Occurrence and fate of endocrine disrupting compounds in wastewater treatment plants in Israel and the Palestinian West Bank.
Israel and its Palestinian neighbors constitute a unique venue for evaluating the treatment efficiency and potential environmental risks of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), because of their physical proximity yet contrasting societal dynamics. Israel primarily relies on advanced tertiary sewage treatment and recycles over 85% of its treated wastewater, while in the Palestinian Authority (PA), there is only secondary treatment levels at WWTPs and reuse is minimal (<1%). To evaluate the extent of EDC occurrence and treatment efficiency, we conducted four sampling campaigns over two consecutive years, and measured the concentrations of selected EDCs in raw wastewater (WW), treated WW and sludge in six WWTPs in Israel, as well as in two Palestinian plants. Low concentrations of bisphenol A, octylphenol and triclosan measured in the raw WW in the Palestinian WWTPs reflected the relatively modest industrial activity and consumption habits as compared to the westernized consumer patterns in Israel. On the other hand, hormone concentrations in raw WW were higher in the Palestinian WWTPs than those in the Israeli WWTPs, presumably because of a dilution effect associated with a higher water per capita consumption among Israelis. Despite these differences in raw WW concentrations, the removal efficiency in all advanced WWTPs was relatively high when compared to averages reported internationally.
Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research, The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boqer, 84990, Israel.
Pniela
P
Dotan
Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research, The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boqer, 84990, Israel.
Tal
T
Godinger
Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research, The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boqer, 84990, Israel.
Wad
W
Odeh
National Public Health Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Ludmila
L
Groisman
Water & Environmental Development Organization, P.O. Box 421, Bethlehem, Palestine.
Nader
N
Al-Khateeb
Water & Soil Environmental Research Unit (WSERU), Chemistry Department, Bethlehem University, P.O. Box 9, Bethlehem, Palestine.
Alfred Abed
AA
Rabbo
Institute for Dryland Environmental Research, The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boqer Campus, 84990, Israel.
Alon
A
Tal
Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research, The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boqer, 84990, Israel. Electronic address: sarnon@bgu.ac.il.
Shai
S
Arnon
D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008877:Middle East; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D062065:Wastewater / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
Endocrine disrupting compound (EDC); Israel; Palestinian Authority; Risk assessment; Wastewater treatment