Removal capacity and pathways of phenolic endocrine disruptors in an estuarine wetland of natural reed bed.
Phenolic compounds are partly known as endocrine disruptors with various harmful effects including feminization and carcinogenesis at very low concentrations. Consequently, the pathways and removal of these compounds in natural and artificial sewage treatment systems such as wetlands have received wide concern. In this paper, a natural reed bed wetland with an area of 695ha located in the Liaohe River estuary in Northeast China was employed as a demonstration site to study the retention and removal efficiency of phenolic compounds including 4-nonylphenol (4-NP), bisphenol A (BPA), 4-t-octylphenol (4-t-OP), and 2,4-dichlorophenol (DCP), and to evaluate their purification capacity via water and mass balance analyses during an irrigation period from May 9 to September 8, 2009. The results showed that the phenolic compounds could be retained in the wetland system and removed through various processes. On average, 27.5% of phenolic compounds could be retained by the wetland substrate during the initial three-day irrigation period with a retention capacity order of 4-t-OP>4-NP>BPA>DCP. During the following 120d irrigation period, the phenolic compounds could be efficiently removed with an average percentage of 91.6%. It is estimated that 1.76kgd(-1) of phenolic compounds could be removed by the Liaohe River estuarine wetland (∼8×10(4)ha). The reed bed wetland system therefore provides a feasible mitigation option for phenolic pollutants in sewage and wastewater.
College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, PR China.
Lina
L
Yang
Zhengyan
Z
Li
Li
L
Zou
Huiwang
H
Gao
D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000737:chemistry; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D053833:Wetlands
D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D010636:Phenols; D012722:Sewage; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical