[Pharmwaste] WERF Research Sheds New Light on Fate of Trace Organics in Wastewater Treatment

[DeBiasi, Deborah (DEQ)]

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WERF Research Sheds New Light on Fate of Trace Organics in Wastewater
Treatment
Researchers for a recently completed WERF project have identified key
baseline information concerning the estrogenicity and concentrations of
individual trace organic compounds during common wastewater treatment
processes. The project, Fate of Estrogenic Compounds During Municipal
Sludge Stabilization and Dewatering (04HHE6), is one of the first
research efforts to look specifically at the fate of these compounds
throughout the solids phase of treatment. The results shed new light on
the occurrence, concentration, characteristics, and potency of
estrogenic compounds that preferentially partition onto solids during
common wastewater treatment processes.
A multi-disciplinary team of experts from AECOM, the U.S. Geological
Survey, and the University of Arizona collected samples at four
full-scale wastewater treatment plants over two years. They calculated
the amounts of trace organics and estrogenic activity for each sample
point in the treatment process, enabling them to gauge their levels as
they moved through the plants. The estrogenic activity is made up of
steroidal hormones and synthetic estrogenic compounds.
Out of the suite of 100 compounds measured, and based on the Model of
Concentration Addition, nearly all of the estrogenicity in all plants
and all dates was due to the presence of 16 compounds, namely the
steroidal compounds (mainly estrange and estradiol) and the alkylphenols
(mainly nonylphenol and short chain ethoxylates).
The study reached a number of significant conclusions concerning
estrogenicity throughout the wastewatewater treatment process:
*	For all plants, the total estrogenicity leaving the plant was
less than that entering the plant (see Figure 1).
*	The total estrogenicity leaving the plant in the biosolids
generally was greater than that leaving the plant in the secondary
treated effluent (see Figure 1).
*	Aerobic digestion reduced estrogenicity.
*	Both mesophilic and thermophilic anaerobic digestion increased
estrogenicity, as did lime stabilization. The research team attributed
the increase in estrogenicity during anaerobic digestion processes to
transformation of some of the compounds into a more estrogenically
potent form.
*	Although the contribution to total estrogenicity by
non-steroidal, synthetic compounds (e.g. alkylphenols) varied from plant
to plant, the results indicate they can be a major contributor and
cannot be ignored in favor of only focusing on steroidal hormones.
WERF recently completed its State-of-the-Science Review of Occurrence
and Physical, Chemical and Biological Processes Affecting
Biosolids-Borne Trace Organic Chemicals in Soils (SRSK5T09), which
begins to identify the data needed to determine the significance of
trace organic chemicals (including those having estrogenic activity) in
biosolids-amended soils. This state-of-the-science report will be
available for distribution in August. WERF researchers will build on the
findings in these two reports with the upcoming research challenge Trace
Organics in Biosolids.
 Figure 1.	
 	
 Average Daily Mass Fluxes (mol EE2-equivalents/day) of Estrogenicity at
Plant B
(Based on the Model of Concentration Addition).	


Deborah L. DeBiasi 
Email:   Deborah.DeBiasi at deq.virginia.gov (NEW!)
WEB site address:  www.deq.virginia.gov 
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality 
Office of Water Permit and Compliance Assistance Programs 
Industrial Pretreatment/Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) Program 
PPCPs, EDCs, and Microconstituents
www.deq.virginia.gov/vpdes/microconstituents.html 
Mail:          P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, VA  23218 
Location:  629 E. Main Street, Richmond, VA  23219 
PH:         804-698-4028 
FAX:      804-698-4032 


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