title: A novel approach for estimating the removal efficiencies of endocrine disrupting chemicals and heavy metals in wastewater treatment processes.
abstract: The wide occurrence of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and heavy metals in coastal waters has drawn global concern, and thus their removal efficiencies in sewage treatment processes should be estimated. However, low concentrations coupled with high temporal fluctuations of these pollutants present a monitoring challenge. Using semi-permeable membrane devices (SPMDs) and Artificial Mussels (AMs), this study investigates a novel approach to evaluating the removal efficiency of five EDCs and six heavy metals in primary treatment, secondary treatment and chemically enhanced primary treatment (CEPT) processes. In general, the small difference between maximum and minimum values of individual EDCs and heavy metals measured from influents/effluents of the same sewage treatment plant suggests that passive sampling devices can smooth and integrate temporal fluctuations, and therefore have the potential to serve as cost-effective monitoring devices for the estimation of the removal efficiencies of EDCs and heavy metals in sewage treatment works.
authors: Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong. Electronic address: jillchiu@hkbu.edu.hk.
authors: Jill M Y
authors: JMY
authors: Chiu
authors: Centre for Marine Environmental Research and Innovative Technology and School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors: Natalie
authors: N
authors: Degger
authors: Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong.
authors: Jonathan Y S
authors: JYS
authors: Leung
authors: Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong; Centre for Marine Environmental Research and Innovative Technology and School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors: Beverly H K
authors: BHK
authors: Po
authors: Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong.
authors: Gene J
authors: GJ
authors: Zheng
authors: Department of Biology and Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors: Bruce J
authors: BJ
authors: Richardson
authors: Department of Biology and Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors: T C
authors: TC
authors: Lau
authors: Department of Science and Environmental Studies, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Centre for Marine Environmental Research and Innovative Technology and School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. Electronic address: rudolfwu@ied.edu.hk.
authors: Rudolf S S
authors: RSS
authors: Wu
mesh_terms: D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards
chemical_list: D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012722:Sewage; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Artificial Mussel; Endocrine disrupting chemical; Heavy metal; Removal efficiency; Semi-permeable membrane device