The impact of variations of influent loading on the efficacy of an advanced tertiary sewage treatment plant to remove endocrine disrupting chemicals.
The impact of changes in influent load on the removal of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) by sewage treatment has not been fully characterised. This study assessed the efficacy of an advanced tertiary sewage treatment plant (STP) to remove EDCs during normal and peak flow events of sewage influent using trace chemical analysis of selected EDCs and four estrogenic in vitro bioassays. During the summer holiday season, influent volume increased by 68%, nutrient concentrations by at least 26% and hydraulic retention time was reduced by 40% compared with base flow conditions. Despite these pressures on the treatment system the concentrations and mass loading of estrone, 17β-estradiol, estriol, Bisphenol A, 4-t-octylphenol and technical nonylphenol were not significantly higher (p>0.05) during the peak flow conditions compared with base flow conditions. Chemical analysis and in vitro bioassays showed that the efficacy of the STP in removing EDCs was not affected by the different loadings between baseline and peak flow regimes. This study demonstrates that large flow variations within the design capacity of advanced multi-stage STPs should not reduce the removal efficacy of EDCs.
School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology, Sydney, (UTS), PO Box 123, Broadway NSW, 2007, Australia.
Lisa A
LA
Hamilton
Cawthron Institute, Private Bag 2, Nelson 7042, New Zealand; School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand. Electronic address: louis.tremblay@cawthron.org.nz.
Louis A
LA
Tremblay
Northcott Research Consultants Limited, 20 River Oaks Place, Hamilton 3200, New Zealand.
Grant L
GL
Northcott
Veolia Water Australia, Level 4, Bay Centre, 65 Pirrama Road, Pyrmont, NSW 2009, Australia.
Michael
M
Boake
School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology, Sydney, (UTS), PO Box 123, Broadway NSW, 2007, Australia.
Richard P
RP
Lim
D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000032:analysis; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000032:analysis*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000032:analysis; D004964:Estriol / Q000032:analysis; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D004958:Estradiol; D004964:Estriol; D010636:Phenols; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C025256:nonylphenol; C080417:4-octylphenol; C006780:bisphenol A; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
Analytical chemistry; E-screen; ERBA; Microfiltration; Ozonation; Yeast two-hybrid