Effect of biological and chemical oxidation on the removal of estrogenic compounds (NP and BPA) from wastewater: an integrated assessment procedure

Water Res. 2011 Apr;45(8):2473-84. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2011.01.026. Epub 2011 Feb 19.

Abstract

A major source of the wide presence of EDCs (Endocrine Disrupting Compounds) in water bodies is represented by direct/indirect discharge of sewage. Recent scientific literature reports data about their trace concentration in water, sediments and aquatic organisms, as well as removal efficiencies of different wastewater treatment schemes. Despite the availability of a huge amount of data, some doubts still persist due to the difficulty in evaluating synergistic effects of trace pollutants in complex matrices. In this paper, an integrated assessment procedure was used, based on chemical and biological analyses, in order to compare the performance of two full scale biological wastewater treatment plants (either equipped with conventional settling tanks or with an ultrafiltration membrane unit) and tertiary ozonation (pilot scale). Nonylphenol and bisphenol A were chosen as model EDCs, together with the parent compounds mono- and di-ethoxylated nonylphenol (quantified by means of GC-MS). Water estrogenic activity was evaluated by applying the human breast cancer MCF-7 based reporter gene assay. Process parameters (e.g., sludge age, temperature) and conventional pollutants (e.g., COD, suspended solids) were also measured during monitoring campaigns. Conventional activated sludge achieved satisfactory removal of both analytes and estrogenicity. A further reduction of biological activity was exerted by MBR (Membrane Biological Reactor) as well as ozonation; the latter contributed also to decrease EDC concentrations.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Benzhydryl Compounds
  • Bioreactors
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Endocrine Disruptors / chemistry*
  • Endocrine Disruptors / metabolism
  • Endocrine Disruptors / toxicity
  • Humans
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Ozone / chemistry
  • Phenols / analysis
  • Phenols / chemistry*
  • Phenols / metabolism
  • Phenols / toxicity
  • Waste Disposal, Fluid / methods*
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / chemistry*
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / metabolism
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / toxicity

Substances

  • Benzhydryl Compounds
  • Endocrine Disruptors
  • Phenols
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Ozone
  • nonylphenol
  • bisphenol A