title: Identifying model pollutants to investigate biodegradation of hazardous XOCs in WWTPs.
abstract: Xenobiotic organic compounds (XOCs) in wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents might cause toxic effects in ecosystems. Several investigations have emphasized biodegradation as an important removal mechanism to reduce pollution with XOCs from WWTP effluents. The aim of the study was to design a screening tool to identify and select hazardous model pollutants for the further investigation of biodegradation in WWTPs. The screening tool consists of three criteria: The XOC is present in WWTP effluents, the XOC constitutes an intolerable risk in drinking water or the environment, and the XOC is expected to be biodegradable in WWTPs. The screening tool was tested on bisphenol A (BPA), carbamazepine (CBZ), di(2ethylhexyl)-phthalate (DEHP), 17beta-estradiol (E2), estrone (E1), 17alpha-ethinyloetradiol (EE2), ibuprofen, naproxen, nonylphenol (NP), and octylphenol (OP). BPA, DEHP, E2, E1, EE2, and NP passed all criteria in the screening tool and were selected as model pollutants. OP did not pass the filter and was rejected as model pollutant. CBZ, ibuprofen, and naproxen were not finally evaluated due to insufficient data.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environment and Resources, Technical University of Denmark Building 115, 2800 Lyngby, Denmark. kpk@er.dtu.dk
authors.forename: Kaare
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Press-Kristensen
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ledin
authors.forename: Jens Ejbye
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Mogens
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Henze
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000145:classification; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000145:classification; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000145:classification*; D015262:Xenobiotics / Q000145:classification
chemical_list: D015386:Hazardous Substances; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D015262:Xenobiotics