title: Fate of selected estrogenic hormones in an urban sewage treatment plant in Tunisia (North Africa).
abstract: Estrogenic compounds have been monitored for one year at an urban sewage treatment plant (STP) located in Tunisia, to evaluate their fate and seasonal variations. The concentrations of these compounds were determined in both wastewater and sludge phases by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Results showed that the highest removal of all estrogens (≥80%) was observed in summer. Mass balance analysis revealed that biodegradation was the predominant removal mechanism. Moreover, the results showed that the removal efficiency of the studied emerging micropollutants and their concentrations in the solid phase of return sludge were much higher in winter and spring than in summer and autumn. These findings were closely related to microbial activity and the concentration of mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSSs). Finally, the findings can be used to help with the modifications that could be implemented in that STP for the improved removal of estrogenic contaminants.
authors.affiliation: University of Sfax-Tunisia, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Life Sciences, Laboratory of Biodiversity and Aquatic Ecosystems, Ecology and Planktonology, BP 117-3000, Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Dalel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Belhaj
authors.affiliation: University of Sfax-Tunisia, ENIS, Laboratory of Water-Energy-Environment, BP 1173-3038, Sfax, Tunisia. Electronic address: rym.baccar@tunet.tn.
authors.forename: Rim
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baccar
authors.affiliation: University of Sfax-Tunisia, ENIS, Laboratory of Water-Energy-Environment, BP 1173-3038, Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Ikram
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Jaabiri
authors.affiliation: University of Sfax-Tunisia, ENIS, Laboratory of Water-Energy-Environment, BP 1173-3038, Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Jalel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bouzid
authors.affiliation: University of Sfax-Tunisia, ENIS, Laboratory of Water-Energy-Environment, BP 1173-3038, Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Moneem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kallel
authors.affiliation: University of Sfax-Tunisia, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Life Sciences, Laboratory of Biodiversity and Aquatic Ecosystems, Ecology and Planktonology, BP 117-3000, Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Habib
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ayadi
authors.affiliation: University of Technology Sydney, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia.
authors.forename: John L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004967:Estrogens / Q000032:analysis*; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry; D014416:Tunisia; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D004967:Estrogens; D012722:Sewage; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Estrogenic contaminants; Fate; Micropollutants; Seasonal variation; Sewage treatment plant