title: Laundry detergents as a source of heavy metals in Irish domestic wastewater.
abstract: Concentrations of Cd, Cu and Zn in 175 detergent samples representing twenty-one brands of washing powders were analysed. Mean concentrations of 3.03 (+/- 0.50) microg Cd/g, 2.61 (+/- 1.22) microg Cu/g and 15.23 (+/- 7.26) microg Zn/g were recorded. The concentration of cadmium was much lower than previously reported. The daily contribution of metals from laundry washing are in the order of 54.5 microg Cd/ca/d, 47.0 microg Cu/ca/d and 274.1 microg Zn/ca/d. In Irish municipal wastewater the contribution from detergents of these metals are 31.9% for Cd, 0.24% Cu and 0.30% for Zn. This has important implications for sewage sludge disposal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, Trinity College, University of Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Caitríona Níc
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Aonghusa
authors.forename: Nick F
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Gray
mesh_terms: D003902:Detergents / Q000737:chemistry*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D007494:Ireland; D007846:Laundering; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D012722:Sewage; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D003902:Detergents; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012722:Sewage; D014873:Water Pollutants