Fate of selected pharmaceuticals and personal care products after secondary wastewater treatment processes in Taiwan

Abstract

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) constitute a class of chemicals of emerging concern due to the potential risks they pose to organisms and the environment, even at low concentrations (ng/L). Recent studies have found that PPCPs are not efficiently removed in secondary wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). This study has: (1) simultaneously investigated the occurrence of sixty-one PPCPs using solid phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, (2) evaluated removal efficiencies of target PPCPs in six WWTPs that discharge effluents into major Taiwanese rivers, and lastly (3) examined matrix interference during analysis of target PPCPs in water samples. The twenty target PPCPs were chosen for their high detection frequencies, high influent concentrations, and stability during wastewater treatment processes. Caffeine and acetaminophen were detected at the highest concentrations (as high as 24,467 and 33,400 ng/L) and were effectively removed (both >96%); other PPCPs were detected in the high ng/L range but were not effectively removed. Matrix interference (by ion suppression or enhancement) during the analysis resulted in underestimation of the removal efficiencies of erythromycin-H(2)O, cefazolin, clarithromycin, ibuprofen, diclofenac, clofibric acid and gemfibrozil.

Major pharmaceutical residues in wastewater treatment plants and receiving waters in Bangkok, Thailand, and associated ecological risks

“…The per capita consumption of CAF drinks in Bangkok was reported around 20.12 L in 2006 (Ministry of Finance, 2007). However, the average level of CAF (2250 ng L À1 ) in Bangkok in the present study is lower than those reported in other countries such as South Korea, Spain, USA, and Taiwan (2600-48,700 ng L À1 ) (Carballaa et al, 2004;Spongberg and Witter, 2008;Choi et al, 2008b;Lin et al, 2010;Sim et al, 2010). IBP was detected at the third highest average concentration, i.e., 702 ng L À1 with a range between 385 and 1340 ng L À1 .…”

Impact of chemical cleaning on the nanofiltration of pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs): The role of cleaning temperature

“…A major challenge in water reuse, particularly for indirect or direct potable purposes, is the reliable removal of health-concerning trace organic contaminants such as pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs). These low molecular contaminants are widely detected in secondary treated effluent and sewage impacted water bodies [2][3][4][5]. The occurrence of PhACs in the aquatic environment is of significant concern given their high pharmaceutically active properties, which can cause possible adverse effects upon human health and the ecosystem [4][5][6].…”

Integrated multi-omics analyses reveal the biochemical mechanisms and phylogenetic relevance of anaerobic androgen biodegradation in the environment

“…Along with domestic water, DHSTP receives industrial, medical and livestock wastewater as well as groundwater (Lin et al, 2009). The hydraulic retention time is~10 h, and the effluent is discharged into Tamsui River, the largest in Taipei and its suburbs (Lin et al, 2010). The plant is designed as an anoxic/oxic process for carbon and nitrogen removal (see Lin et al (2009 and for detailed information).…”