Nowadays, two of the endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) in the group of alkylphenols (APs), nonylphenol (4-NP) and octylphenol (4-t-OP), have attracted great scientific and regulatory attention mainly due to concerns about their aquatic toxicity and endocrine disrupting activity. This paper investigated the occurrence, distribution behavior, fate, and removal of 4-NP and 4-t-OP in liquid and solid phases of three full-scale wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) with different treatment technologies comparatively. In this context, (i) advanced biological WWTP, (ii) wastewater stabilization pond (WSP), and (iii) constructed wetland (CW) were utilized.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOne of the most consumed pharmaceutical subgroups across the world is nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). However, the dissemination of these compounds to the natural environments through agronomic practices is a serious global problem. The hypothesis of this study is to reveal the transition of selected NSAIDs, paracetamol (PAR), diclofenac (DCF), ibuprofen (IBU), and naproxen (NAP) together with six main metabolites, detected in raw/treated wastewater (RWW/TWW) and sewage sludge generated in an urban wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) to soils and agricultural crops (corn, barley, sunflower, and sugar beet) through two widely applied agronomic practices, irrigation with TWW and application of sewage sludge as soil amendment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPhthalate Esters (PAEs), detected in high concentrations generally in treated wastewater discharged from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), are important pollutants that restrict the reuse of wastewater. Investigating the fate of these endocrine-disrupting chemicals in WWTPs is crucial in order to protect both receiving environments and ecosystems. For this purpose, di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), di-n-octyl phthalate (DNOP) and benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) in the group of PAEs were monitored in simultaneously both in wastewater and sludge lines of selected two nature-based WWTPs and one advanced biological WWTP.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPassing of pharmaceutical residues into environment in an uncontrolled manner as a result of continuous increase in drug consumption across the globe has become a threatening problem for the ecosystems and almost all living creatures. In this study, diclofenac (DCF), carbamazepine (CBZ), 17β-estradiol (17β-E2) and 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2) belonging to different therapeutic classes were investigated simultaneously in advanced biological treatment and nature-based treatments during 12-months sampling campaign. In this context, behavior patterns of pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) throughout the both wastewater and sludge lines in advanced biological wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), wastewater stabilization pond (WSP) and constructed wetland (CW) were discussed in detail based on each treatment processes seasonally.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compounds which have been accepted as priority micropollutants by European Union (EU) were analyzed both in wastewater and sludge lines throughout three full scale (located in city, sub-province and village) WWTPs during 12-month sampling period. Investigated WWTPs have different treatment types including advanced biological treatment, stabilization pond (SP) and constructed wetland (CW). Removal efficiencies for total PAH compounds varied from 48% in CW to 85% in advanced biological treatment plant.
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