manifestations. Cela nous a conduite à ouvrir des pistes vers des propositions concrètes de situations de communication, qu’il conviendrait de mettre en œuvre.Abstract : Severely brain damaged patients awakening from coma show minimal levels of behavioral interac-tion. To communicate with them requires to get beyond one’s own representations in order to dis-cover their unique interaction mode. A literature study was conducted in three main directions: the interpersonal communication, the specificities of patients awakening from coma and the sensory approach which is often recommend-ed for coma arousal clinical management. This led us to hypothesize that senses could tell something about the capacity of a person with disorder of consciousness to establish relationship. In order to identify the beginnings of communication, we designed an assessment tool consisting in observing the behavioral responses to a series of multisensory stimulations. Behavioral signs were observed with each of the eight patients of the study, which confirmed the relevance of the sensory approach. Despite the heterogeneity of the encountered situations, trends could be derived. The stimulations involving the mouth area were the most effective ones: those were thermal, tactile and taste stimula-tions. Besides, increased response levels were observed after stimulations with self-referential va-lence, such as the personal name, personal pictures and objects, a familiar music … For each patient, a « reactivity profile » was established, aimed at characterizing her/his sensitivity to given stimulation modes and her/his behavioral modes. Paths were provided towards concrete propositions of communication situations

Évaluation et gestion des risques en production d'eau potable. application au cas des médicaments et perturbateurs endocriniens

Les médicaments et substances à effet perturbateur endocrinien ne font l'objet d'aucune réglementation spécifique dans l'eau potable, en Europe. La question de l'introduction dans la réglementation de valeurs paramétriques, pour les perturbateurs endocriniens, a été débattue à l'occasion du séminaire organisé par la Commission Européenne pour la révision de la directive 98/83/CE, en octobre 2003. A l'issue de ces débats, il a été considéré que l'introduction de valeurs paramétriques pour ces substances n'était pas recommandée, et qu'une approche par évaluation et gestion des risques, basée sur les principes HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points), telle que proposée par l'Organisation Mondiale de la Santé, était plus appropriée pour maîtriser les risques liés à ces composés. Les connaissances disponibles aujourd'hui sur les voies de diffusion de ces composés dans le cycle de l'eau, et sur les performances d'abattement des étapes de production d'eau potable, permettent en effet de mettre en oeuvre une telle approche

Monitoring and treatment of selected nanoparticles

With their increasing use, nanoparticles will become concentrated in urban effluents in the future. Both adequate monitoring methods and water treatment technologies will be necessary to assess and avoid consumer exposure. This paper reports results in these two challenging areas for both organic and inorganic nanoparticles. Treatment experiments indicate that lamellar settling is better adapted than dissolved air flotation for SiO2 nanoparticles removal. The use of 120 mg/L of Aqualenc coagulant without flocculant addition allows 99% removal to be achieved for an initial concentration of 1 g/L. On the other hand, the dissolved air flotation process implemented under the usual industrial conditions does not permit removal of SiO2 nanoparticles. In this case SiO2 removal occurs only by settling in the flocculator tank. Application of a high resolution liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) technique to a small selection of treated urban effluents indicates that C60 fullerenes are not yet widely distributed in effluents; however non-point sources cannot be entirely ruled out.</jats:p

Analysis of drugs and personal care products in French source and drinking waters: the analytical challenge and examples of application

This paper illustrates the challenge faced by analytical chemists when trying to measure selected compounds representative of various classes of prescription and hospital drugs. Because hundreds of drugs belonging to a wide variety of chemical groups are allowed for use, an array of analytical methods has to be implemented. As an example, as part of the European Poseidon Project, five different methods were required to measure eight drugs and personal care products. These methods are discussed in detail. Examples of application to surface and ground waters from the Paris area are also reported. The antibiotics roxithromycin and sulfamethoxazole were detected for the first time in the Seine River downstream of Paris. The behaviour of the eight target compounds during aquifer recharge and drinking water treatment is described. An incident involving the detection of micrograms per litre levels of the personal care product Galaxolide in a drinking water distribution system is reported. The value of the pharmaceuticals and personal care products selected as potential indicators is also discussed.</jats:p