Chemical monitoring and occurrence of alkylphenols, alkylphenol ethoxylates, alcohol ethoxylates, phthalates and benzothiazoles in sewage treatment plants and receiving waters along the Ter River basin (Catalonia, N. E. Spain)

Abstract

This study presents a quantitative estimation of the analysis and fate of several emerging pollutants, some of them endocrine-disrupting compounds, in surface water samples collected at several locations along the Ter River and two of its tributaries. Influent and effluent waters and particulate matter from five sewage treatment plants (STP) that discharge into these rivers were also studied. The target compounds analyzed were: nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEO), nonylphenol (NP), octylphenol (OP), bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates, alcohol ethoxylates (AEO) and benzothiazoles. Chemical analysis by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry using an electrospray interface (LC-ESI-MS) revealed the presence of low amounts (between 0.06 and 17.5 microg L(-1)) of the target compounds NPE(1+2)O and NP, which were detected in 100% and 84% of the samples respectively. Maximum concentrations occurred in the STPs associated with the municipalities of Vic and Girona. From the fate and behavior data obtained for the various compounds analyzed in the STP influent and effluent, we can conclude that the STPs are effective at removing large amounts (more than 70%) of the compounds studied from the water.

Flame ionization gas chromatographic determination of phthalate esters in water, surface sediments and fish species in the Ogun river catchments, Ketu, Lagos, Nigeria

“…However, the DEHP value of 255.0-480.0 μg/l falls within the range from a value not detectable (ND) to 2,306.8 μg/l reported for similar river water samples (Zeng et al 2008;Peijnenburg and Struijs 2006;Cespedes et al 2006;Fatoki and Noma 2000;Liu et al 2000;Staples et al 2000;Fatoki and Ogunfowokan 1993;Fatoki and Vernon 1990;Ritsema et al 1989;Goodley and Gordon 1976).…”

“…The occurrence of phthalate esters in aquatic media and biota have been reported by earlier workers (Blair et al 2009;Zeng et al 2008;Cespedes et al 2006;Li et al 2006;Labunska and Santillo 2004;Zhao et al 2004;Webster 2003; Staples et al 1997;Adams et al 1995;Hawker and Connel 1986;Waldock 1983).…”

“…These esters find their way into water bodies mainly through domestic, agricultural, and industrial effluent discharges, leaching from solid waste dumps and storm water runoffs (Cespedes et al 2006;Fatoki and Noma 2000;Liu et al 2000;Fatoki and Vernon 1990).…”

“…As a result of their widespread use and ability to leach from various products, phthalate esters are considered ubiquitous environmental contaminants (Blair et al 2009;Cespedes et al 2006;Labunska and Santillo 2004;Blount et al 2000).…”

Caracterização de contaminantes presentes em sistemas de tratamento de esgotos, por cromatografia líquida acoplada à espectrometria de massas tandem em alta resolução

“…De qualquer forma, os baixos percentuais de remoção observados no sistema anaeróbio-aeróbio sugerem que o tratamento biológico não seja eficaz na degradação desse agente plastificante com conhecidas propriedades de desregulação endócrina. 28 A Figura 3S, material suplementar, ilustra também que o tratamento anaeróbio se demonstrou pouco eficaz na remoção de bisfenol A (~16%), ao passo que o tratamento aeróbio reduziu sua concentração em cerca de 92%, independente do material suporte utilizado no filtro. Da mesma forma, West et al 29 relataram a efetiva biodegradabilidade aeróbia do poluente (60% da concentração inicial reduzida, em 8 dias) em testes de escala em laboratório, e Dorn et al 30 relataram que a mineralização do bisfenol A atingiu 50% no período de 4 dias, em amostras reais de efluentes e seus corpos d'água receptores.…”