Steroid estrogens in primary and tertiary wastewater treatment plants

Abstract

The concentrations of two natural estrogens (estrone (E1) and Estradiol (E2)) and one synthetic progestin (Ethinylestradiol (EE2)) were measured for different unit operations in an advanced sewage treatment plant and in a large coastal enhanced primary sewage treatment plant. The average influent concentration to both plants was similar: 55 and 53 ng/L for E1 and 22 and 12 ng/L for E2 for the advanced and enhanced primary STPs, respectively. The activated sludge process at the advanced STP removed up to 85% and 96% of E1 and E2, respectively. The enhanced primary sewage treatment plant was mostly ineffective at removing the steroids with only 14% of E1 and 5% of E2 being removed during the treatment process. EE2 was not been detected during the study period in the influent or effluent of either STP. The difference in the observed removal between the two plants is primarily linked to plant performance but the extent to which removal of steroid estrogens is due to bacterial metabolism (i.e. the advanced STP) rather than adsorption to the bacterial biomass remains unclear. The poor removal observed for the coastal enhanced primary STP may have implications for the receiving environment in terms of a greater potential for abnormal reproductive systems in marine animals, particularly if discharges are into large bays or harbours where flushing is limited.

Production of a bioflocculant from chromotropic acid waste water and its application in steroid estrogen removal

“…So far, the occurrence and removal of estrogens in WTPs have been reported in many studies around the world [3]. As conventional processes in municipal wastewater treatment plants are not able to eliminate estrogens to an ineffective level [4], advanced treatment processes is needed to minimize the discharge of those estrogens. Therefore, the application of flocculation products.…”

17 β-estradiol and 17 α-ethinylestradiol mineralization in sewage sludge and biosolids

“…[4] Consequently, EE2 and E2 have been detected in sewage sludge and biosolids at concentrations ranging from 0.4 to 18 mg kg ¡1 for EE2 and from 0.2 to 49 mg kg ¡1 for E2. [5][6][7][8][9] Antibiotics have also been detected in sewage sludge and biosolids. [10][11] Ciprofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic that is commonly administered to humans in treating urinary tract and intestinal infections.…”

Influence of operational parameters (sludge retention time and hydraulic residence time) on the removal of estrogens by membrane bioreactor

“…Baronti et al (2000), Johnson and Sumpter (2001), Fujii et al (2002), Andersen et al (2003), Svenson et al (2003), Williams et al (2003) and Braga et al (2005) reported that activated sludge systems can remove 10-95% of estrogens in municipal wastewater. Consequently, there is a need to consider advanced processes, such as membrane bioreactor (MBR), as a viable option for the removal of these compounds.…”