Integrated Treatment of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Existing Wastewater Treatment Plants-Scoping the Potential of Foam Partitioning.

Foam fractionation is becoming increasingly popular as a treatment technology for water contaminated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). At many existing wastewater treatment facilities, particularly in aerated treatment steps, foam formation is frequently observed. This study aimed to investigate if foam fractionation for the removal of PFAS could be integrated with such existing treatment processes.

Seasonal trends and retention of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) in a remote sub-Arctic catchment.

Atmospheric deposition is the most dominant source of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in remote and pristine areas. Despite low bioaccumulation potential, PAHs and their persistent transformation products (PAH-derivatives) are chemicals of concern as they can harm human and animal health through chronic low dose exposure. In this study, atmospheric deposition fluxes of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) were measured on a seasonal basis (3-month periods) from 2012 to 2016 in a remote subarctic forest catchment in northern Europe.

Capping fiberbank sediments to reduce persistent organic pollutants (POPs) fluxes: A large-scale laboratory column experiment.

Deposits of contaminated wood fiber waste (fiberbanks), originating from sawmills and pulp and paper industries, have been found in the aquatic environment in boreal countries. In-situ isolation capping has been proposed as a remediation solution because it has the potential to prevent dispersal of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) from this type of sediment. However, knowledge about the performance of such caps when placed on very soft (unconsolidated), gaseous organic rich sediment is scarce.

Analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their derivatives in biochar treated stormwater.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), oxygenated PAHs (oxy-PAHs) and nitrogen heterocyclic polycyclic aromatic compounds (N-PACs) are persistent and semi-volatile organic compounds primarily formed due to incomplete combustion of organic material or, in the case of the derivatives, through transformation reactions of PAHs. Their presence in the environment is ubiquitous and many of them have been proven carcinogenic, teratogenic, and mutagenic. These toxic pollutants can therefore pose a threat to both ecosystem and human health and urges for remediation strategies for PAHs and derivatives from water bodies.

Mass flow of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in a Swedish municipal wastewater network and wastewater treatment plant.

PER: and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitously distributed in wastewater, due to their numerous uses in industry and consumer products, but little is known of PFAS mass flows in municipal wastewater network systems and within wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). This study assessed mass flows of 26 PFAS in a wastewater network and WWTP, to provide new insights into their sources, transport, and fate in different treatment steps. Wastewater and sludge samples were collected from pumping stations and the main WWTP in Uppsala, Sweden.

Hazard screening of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in Sweden's three largest lakes and their associated rivers.

Persistent, mobile, and toxic (PMT) substances have recently garnered increased attention by environmental researchers, the water sector and environmental protection agencies. In this study, acute and chronic species sensitivity distributions (SSDs) were retrieved from literature data for previously quantified contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in Swedish surface waters (n = 92) and risk quotients (RQ) were calculated. To better understand the characteristics of the detected CECs in non-urban lake sites (n = 71), these compounds were checked against established criteria for potentially toxic PMs (PM(T)s) and occurrence in the aquatic environment, respectively.

Electrochemical Oxidation for Treatment of PFAS in Contaminated Water and Fractionated Foam-A Pilot-Scale Study.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent synthetic contaminants that are present globally in water and are exceptionally difficult to remove during conventional water treatment processes. Here, we demonstrate a practical treatment train that combines foam fractionation to concentrate PFAS from groundwater and landfill leachate, followed by an electrochemical oxidation (EO) step to degrade the PFAS. The study combined an up-scaled experimental approach with thorough characterization strategies, including target analysis, PFAS sum parameters, and toxicity testing.

The interplay among HIV, monocytes/macrophages, and extracellular vesicles: a systematic review.

Despite effective antiretroviral therapies, chronic inflammation and spontaneous viral "blips" occur in HIV-infected patients. Given the roles for monocytes/macrophages in HIV pathogenesis and extracellular vesicles in intercellular communication, we performed this systematic review to delineate the triad of HIV, monocytes/macrophages, and extracellular vesicles in the modulation of immune activation and HIV activities. We searched PubMed, Web of Science, and EBSCO databases for published articles, up to 18 August 2022, relevant to this triad.

Foam fractionation for removal of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances: Towards closing the mass balance.

Foam fractionation has recently attracted attention as a low-cost and environmentally benign treatment technology for water contaminated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). However, data on the mass balance over the foam fractionation process are scarce and when available, gaps in the mass balance are often identified. This study verified the high treatment efficiency of a pilot-scale foam fractionation system for removal of PFAS from industrial water contaminated with aqueous film-forming foam.

Enhancing spectral quality in complex environmental matrices: Supporting suspect and non-target screening in zebra mussels with ion mobility.

Identification of bioaccumulating contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) via suspect and non-target screening remains a challenging task. In this study, ion mobility separation with high-resolution mass spectrometry (IM-HRMS) was used to investigate the effects of drift time (DT) alignment on spectrum quality and peak annotation for screening of CECs in complex sample matrices using data independent acquisition (DIA). Data treatment approaches (Binary Sample Comparison) and prioritisation strategies (Halogen Match, co-occurrence of features in biota and the water phase) were explored in a case study on zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) in Lake Mälaren, Sweden's largest drinking water reservoir.

Seasonal trends of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in river water affected by fire training sites and wastewater treatment plants.

Fire-fighting training areas and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are potential sources of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) to the nearby aquatic environment. This study investigated seasonal variations of PFAS levels in two river catchments in Sweden; one impacted by Stockholm Arlanda Airport (Sites 1 and 2), and the other by WWTPs and a military airport (Uppsala) (Sites 3 and 4). ƩPFAS concentrations were up to 61 (Sites 1 and 2) and 4 (Sites 3 and 4) times higher compared to the reference site.

Long-distance transport of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in a Swedish drinking water aquifer.

Use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS)-containing aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF) at firefighting training sites (FFTS) has been linked to PFAS contamination of drinking water. This study investigated PFAS transport and distribution in an urban groundwater aquifer used for drinking water production that has been affected by PFAS-containing AFFF. Soil, sediment, surface water and drinking water were sampled.

Pilot-Scale Continuous Foam Fractionation for the Removal of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) from Landfill Leachate.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are of concern for their ubiquity in the environment combined with their persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic properties. Landfill leachate is often contaminated with these chemicals, and therefore, the development of cost-efficient water treatment technologies is urgently needed. The present study investigated the applicability of a pilot-scale foam fractionation setup for the removal of PFAS from natural landfill leachate in a novel continuous operating mode.

Spatial distribution and load of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in background soils in Sweden.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are known to be persistent, bioaccumulative, and have adverse health effects, but very little is known about PFAS in the terrestrial environment and factors influencing their distribution. This paper presents one of the first comprehensive studies investigating PFAS (n = 28) in background forest soils (n = 27) on national scale across Sweden. The results showed that 16 of 28 target PFAS were present and all sites contained at least three PFAS compounds, with total concentrations ranging between 0.

Application of a novel prioritisation strategy using non-target screening for evaluation of temporal trends (1969-2017) of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in archived lynx muscle tissue samples.

Most environmental monitoring studies of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) focus on aquatic species and target specific classes of CECs. Even with wide-scope target screening methods, relevant CECs may be missed. In this study, non-target screening (NTS) was used for tentative identification of potential CECs in muscle tissue of the terrestrial top predator Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx).

Novel prioritisation strategies for evaluation of temporal trends in archived white-tailed sea eagle muscle tissue in non-target screening.

Environmental monitoring studies based on target analysis capture only a small fraction of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) and miss pollutants potentially harmful to wildlife. Environmental specimen banks, with their archived samples, provide opportunities to identify new CECs by temporal trend analysis and non-target screening. In this study, archived white-tailed sea eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) muscle tissue was analysed by non-targeted high-resolution mass spectrometry.

Profiles of environmental antibiotic resistomes in the urban aquatic recipients of Sweden using high-throughput quantitative PCR analysis.

Antibiotic resistance in aquatic ecosystems presents an environmental health issue worldwide. Urban recipient water quality is susceptible to effluent discharges with antibiotic resistance contaminants and needs to be protected, particularly for those as sources of drinking water production. Knowledge on aquatic resistome profiles in downstream of wastewater treatment plants allows a better understanding of the extent to which antibiotic resistance contaminants emerge and spread in recipient waters, but such information remains very limited in Sweden.

Characterization of polycyclic aromatic compounds in historically contaminated soil by targeted and non-targeted chemical analysis combined with in vitro bioassay.

Soil samples from a contaminated site in Sweden were analyzed to identify the presence of 78 polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The target analysis revealed large contributions not only from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), but also from alkylated- and oxygenated-PAHs (alkyl- and oxy-PAHs, respectively), and N-heterocyclics (NPACs). PAC profiles indicated primarily pyrogenic sources, although contribution of petrogenic sources was also observed in one sample as indicated by a high ratio of alkylated naphthalene compared to naphthalene.

Identification of Pesticide Transformation Products in Surface Water Using Suspect Screening Combined with National Monitoring Data.

Pesticides are widespread anthropogenic chemicals and well-known environmental contaminants of concern. Much less is known about transformation products (TPs) of pesticides and their presence in the environment. We developed a novel suspect screening approach for not well-explored pesticides ( = 16) and pesticide TPs ( = 242) by integrating knowledge from national monitoring with high-resolution mass spectrometry data.

Mining chemical information in Swedish wastewaters for simultaneous assessment of population consumption, treatment efficiency and environmental discharge of illicit drugs.

Consumption of illicit drugs poses health risks to the public and environment. Knowledge on their usage helps better implementations of intervention strategies to reduce drug-related harms in the society and also policies to limit their releases as emerging contaminants to recipient environments. This study aimed to investigate from the daily consumption to treatment efficiency and subsequent discharge of illicit drugs by the Swedish urban populations based on simultaneous collection and analysis of influent and effluent wastewater.