Aerosol-bound emissions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and sterols from aeration tanks of a municipal waste water treatment plant.
Aeration tanks of wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) are a potential source of atmospheric aerosol particles. Several groups of organic compounds (sterols, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, estrogens) were analyzed in aerosol particles sampled at a municipal WWTP, and the particle size distribution was measured directly with optical particle counters. Aerosol emissions from an activated treatment tank equipped with fine bubble diffusers were low; however, at the preaeration tank equipped with coarse bubble diffusers, sterol concentrations up to 14 ng m(-3) were measured. Directly next to the tank, sterols were associated mainly to particles with aerodynamic diameter >1.35 microm. The results suggest that coprostanol could be a useful tracer for monitoring the emission of aerosol particles from WWTPs. Moreover, wastewater treatment could contribute substantially to the atmospheric concentrations of cholesterol and 24-ethylcholesterol. Aeration tanks with fine bubble diffusers are no major source of atmospheric aerosol particles, whereas coarse bubbling devices seem to emit considerable amounts of aerosol particles.
Radke
Michael
M
Chair of Hydrology, University of Bayreuth, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany. michael.radke@uni-bayreuth.de
Herrmann
Reimer
R
D000336:Aerosols; D000388:Air / Q000592:standards; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005858:Germany; D010316:Particle Size; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D013261:Sterols / Q000032:analysis*; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*
D000336:Aerosols; D000393:Air Pollutants; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D013261:Sterols