Fate of typical endocrine active compounds in full-scale wastewater treatment plants: Distribution, removal efficiency and potential risks.
In this study, the distribution, removal efficiency, and potential risks of 9 typical endocrine active compounds (EACs) in two full-scale wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) were investigated. The EAC concentrations ranged from 0.2 to 7394.2 ng/L in influents. The source of influents was a critical factor in determining the EAC levels. EACs were primarily removed in the secondary biological processing units, with removal efficiencies fluctuating from 13.7% to 98%. The biological treatment processes and operating parameters (i.e., HRT and SRT) influenced the EAC removal efficiency. Bisphenol A (BPA) and estriol were mainly removed by biodegradation, while antidepressants were primarily eliminated by sludge adsorption according to the distribution patterns and mass flow of EACs in WWTPs. Novosphingobium, Saprospiraceae, etc. were the core functional bacteria for EAC biodegradation. In addition, sertraline in effluents and dewatered sludge may pose medium environmental risks, while the other EACs pose low environmental risks.
['Cao|Jiashun|J|', 'Fu|Boming|B|', 'Zhang|Teng|T|', 'Wu|Yang|Y|', 'Zhou|Ziyan|Z|', 'Zhao|Jianan|J|', 'Yang|E|E|', 'Qian|Tangjian|T|', 'Luo|Jingyang|J|']
D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental D004784:Environmental Monitoring D012722:Sewage D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid D062065:Waste Water D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
Removal efficiency Endocrine active compounds (EACs) Full-scale wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) Distribution patterns Mass flow Environmental risks