Ecological and human health risk assessment of heavy metals in sewage sludge produced in Silesian Voivodeship, Poland: a case study.

This study aimed to assess the potential risks posed by heavy metals in sewage sludge (SS) produced by municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in the most industrialized region in Poland, the Silesian Voivodeship. The ecological risk was assessed using three indices: the Geoaccumulation Index (I), Potential Ecological Risk Factor (ER), and Risk Assessment Code (RAC), while the health risk was estimated by using carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk indices. The average concentrations of metals in the sludge samples were determined revealing that Zn was the predominant element, whereas Cd and Hg were present in the lowest concentrations.

The ecotoxicity and mutagenicity of fire water runoff from small-scale furnishing materials fire tests.

This study aimed to evaluate the ecotoxicity and mutagenicity of fire water runoff generated during fire operations in a closed non-production facility (apartment, house, warehouse, etc.). For this purpose, insulation and furnishing materials used, especially in houses and apartments, including wood (pine and oak), chipboard, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), and polyurethane foam, were burned.

Correction: Tytła, M. Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollution and Potential Ecological Risk in Sewage Sludge from Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Located in the Most Industrialized Region in Poland-Case Study. 2019, , 2430.

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A Comparison of Conventional and Ultrasound-Assisted BCR Sequential Extraction Methods for the Fractionation of Heavy Metals in Sewage Sludge of Different Characteristics.

The purpose of this study was to determine the heavy metal (HM: Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, and Hg) content in particular chemical fractions (forms) of sewage sludge with different characteristics (primary and dewatered sludge) using conventional (CSE) and ultrasound-assisted (USE) BCR sequential extraction methods (Community Bureau of Reference, now the Standards, Measurements and Testing Programme). The concentrations of HMs were determined using inductively coupled plasma optical spectrometry (ICP-OES). Only mercury was assayed with cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry (CVAAS).

Water Sorption by Different Types of Filter Media Used for Particulate Matter Collection Under Varying Temperature and Humidity Conditions.

The present study describes the effects of temperature and humidity on the level of water absorption by filter blanks most popularly used for gravimetric analyzes of particulate matter (PM) and the effects of those on the accuracy of its weight measurements. The main parts of the research quantified the effect of temperature and humidity conditions on water contents quartz fiber (Q), fiberglass (G), PTFE, and nylon (N) filters. Supplementary studies were conducted to estimate the effects of temperature, humidity and material on mass loss/gain and the shape of water retention.

Identification of the Chemical Forms of Heavy Metals in Municipal Sewage Sludge as a Critical Element of Ecological Risk Assessment in Terms of Its Agricultural or Natural Use.

The present study aimed to demonstrate that identification of the chemical forms of heavy metals in sewage sludge produced in municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) is a critical element of ecological risk assessment, especially in terms of its agricultural or natural use. The concentrations of seven heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn and Hg) were determined using inductively coupled plasma optical spectrometry (ICP-OES) and cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry (CV-AAS). The chemical forms of heavy metals were analyzed in accordance with the sequential extraction method proposed by the Community Bureau of Reference (BCR).

Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollution and Potential Ecological Risk in Sewage Sludge from Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Located in the Most Industrialized Region in Poland-Case Study.

This study aimed to assess the pollution and potential ecological risk of seven heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in the sewage sludge collected from a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), located in the most industrialized region of Poland (Silesian Voivodeship). The concentrations of heavy metals were determined using inductively coupled plasma optical spectrometry (ICP-OES) and cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry (CVAAS). The chemical forms (chemical speciation) of heavy metals were determined using the three-step chemical sequential extraction procedure, developed by the Community Bureau of Reference (BCR).

The Effects of Ultrasonic Disintegration as a Function of Waste Activated Sludge Characteristics and Technical Conditions of Conducting the Process-Comprehensive Analysis.

A comprehensive analysis of the effects obtained in the process of ultrasonic disintegration (UD) of waste activated sludge (WAS), was conducted. Sludge samples were collected periodically from Central Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) in Gliwice (Poland) and disintegrated in the two ultrasonic devices of different construction and technical parameters, i.e.

The impact of temporal variability of excess sludge characteristics on the effects obtained in the process of its ultrasonic disintegration.

This paper aimed to indicate the characteristics of excess sludge, which have the greatest impact on the effects obtained during its ultrasonic disintegration (UD). The direct and technological effects observed after sludge disintegration and anaerobic digestion (AD) depend on the factors affecting the quality of its matrix and simply on the parameters of a disintegrator. Sludge samples originate from a Central Waste Water Treatment Plant in Gliwice, and were collected after mechanical thickening by a monthly period.

Heavy metals and its chemical speciation in sewage sludge at different stages of processing.

The analysis of heavy metal concentrations and forms in sewage sludge constitutes an important issue in terms of both health and environmental hazards the metals pose. The total heavy metals concentration enables only the assessment of its contamination. Hence the knowledge of chemical forms is required to determine their environmental mobility and sludge final disposal.

Effects of ultrasonic disintegration of excess sludge obtained in disintegrators of different constructions.

The ultrasonic disintegration of excess sludge is placed after the mechanical thickening but before the digestion tanks in order to intensify the process of sludge stabilization. The effects obtained directly after ultrasonic disintegration depend on many factors and can be grouped in two main categories: factors affecting the quality of sludge and those associated with the construction of disintegrators and its parameters. The ultrasonic disintegration research was carried out using three types of structural solutions of disintegrators.