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

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

Development of a common priority list of pharmaceuticals relevant for the water cycle

Pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs), including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, drugs used in hospitals and veterinary drugs, have been found throughout the water cycle. A desk study was initiated by the Global Water Research Coalition to consolidate a uniform selection of such compounds in order to judge risks of PhACs for the water cycle. By identifying major existing prioritization efforts and evaluating the criteria they use, this study yields a representative and qualitative profile (‘umbrella view’) of priority pharmaceuticals based on an extensive set of criteria. This can then be used for further studies on analytical methods, occurrence, treatability and potential risks associated with exposure to PhACs in water supply, identifying compounds most likely to be encountered and that may have significant impact on human health. For practical reasons, the present study excludes veterinary drugs. The pragmatic approach adopted provides an efficient tool to manage risks related to pharmaceuticals and provides assistance for selecting compounds for future studies

Managing the risk of emerging algae toxins in drinking water: Development of a targeted analytical approach.

International audienceThe objective of the study was to identify appropriate analytical scenarios to assess the release of emerging toxins in water resources and manage the risk for drinking water. A comprehensive toolbox was developed for the monitoring of cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins in ten water resources used for drinking water production and known for regular algae blooms. Six toxins - microcystins, cylindrospermopsin, anatoxins, nodularin, saxitoxin and BMAA - were targeted. High performance HPLC-MS/MS methods were implemented in parallel with rapid kits and a real-time PCR method was developed to identify specifically the microcystin producing species. Those analytical methods were found in good agreement and very sensitive and selective. Low levels of eutrophication were obtained during those campaigns leading to limited occurrence of toxins. Results obtained on one site are detailed in this paper. Finally, recommendations could be drawn to manage the risk related to various emerging algae toxins, based on the use of a phycocyanin probe on-site as early-warning system. When a threshold value is reached, treatment and monitoring strategies are implemented in parallel