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Londhe K, Lee CS, Grdanovska S, Smolinski R, Hamdan N, McDonough C, Cooper C, Venkatesan AK. Application of electron beam technology to decompose per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in water. Environ Pollut 2024; 348:123770. [PMID: 38493862 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
The widespread detection of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in environmental compartments across the globe has raised several health concerns. Destructive technologies that aim to transform these recalcitrant PFAS into less toxic, more manageable products, are gaining impetus to address this problem. In this study, a 9 MeV electron beam accelerator was utilized to treat a suite of PFAS (perfluoroalkyl carboxylates: PFCAs, perfluoroalkyl sulfonates, and 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate: FTS) at environmentally relevant levels in water under different operating and water quality conditions. Although perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid showed >90% degradation at <500 kGy dose at optimized conditions, a fluoride mass balance revealed that complete defluorination occurred only at/or near 1000 kGy. Non-target and suspect screening revealed additional degradation pathways differing from previously reported mechanisms. Treatment of PFAS mixtures in deionized water and groundwater matrices showed that FTS was preferentially degraded (∼90%), followed by partial degradation of long-chain PFAS (∼15-60%) and a simultaneous increase of short-chain PFAS (up to 20%) with increasing doses. The increase was much higher (up to 3.5X) in groundwaters compared to deionized water due to the presence of PFAS precursors as confirmed by total oxidizable precursor (TOP) assay. TOP assay of e-beam treated samples did not show any increase in PFCAs, confirming that e-beam was effective in also degrading precursors. This study provides an improved understanding of the mechanism of PFAS degradation and revealed that short-chain PFAS are more resistant to defluorination and their levels and regulation in the environment will determine the operating conditions of e-beam and other PFAS treatment technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaushik Londhe
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ, 07102, USA; New York State Center for Clean Water Technology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
| | - Cheng-Shiuan Lee
- Research Center for Environmental Changes, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 115, Taiwan
| | | | - Rachel Smolinski
- Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Noor Hamdan
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Carrie McDonough
- Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Charles Cooper
- Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, Batavia, IL, 60510, USA
| | - Arjun K Venkatesan
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ, 07102, USA; New York State Center for Clean Water Technology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA.
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Lee CS, Wang M, Nanjappa D, Lu YT, Meliker J, Clouston S, Gobler CJ, Venkatesan AK. Monitoring of over-the-counter (OTC) and COVID-19 treatment drugs complement wastewater surveillance of SARS-CoV-2. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 2023:10.1038/s41370-023-00613-2. [PMID: 38052940 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-023-00613-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The application of wastewater-based epidemiology to track the outbreak and prevalence of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in communities has been tested and validated by several researchers across the globe. However, the RNA-based surveillance has its inherent limitations and uncertainties. OBJECTIVE This study aims to complement the ongoing wastewater surveillance efforts by analyzing other chemical biomarkers in wastewater to help assess community response (hospitalization and treatment) during the pandemic (2020-2021). METHODS Wastewater samples (n = 183) were collected from the largest wastewater treatment facility in Suffolk County, NY, USA and analyzed for COVID-19 treatment drugs (remdesivir, chloroquine, and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ)) and their human metabolites. We additionally monitored 26 pharmaceuticals including common over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. Lastly, we developed a Bayesian model that uses viral RNA, COVID-19 treatment drugs, and pharmaceuticals data to predict the confirmed COVID-19 cases within the catchment area. RESULTS The viral RNA levels in wastewater tracked the actual COVID-19 case numbers well as expected. COVID-19 treatment drugs were detected with varying frequency (9-100%) partly due to their instability in wastewater. We observed a significant correlation (R = 0.30, p < 0.01) between the SARS-CoV-2 genes and desethylhydroxychloroquine (DHCQ, metabolite of HCQ). Remdesivir levels peaked immediately after the Emergency Use Authorization approved by the FDA. Although, 13 out of 26 pharmaceuticals assessed were consistently detected (DF = 100%, n = 111), only acetaminophen was significantly correlated with viral loads, especially when the Omicron variant was dominant. The Bayesian models were capable of reproducing the temporal trend of the confirmed cases. IMPACT In this study, for the first time, we measured COVID-19 treatment and pharmaceutical drugs and their metabolites in wastewater to complement ongoing COVID-19 viral RNA surveillance efforts. Our results highlighted that, although the COVID-19 treatment drugs were not very stable in wastewater, their detection matched with usage trends in the community. Acetaminophen, an OTC drug, was significantly correlated with viral loads and confirmed cases, especially when the Omicron variant was dominant. A Bayesian model was developed which could predict COVID-19 cases more accurately when incorporating other drugs data along with viral RNA levels in wastewater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Shiuan Lee
- New York State Center for Clean Water Technology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
- Research Center for Environmental Changes, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan
| | - Mian Wang
- New York State Center for Clean Water Technology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
| | - Deepak Nanjappa
- New York State Center for Clean Water Technology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
| | - Yi-Ta Lu
- Department of Human Behavior, Ecology and Culture, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jaymie Meliker
- Program in Public Health, Department of Family, Population & Preventive Medicine, Stony Brook University Medical Center, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
| | - Sean Clouston
- Program in Public Health, Department of Family, Population & Preventive Medicine, Stony Brook University Medical Center, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
| | - Christopher J Gobler
- New York State Center for Clean Water Technology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
| | - Arjun K Venkatesan
- New York State Center for Clean Water Technology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA.
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ, 07102, USA.
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Zhang Y, Thomas A, Apul O, Venkatesan AK. Coexisting ions and long-chain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) inhibit the adsorption of short-chain PFAS by granular activated carbon. J Hazard Mater 2023; 460:132378. [PMID: 37643572 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
We assessed the competitive adsorption between long-chain and short-chain PFAS and the impact of coexisting ions to understand the mechanisms leading to the early breakthrough of short-chain PFAS from granular activated carbon (GAC) filters. Three pairs of short-chain and long-chain PFAS representing different functional groups were studied using GAC (Filtrasorb 400) in batch systems. In bisolute systems, the presence of long-chain PFAS decreased the adsorption of short-chain PFAS by 30-50% compared to their single solute adsorption capacity (0.22-0.31 mmol/g). In contrast to the partial decrease observed in bisolute systems, the addition of long-chain PFAS to GAC pre-equilibrated with short-chain PFAS completely desorbed all short-chain PFAS from GAC. This suggested that the outermost adsorption sites on GAC were preferentially occupied by short-chain PFAS in the absence of competition but were prone to displacement by long-chain PFAS. The presence of inorganic/organic ions inhibited the adsorption of short-chain PFAS (up to 60%) but had little to no impact on long-chain PFAS, with the inhibitory trend inversely correlated with Kow values. Study results indicated that the displacement of short-chain PFAS by long-chain PFAS and charge neutralization are important mechanisms contributing to the early breakthrough of short-chain PFAS from GAC systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Zhang
- New York State Center for Clean Water Technology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Amanda Thomas
- New York State Center for Clean Water Technology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Onur Apul
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, USA
| | - Arjun K Venkatesan
- New York State Center for Clean Water Technology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07102, USA.
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Lee CS, Wang M, Clyde PM, Mao X, Brownawell BJ, Venkatesan AK. 1,4-Dioxane removal in nitrifying sand filters treating domestic wastewater: Influence of water matrix and microbial inhibitors. Chemosphere 2023; 324:138304. [PMID: 36871806 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
1,4-Dioxane is a recalcitrant pollutant in water and is ineffectively removed during conventional water and wastewater treatment processes. In this study, we demonstrate the application of nitrifying sand filters to remove 1,4-dioxane from domestic wastewater without the need for bioaugmentation or biostimulation. The sand columns were able to remove 61 ± 10% of 1,4-dioxane on average (initial concentration: 50 μg/L) from wastewater, outperforming conventional wastewater treatment approaches. Microbial analysis revealed the presence of 1,4-dioxane degrading functional genes (dxmB, phe, mmox, and prmA) to support biodegradation being the dominant degradation pathway. Adding antibiotics (sulfamethoxazole and ciprofloxacin), that temporarily inhibited the nitrification process during the dosing period, showed a minor effect in 1,4-dioxane removal (6-8% decline, p < 0.05), suggesting solid resilience of the 1,4-dioxane-degrading microbial community in the columns. Columns amended with sodium azide significantly (p < 0.05) depressed 1,4-dioxane removal in the early stage of dosing but followed by a gradual increase of the removal over time to >80%, presumably due to a shift in the microbial community toward azide-resistant 1,4-dioxane degrading microbes (e.g., fungi). This study demonstrated for the first time the resilience of the 1,4-dioxane-degrading microorganisms during antibiotic shocks, and the selective enrichment of efficient 1,4-dioxane-degrading microbes after azide poisoning. Our observation could provide insights into designing better 1,4-dioxane remediation strategies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Shiuan Lee
- New York State Center for Clean Water Technology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, 11794, USA; Research Center for Environmental Changes, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan
| | - Mian Wang
- New York State Center for Clean Water Technology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, 11794, USA; Department of Civil Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
| | - Patricia M Clyde
- New York State Center for Clean Water Technology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, 11794, USA; School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
| | - Xinwei Mao
- New York State Center for Clean Water Technology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, 11794, USA; Department of Civil Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
| | - Bruce J Brownawell
- New York State Center for Clean Water Technology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, 11794, USA; School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
| | - Arjun K Venkatesan
- New York State Center for Clean Water Technology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, 11794, USA; Department of Civil Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA; School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA.
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5
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Londhe K, Lee CS, McDonough CA, Venkatesan AK. The Need for Testing Isomer Profiles of Perfluoroalkyl Substances to Evaluate Treatment Processes. Environ Sci Technol 2022; 56:15207-15219. [PMID: 36314557 PMCID: PMC9670843 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c05518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Many environmentally relevant poly-/perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) including perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) exist in different isomeric (branched and linear) forms in the natural environment. The isomeric distribution of PFASs in the environment and source waters is largely controlled by the source of contamination and varying physicochemical properties imparted by their structural differences. For example, branched isomers of PFOS are relatively more reactive and less sorptive compared to the linear analogue. As a result, the removal of branched and linear PFASs during water treatment can vary, and thus the isomeric distribution in source waters can influence the overall efficiency of the treatment process. In this paper, we highlight the need to consider the isomeric distribution of PFASs in contaminated matrices while designing appropriate remediation strategies. We additionally summarize the known occurrence and variation in the physicochemical properties of PFAS isomers influencing their detection, fate, toxicokinetics, and treatment efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaushik Londhe
- Department
of Civil Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794, United States
- New
York State Center for Clean Water Technology, Stony Brook University, Stony
Brook, New York 11794, United States
| | - Cheng-Shiuan Lee
- New
York State Center for Clean Water Technology, Stony Brook University, Stony
Brook, New York 11794, United States
- Research
Center for Environmental Changes, Academia
Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan
| | - Carrie A. McDonough
- Department
of Civil Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794, United States
- Department
of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Arjun K. Venkatesan
- Department
of Civil Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794, United States
- New
York State Center for Clean Water Technology, Stony Brook University, Stony
Brook, New York 11794, United States
- School
of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony
Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794, United States
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6
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Venkatesan AK, Lee CS, Gobler CJ. Hydroxyl-radical based advanced oxidation processes can increase perfluoroalkyl substances beyond drinking water standards: Results from a pilot study. Sci Total Environ 2022; 847:157577. [PMID: 35882318 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are popular technologies employed across the U.S. for wastewater reclamation and drinking water treatment of recalcitrant chemicals. Although there is consensus about the ineffectiveness of AOPs to treat perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs; not polyfluoro compounds by definition here), there is a lack of field data demonstrating their impact on the transformation of unknown PFAS precursors during groundwater treatment. In this study, the fate of PFASs in seven pilot-scale AOPs, including four different technologies (UV/H2O2, UV/Cl2, UV/TiO2, and O3/H2O2), was assessed at four drinking water systems across New York State (NYS), USA. Seven of 18 PFASs were detected in the influent at concentrations ranging from below method detection to 64 ng/L. Across all systems, all detected PFASs showed an increase in concentration after treatment presumably due to unknown precursor transformation with specific increases for perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS), perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) averaging 405 (range: 0 - 1220) %, 1.0 (-7 - 9) %, 3.8 (0 - 9.5) %, 3.3 (-11 - 13) %, 14 (0 - 48) %, 13 (3 - 25) %, and 2 (0 - 5.2) %, respectively. The increase in PFAS concentration was dependent on UV and oxidant dose, further confirming that transformation reactions were occurring due to AOPs similar to a total oxidizable precursor assay. At one of the sites, PFOA levels exceeded the current NYS drinking water standard of 10 ng/L after, but not before treatment, highlighting the importance of considering the potential impact of AOP on treated water quality when designing treatment systems for regulatory compliance. The increase in PFAS concentration in the AOP systems positively correlated (r = 0.91) with nitrate levels in groundwater, suggesting that onsite septic discharges may be an important source of PFAS contamination in these unsewered study areas. Results from this pilot-scale demonstration reveal that hydroxyl radical-based AOPs, although ineffective in treating PFASs, can help to reveal the true extent of PFAS contamination in source waters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arjun K Venkatesan
- New York State Center for Clean Water Technology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA; School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA.
| | - Cheng-Shiuan Lee
- New York State Center for Clean Water Technology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Christopher J Gobler
- New York State Center for Clean Water Technology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA; School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
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7
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Young CS, Lee CS, Sylvers LH, Venkatesan AK, Gobler CJ. The invasive red seaweed, Dasysiphonia japonica, forms harmful algal blooms: Mortality in early life stage fish and bivalves and identification of putative toxins. Harmful Algae 2022; 118:102294. [PMID: 36195420 DOI: 10.1016/j.hal.2022.102294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
In recent decades, the rate of introduction of non-indigenous macroalgae has increased. While invasive seaweeds often outcompete native species for substrata, their direct effects on marine life are rarely described. Here, we describe 'red water' events caused by the decay of blooms of the invasive red seaweed, Dasysiphonia japonica, in Great South Bay, NY, USA, and the ability of water from such events to induce rapid and significant mortality in larval and juvenile fish (Menidia beryllina, Menidia menidia, and Cyprinodon variegatus) and larval bivalves (Mercenaria mercenaria and Crassostrea virginica). All species studied experienced significant (p<0.05) reductions in survival when exposed to macroalgae in a state of decay, seawater in which the alga was previously decayed, or both. Both bivalve species experienced 50-60% increases in mortality when exposed to decaying D. japonica for ∼ one week, despite normoxic conditions. Among fish, significant increases (40-80%) in mortality were observed after 24 h exposure to decayed D. japonica and one-week exposures caused, on average, 90% mortality in larval M. beryllina, 50% mortality in juvenile (∼3 cm) M. menidia, and 50% mortality in larval C. variegatus. All fish and bivalve mortality occurred under normoxic conditions (dissolved oxygen (DO) >7 mg L-1) and low ammonium levels (< 20 µM), with the exception of C. variegatus, which expired under conditions of decayed D. japonica coupled with reduced DO caused by the alga. Screening of water with decayed D. japonica using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry revealed compounds with mass-to-charge ratios matching caulerpin, a known algal toxin that causes fish and shellfish mortality, and several other putative toxicants at elevated levels. Collectively, the high levels of mortality (50-90%) of larval and juvenile fish and bivalves exposed to decaying D. japonica under normoxic conditions coupled with the observation of 'red water' events in estuaries collectively indicate the red seaweed, D. japonica, can create harmful algal blooms (HABs).
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig S Young
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Southampton, NY 11968, USA
| | - Cheng-Shiuan Lee
- New York State Center for Clean Water Technology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Laine H Sylvers
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Southampton, NY 11968, USA
| | - Arjun K Venkatesan
- New York State Center for Clean Water Technology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Christopher J Gobler
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Southampton, NY 11968, USA.
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8
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Steele JC, Meng XZ, Venkatesan AK, Halden RU. Comparative meta-analysis of organic contaminants in sewage sludge from the United States and China. Sci Total Environ 2022; 821:153423. [PMID: 35090919 PMCID: PMC8930529 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/22/2022] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Characterizing the occurrence of organic contaminants (OCs) of environmental health concern in municipal sewage sludges is essential for safe handling and disposal of these abundant materials. This meta-analysis aimed to (i) summarize the extent of studies performed on the chemical composition of sewage sludges from China and the U.S., the world's two largest chemical producers, (ii) identify chemical groups of priority concern, (iii) quantitatively compare chemical abundance in sludge between nations, (iv) determine longitudinal contaminant accumulation trends in sludge, and (v) identify data gaps with regard to OC concentrations in sludge. A literature search was conducted on concentrations of OCs in U.S. sludges produced during treatment of domestic and industrial wastewater and compared statistically to contaminant levels in Chinese sludge abstracted from a recently established database. Longitudinal trends of OC occurrence were interpreted in the context of national chemical production, usage statistics, and regulations. A total of 105 studies on OCs in U.S. sewage sludge were found, while a total of 159 had been found in China. Among 1175 OCs monitored for, 23% of all analytes had been monitored in both countries (n = 269), 41% (n = 480) in China only, and the remaining 36% (n = 426) in the U.S. only. On average, concentrations of OCs were 4.0 times higher in U.S. than in Chinese sewage sludge, with the highest detection being observed for alkylphenol ethoxylates. Data from a new binational database on toxic OCs in sewage sludges suggest and reiterates the need for additional chemical monitoring in both countries, risk assessments for emerging OCs contained in sludges destined for application on land, and stronger enforcement of sludge disposal restrictions in China, where as much as 40% of sludge is currently being dumped improperly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua C Steele
- Biodesign Center for Environmental Health Engineering, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, 781 E. Terrace Mall, Tempe 85287, USA; AquaVitas, LLC, 9260 E. Raintree Dr., Ste 140, Scottsdale, AZ 85260, USA.
| | - Xiang-Zhou Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China; Jiaxing-Tongji Environmental Research Institute, 1994 Linggongtang Road, Jiaxing 314051, China.
| | - Arjun K Venkatesan
- NYS Center for Clean Water Technology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794, USA.
| | - Rolf U Halden
- Biodesign Center for Environmental Health Engineering, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, 781 E. Terrace Mall, Tempe 85287, USA; OneWaterOneHealth, Arizona State University Foundation, 1001 S. McAllister Avenue, Tempe, AZ 85287-8101, USA; AquaVitas, LLC, 9260 E. Raintree Dr., Ste 140, Scottsdale, AZ 85260, USA.
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9
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Clyde PM, Lee CS, Price RE, Venkatesan AK, Brownawell BJ. Occurrence and removal of PPCPs from on-site wastewater using nitrogen removing biofilters. Water Res 2021; 206:117743. [PMID: 34717243 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The presence of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in the environment is primarily the result of discharge of waste, including from onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTSs) which are employed by 25% of homes in the United States. However, the occurrence and removal of PPCPs in OWTSs is not well understood, particularly given the large diversity in PPCP compounds as well as in OWTS designs. In this study, we monitored 26 different PPCPs in 13 full-scale nitrogen removing biofilters (NRBs), an innovative/alternative type of OWTS that utilizes an overlying sand layer and an underlying woodchip/sand layer to simultaneously remove nitrogen and other wastewater-derived contaminants. The specific objectives of this study were (i) to measure the occurrence of PPCPs in septic tank effluent (STE) that served as an influent to NRBs, (ii) to quantify PPCP removal in three types of NRB configurations (n = 13), and (iii) to evaluate PPCP removal with depth and environmental conditions in NRBs. Aqueous samples were taken during 42 separate sampling events during 2016 - 2019 and analyzed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Analysis of the STE samples yielded detection of 23 of the 26 PPCPs, with caffeine being the most abundant and frequently detected compound at 52,000 ng/L (range: 190 - 181,000 ng/L), followed by acetaminophen and paraxanthine at 47,500 ng/L (190 - 160,000 ng/L), and 34,300 ng/L (430 - 210,000 ng/L), respectively. Cimetidine, fenofibrate, and warfarin were the only compounds not detected. The average removal of PPCPs by NRBs ranged from 58% to >99% for the various compounds. PPCP removal as a function of depth in the systems showed that 50 to >99% of the observed removal was achieved within the top oxic layer (0 - 46 cm) of the NRBs for 19 analytes. Seven of the compounds had >85% removal by the same depth. These results indicate that NRBs are effective at removing PPCPs and that a large portion of the removal is achieved within the oxic nitrifying layer of the NRBs. Overall, the removal of PPCPs in NRBs was comparable (n = 8) or better (n = 15) than that observed for conventional wastewater treatment plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia M Clyde
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, United States; New York State Center for Clean Water Technology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, United States
| | - Cheng-Shiuan Lee
- New York State Center for Clean Water Technology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, United States
| | - Roy E Price
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, United States; New York State Center for Clean Water Technology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, United States
| | - Arjun K Venkatesan
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, United States; New York State Center for Clean Water Technology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, United States.
| | - Bruce J Brownawell
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, United States; New York State Center for Clean Water Technology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, United States
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Lee CS, Asato C, Wang M, Mao X, Gobler CJ, Venkatesan AK. Removal of 1,4-dioxane during on-site wastewater treatment using nitrogen removing biofilters. Sci Total Environ 2021; 771:144806. [PMID: 33548721 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/25/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The presence and release of 1,4-dioxane to groundwater from onsite-wastewater treatment systems (OWTS), which represent 25% of the total wastewater treatment in the U.S., has not been studied to date. In this study we monitored 1,4-dioxane in six septic tank effluents (STE) and receiving OWTS installed at residences on Long Island (LI), NY, for a period of 15 months. We specifically evaluated the performance of Nitrogen Removing Biofilters (NRBs) as an innovative/alternative-OWTS, consisting of a top sand layer and a bottom woodchip/sand layer, to simultaneously remove nitrogen and 1,4-dioxane. 1,4-Dioxane levels in STE (mean: 1.49 μg L-1; range: 0.07-8.45 μg L-1; n = 37) were on average > 15 times higher than tap water from these residences, demonstrating that 1,4-dioxane primarily originated from the use of household products. NRBs were effective in removing both 1,4-dioxane and total nitrogen with an overall removal efficiency of 56 ± 20% and 88 ± 12%, respectively. The majority of 1,4-dioxane removal (~80%) occurred in the top oxic layer of the NRBs. The detection of functional genes (dxmB, prmA, and thmA), which encode for metabolic and co-metabolic 1,4-dioxane degradation, in NRBs provides the first field evidence of aerobic microbial degradation of 1,4-dioxane occurring in a wastewater system. Given that there are ~500,000 conventional OWTS on LI, the 1,4-dioxane discharge to groundwater from residential wastewater was estimated at 195 ± 205 kg yr -1, suggesting high risk of contamination to shallow aquifers. The results also demonstrate that installation of NRBs can reduce 1,4-dioxane to levels even lower than the NY State drinking water standard of 1 μg L-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Shiuan Lee
- New York State Center for Clean Water Technology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook 11794, United States of America
| | - Caitlin Asato
- New York State Center for Clean Water Technology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook 11794, United States of America
| | - Mian Wang
- New York State Center for Clean Water Technology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook 11794, United States of America; Department of Civil Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, United States of America
| | - Xinwei Mao
- New York State Center for Clean Water Technology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook 11794, United States of America; Department of Civil Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, United States of America
| | - Christopher J Gobler
- New York State Center for Clean Water Technology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook 11794, United States of America; School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, United States of America
| | - Arjun K Venkatesan
- New York State Center for Clean Water Technology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook 11794, United States of America; School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, United States of America; Department of Civil Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, United States of America.
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11
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Sonmez Baghirzade B, Zhang Y, Reuther JF, Saleh NB, Venkatesan AK, Apul OG. Thermal Regeneration of Spent Granular Activated Carbon Presents an Opportunity to Break the Forever PFAS Cycle. Environ Sci Technol 2021; 55:5608-5619. [PMID: 33881842 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c08224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Extensive use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has caused their ubiquitous presence in natural waters. One of the standard practices for PFAS removal from water is adsorption onto granular activated carbon (GAC); however, this approach generates a new waste stream, i.e., PFAS-laden GAC. Considering the recalcitrance of PFAS molecules in the environment, inadequate disposal (e.g., landfill or incineration) of PFAS-laden GAC may let PFAS back into the aquatic cycle. Therefore, developing approaches for PFAS-laden GAC management present unique opportunities to break its forever circulation within the aqueous environment. This comprehensive review evaluates the past two decades of research on conventional thermal regeneration of GAC and critically analyzes and summarizes the literature on regeneration of PFAS-laden GACs. Optimized thermal regeneration of PFAS-laden GACs may provide an opportunity to employ existing regeneration infrastructure to mineralize the adsorbed PFAS and recover the spent GAC. The specific objectives of this review are (i) to investigate the role of physicochemical properties of PFAS on thermal regeneration, (ii) to assess the changes in regeneration yield as well as GAC physical and chemical structure upon thermal regeneration, and (iii) to critically discuss regeneration parameters controlling the process. This literature review on the engineered regeneration process illustrates the significant promise of this approach that can break the endless environmental cycle of these forever chemicals, while preserving the desired physicochemical properties of the valuable GAC adsorbent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Busra Sonmez Baghirzade
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, Massachusetts 01854, United States
| | - Yi Zhang
- New York State Center for Clean Water Technology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794, United States
| | - James F Reuther
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, Massachusetts 01854, United States
| | - Navid B Saleh
- Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Arjun K Venkatesan
- New York State Center for Clean Water Technology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794, United States
| | - Onur G Apul
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, Maine 04469, United States
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12
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Lee CS, Venkatesan AK, Walker HW, Gobler CJ. Impact of groundwater quality and associated byproduct formation during UV/hydrogen peroxide treatment of 1,4-dioxane. Water Res 2020; 173:115534. [PMID: 32023496 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2020.115534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Revised: 01/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
In this study, a semi-batch, bench-scale UV/hydrogen peroxide (UV/H2O2) advanced oxidation process system was used to investigate how typical groundwater quality parameters (pH, alkalinity, natural organic matter (NOM), nitrate, and iron) influence the treatment of 1,4-dioxane. Deionized (DI) water spiked with 1,4-dioxane (100 μg L-1), treated using H2O2 (10 mg L-1) in a commercially available UV system (40 W low-pressure lamp) showed an UV fluence-based first-order rate constant (k') and electrical energy-per-order (EEO) of 4.32✕10-3 cm2-mJ-1 and 0.15 kWh-m-3-order-1, respectively. The most abundant byproduct generated in spiked-DI water was oxalic acid (up to 55 μg L-1), followed by formic and acetic acids. The k' showed no significant difference at pH ranging from 5 to 7 and at low alkalinity concentrations (<20 mg-CaCO3 L-1), typical of sandy aquifers. The k' declined by up to 85% with increasing NOM concentration. Elevated production (up to ∼400% increase) of aldehydes and organic acids was observed in NOM-spiked water, implying that NOM is a significant byproduct precursor during UV/H2O2 treatment. High NO3- concentration (10 mg-N L-1) in source water reduced the k' by 25%, while no significant impact was observed at lower concentrations (<2 mg-N L-1). Addition of Fe(II) at 0.5 mg-L-1 resulted in an instantaneous Fenton-reaction-assisted removal of ∼10% 1,4-dioxane in the presence of H2O2, but did not enhance the performance of UV/H2O2 treatment over time. In contrast, both Fe(II) and Fe(III) addition lowered the k' by 15-27%. The decline of k' observed in these experiments was attributed to reduced UVT (Fe), .OH radical scavenging (pH), or both (NO3-, NOM). Treatment of groundwater samples collected from three 1,4-dioxane-contaminated wells located in Long Island, NY, showed k' values of 13-40% lower than what was observed for DI water due to radical scavenging from a combination of high NO3- and NOM in the samples. A multiple linear-regression model, developed using water quality data as model input, showed good agreement with field observations (paired t-test: p > 0.05) in predicting k' for the removal of 1,4-dioxane from groundwater. This study provides the first systematic evaluation of the impacts of groundwater quality on UV/H2O2 process to remove environmentally relevant levels of 1,4-dioxane and reports standardized performance-related parameters to aid in the design and evaluation of full-scale systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Shiuan Lee
- New York State Center for Clean Water Technology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
| | - Arjun K Venkatesan
- New York State Center for Clean Water Technology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA; Department of Civil Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA.
| | - Harold W Walker
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA, 01609, USA
| | - Christopher J Gobler
- New York State Center for Clean Water Technology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA; School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
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13
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Gushgari AJ, Venkatesan AK, Chen J, Steele JC, Halden RU. Long-term tracking of opioid consumption in two United States cities using wastewater-based epidemiology approach. Water Res 2019; 161:171-180. [PMID: 31195333 PMCID: PMC6613989 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2019.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2018] [Revised: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 06/01/2019] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Access to near-real time opioid use data is essential to the effective management of the U.S. opioid crisis. Current narcotic data collection methods are limited by time delay and would be complimented by a rapid data acquisition technique. Use of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) analysis may offer access to near real-time data on opioid consumption but application in the United States has been limited. From 2015 to 2017, monthly 24-h time-weighted composite samples of municipal raw wastewater from two Midwestern U.S. cities were routinely analyzed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for morphine, codeine, oxycodone, heroin, fentanyl, and select opioid metabolites. Concentrations of opioids (ng/L) in raw wastewater from City 1 and 2, respectively, were: morphine (713 ± 38; 306 ± 29; detection frequency (DF): 100%), oxycodone (17.8 ± 1.1; 78 ± 6; DF: 100%), codeine (332 ± 37; 100 ± 27; DF: 93%), heroin (41 ± 16; 9 ± 11; DF: 81%), and fentanyl (1.7 ± 0.2; 1.0 ± 0.5; DF: 62%). Average opioid consumption rates estimated using WBE ranged between 9 and 2590 mg/day/1000 persons. Anticipated overdoses and overdose-deaths calculated from analyte concentrations in wastewater forecasted 200 opioid-related overdoses/year and 39 opioid related overdose-deaths/year across the two cities during the year 2016, which aligned well with observed coroner-reported opioid deaths. This long-term U.S. screening study of opioids in wastewater was the first to utilize wastewater epidemiological data to estimate the number of expected overdose and overdose-deaths, and to identify detectable levels of the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl in community wastewater consistently over the course of one whole year.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam J Gushgari
- Biodesign Center for Environmental Health Engineering, The Biodesign Institute, and School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, 1001 S. McAllister Avenue, Tempe, AZ, 85287-8101, USA
| | - Arjun K Venkatesan
- Center for Clean Water Technology, Department of Civil Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
| | - Jing Chen
- Biodesign Center for Environmental Health Engineering, The Biodesign Institute, and School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, 1001 S. McAllister Avenue, Tempe, AZ, 85287-8101, USA
| | - Joshua C Steele
- Biodesign Center for Environmental Health Engineering, The Biodesign Institute, and School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, 1001 S. McAllister Avenue, Tempe, AZ, 85287-8101, USA
| | - Rolf U Halden
- Biodesign Center for Environmental Health Engineering, The Biodesign Institute, and School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, 1001 S. McAllister Avenue, Tempe, AZ, 85287-8101, USA.
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14
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Chen J, Venkatesan AK, Halden RU. Alcohol and nicotine consumption trends in three U.S. communities determined by wastewater-based epidemiology. Sci Total Environ 2019; 656:174-183. [PMID: 30504019 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.11.350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2018] [Revised: 11/23/2018] [Accepted: 11/24/2018] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE), an emerging tool for monitoring public health in near real-time, is used extensively in Europe but applications to U.S. populations are still scarce. In this longitudinal study, raw wastewater was collected monthly from three U.S. cities as 24-h weekday composites and analyzed for evidence of alcohol and tobacco consumption. Over the 11-month sampling period, biomarkers of stimulant use were detected in wastewater by isotope dilution liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry in units of μg/L (ethyl sulfate, 1.6-25.1; nicotine, 0.6-26.7; cotinine, 0.2-3.8; and 3‑hydroxycotinine, 0.3-3.8). Average consumption rates in the three communities were calculated using detected biomarker levels in conjunction with wastewater flow rates, metabolic excretion factors, and population size data. Computed average per-capita consumption rates estimated for the sub-population aged 15 and above for alcohol (13.4 ± 5.6 L/y/person) and daily consumption of nicotine by smokers (14.2 ± 3.6 cigarettes/d/person) were in good agreement with U.S. survey data (9.0 L/y/person; 14.2 cigarettes/d/smoker). The WBE approach also captured impacts of temporal population influx on substance consumption patterns. This first U.S. WBE study to track recreational use of stimulants longitudinally and concurrently in multiple American cities highlights opportunities for collecting robust public health information from wastewater anonymously, economically and in near real-time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Chen
- The Biodesign Center for Environmental Health Engineering, Biodesign Institute and School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, 781 E. Terrace Mall, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA; School of Biological and Health System Engineering, Arizona State University, P.O. Box 879709, Tempe, AZ 85287-9709, USA
| | - Arjun K Venkatesan
- The Biodesign Center for Environmental Health Engineering, Biodesign Institute and School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, 781 E. Terrace Mall, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Rolf U Halden
- The Biodesign Center for Environmental Health Engineering, Biodesign Institute and School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, 781 E. Terrace Mall, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA.
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15
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Magee HY, Maurer MM, Cobos A, Pycke BFG, Venkatesan AK, Magee D, Scotch M, Halden RU. U.S. nationwide reconnaissance of ten infrequently monitored antibiotics in municipal biosolids. Sci Total Environ 2018; 643:460-467. [PMID: 29945081 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.06.206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2018] [Revised: 06/15/2018] [Accepted: 06/17/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Ten infrequently monitored antibiotics in biosolids were examined in archived American sewage sludges (n = 79) collected as part of the 2006/2007 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Targeted National Sewage Sludge Survey. This study inspected the occurrence of amoxicillin, ampicillin, erythromycin, furazolidone [proxy metabolite: 3-(2-nitrobenzylidenamino)-2-oxazolidinone (NP-AOZ)], nalidixic acid, oxolinic acid, oxytetracycline, spiramycin, sulfadimidine, and sulfadimethoxine in sewage sludges after nearly a decade in frozen storage. Six antibiotics were detected at the following average concentrations (ng/g dry weight): amoxicillin (1.0), nalidixic acid (19.1), oxolinic acid (2.7), erythromycin (0.6), oxytetracycline (4.5), and ampicillin (14.8). The remaining four were not detected in any samples (<method detection limit, ng/g dry weight): sulfadimethoxine (<0.5), sulfadimidine (<1.0), spiramycin (<2.0), and NP-AOZ (<20.0). This study provides the first data on spiramycin, NP-AOZ, and nalidixic acid in U.S. sewage sludges. This study also provides new data on the losses of 5 antibiotics during long term frozen storage (-20 °C) in comparison to the 2006/2007 U.S. EPA Targeted National Sewage Sludge Survey.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hansa Y Magee
- Arizona State University, Biodesign Center for Environmental Health Engineering, Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State University, Department of Biomedical Informatics, College of Health Solutions, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Megan M Maurer
- Arizona State University, Biodesign Center for Environmental Health Engineering, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - April Cobos
- Arizona State University, Biodesign Center for Environmental Health Engineering, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Benny F G Pycke
- Arizona State University, Biodesign Center for Environmental Health Engineering, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Arjun K Venkatesan
- Arizona State University, School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Tempe, AZ, USA; Stony Brook University, Center for Clean Water Technology, Department of Civil Engineering, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Daniel Magee
- Arizona State University, Biodesign Center for Environmental Health Engineering, Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State University, Department of Biomedical Informatics, College of Health Solutions, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Matthew Scotch
- Arizona State University, Biodesign Center for Environmental Health Engineering, Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State University, Department of Biomedical Informatics, College of Health Solutions, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Rolf U Halden
- Arizona State University, Biodesign Center for Environmental Health Engineering, Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State University, School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Tempe, AZ, USA.
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16
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Venkatesan AK, Gan W, Ashani H, Herckes P, Westerhoff P. Size exclusion chromatography with online ICP-MS enables molecular weight fractionation of dissolved phosphorus species in water samples. Water Res 2018; 133:264-271. [PMID: 29407707 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2018.01.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2017] [Revised: 01/19/2018] [Accepted: 01/20/2018] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Phosphorus (P) is an important and often limiting element in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem. A lack of understanding of its distribution and structures in the environment limits the design of effective P mitigation and recovery approaches. Here we developed a robust method employing size exclusion chromatography (SEC) coupled to an ICP-MS to determine the molecular weight (MW) distribution of P in environmental samples. The most abundant fraction of P varied widely in different environmental samples: (i) orthophosphate was the dominant fraction (93-100%) in one lake, two aerosols and DOC isolate samples, (ii) species of 400-600 Da range were abundant (74-100%) in two surface waters, and (iii) species of 150-350 Da range were abundant in wastewater effluents. SEC-DOC of the aqueous samples using a similar SEC column showed overlapping peaks for the 400-600 Da species in two surface waters, and for >20 kDa species in the effluents, suggesting that these fractions are likely associated with organic matter. The MW resolution and performance of SEC-ICP-MS agreed well with the time integrated results obtained using conventional ultrafiltration method. Results show that SEC in combination with ICP-MS and DOC has the potential to be a powerful and easy-to-use method in identifying unknown fractions of P in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arjun K Venkatesan
- Center for Clean Water Technology, Department of Civil Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA; School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-3005, USA.
| | - Wenhui Gan
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Harsh Ashani
- School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-3005, USA
| | - Pierre Herckes
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-1604, USA
| | - Paul Westerhoff
- School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-3005, USA
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17
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Venkatesan AK, Reed RB, Lee S, Bi X, Hanigan D, Yang Y, Ranville JF, Herckes P, Westerhoff P. Detection and Sizing of Ti-Containing Particles in Recreational Waters Using Single Particle ICP-MS. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 2018; 100:120-126. [PMID: 29164274 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-017-2216-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2017] [Accepted: 11/15/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (spICP-MS) was used to detect Ti-containing particles in heavily-used bathing areas of a river (Salt River) and five swimming pools. Ti-containing particle concentrations in swimming pools ranged from 2.8 × 103 to 4.4 × 103 particles/mL and were an order of magnitude lower than those detected in the Salt River. Measurements from the Salt River showed an 80% increase in Ti-containing particle concentration over baseline concentration during peak recreational activity (at 16:00 h) in the river. Cloud point extraction followed by transmission electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray analysis confirmed presence of aggregated TiO2 particles in river samples, showing morphological similarity to particles present in an over-the-counter sunscreen product. The maximum particle mass concentration detected in a sample from the Salt River (659 ng/L) is only slightly lower than the predicted no effect concentration for TiO2 to aquatic organisms (< 1 μg/L).
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Affiliation(s)
- Arjun K Venkatesan
- School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-3005, USA.
- Center for Clean Water Technology, Department of Civil Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA.
| | - Robert B Reed
- School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-3005, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Geochemistry, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, 80401, USA
| | - Sungyun Lee
- School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-3005, USA
- Environmental System Research Division, Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials, Daejeon, 34103, Republic of Korea
| | - Xiangyu Bi
- School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-3005, USA
| | - David Hanigan
- School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-3005, USA
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 89557-0258, USA
| | - Yu Yang
- School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-3005, USA
| | - James F Ranville
- Department of Chemistry and Geochemistry, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, 80401, USA
| | - Pierre Herckes
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-1604, USA
| | - Paul Westerhoff
- School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-3005, USA
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18
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Gushgari AJ, Halden RU, Venkatesan AK. Occurrence of N-nitrosamines in U.S. freshwater sediments near wastewater treatment plants. J Hazard Mater 2017; 323:109-115. [PMID: 27067539 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2016.03.091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2016] [Revised: 03/28/2016] [Accepted: 03/30/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
In the present study, 40 freshwater sediments collected near 14 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) across the United States were analyzed for eight N-nitrosamines by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Three N-nitrosamines were detected for the first time in freshwater sediments in units of ng/g dry weight at the specified detection frequency: N-nitrosodibutylamine (NDBA; 0.2-3.3; 58%), N-nitrosodiphenylamine (NDPhA; 0.2-4.7; 50%), and N-nitrosopyrrolidine (NPYR; 3.4-19.6; 18%). At least one N-nitrosamine was detected in 70% (28/40) of sediments analyzed. Non-detect values in units of ng/g dw were obtained for N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA; <10.2), N-nitrosomethylethylamine (NMEA; <1.7), N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA; <3.9), N-nitroso-di-n-propylamine (NDPA; <1.7), and N-nitrosopiperidine (NPIP; <3.6). Principal component analysis specifically points to two of multiple potential pathways explaining N-nitrosamine occurrences in sediment: NDBA and NDPhA were positively correlated with bulk water ammonia and pH levels, and NPYR with sediment content of organic carbon and iron. Interestingly, N-nitrosamine occurrences up- and downstream of WWTPs were statistically indistinguishable (p>0.05). This is the first report on the occurrence of the carcinogenic N-nitrosamines NDBA, NDPhA, and NPYR in U.S. freshwater sediments. Discovery of this phenomenon warrants further research on the compounds' origin, environmental persistence, aquatic toxicity, and risks posed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam J Gushgari
- Center for Environmental Security, The Biodesign Institute, Global Security Initiative, Arizona State University, 781 E. Terrace Mall, Tempe, AZ 85287, United States
| | - Rolf U Halden
- Center for Environmental Security, The Biodesign Institute, Global Security Initiative, Arizona State University, 781 E. Terrace Mall, Tempe, AZ 85287, United States.
| | - Arjun K Venkatesan
- Center for Environmental Security, The Biodesign Institute, Global Security Initiative, Arizona State University, 781 E. Terrace Mall, Tempe, AZ 85287, United States
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19
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Meng XZ, Venkatesan AK, Ni YL, Steele JC, Wu LL, Bignert A, Bergman Å, Halden RU. Organic Contaminants in Chinese Sewage Sludge: A Meta-Analysis of the Literature of the Past 30 Years. Environ Sci Technol 2016; 50:5454-66. [PMID: 27144960 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b05583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The production of sewage sludge is increasing in China but with unsafe disposal practices, causing potential risk to human health and the environment. Using literature from the past 30 years (N = 159), we conducted a meta-analysis of organic contaminants (OCs) in Chinese sludge. Most data were available from developed and populated regions, and no data were found for Tibet. Since 1987, 35 classes of chemicals consisting of 749 individual compounds and 1 mixture have been analyzed, in which antibiotics and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were the most targeted analytes. For 13 classes of principal OCs (defined as chemicals detected in over five studies) in sludge, the median (expressed in nanograms per gram dry weight) was the highest for phthalate esters (27 900), followed by alkylphenol polyethoxylates (12 000), synthetic musks (5800), antibiotics (4240), PAHs (3490), ultraviolet stabilizers (670), bisphenol analogs (160), organochlorine pesticides (110), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (100), pharmaceuticals (84), hormones (69), perfluorinated compounds (21), and polychlorinated biphenyls (15). Concentrations of PAHs in sludges collected between 1998 and 2012 showed a decreasing trend. Study findings suggest the need for a Chinese national sewage sludge survey to identify and regulate toxic OCs, ideally employing both targeted as well as nontargeted screening approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang-Zhou Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University , 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Arjun K Venkatesan
- Biodesign Center for Environmental Security, The Biodesign Institute, Global Security Initiative and School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University , 781 E. Terrace Mall, Tempe 85287, United States
| | - Yi-Lin Ni
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University , 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Imperial College London , London SW7 2AZ, U.K
| | - Joshua C Steele
- Biodesign Center for Environmental Security, The Biodesign Institute, Global Security Initiative and School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University , 781 E. Terrace Mall, Tempe 85287, United States
| | - Ling-Ling Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University , 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Anders Bignert
- Department of Environmental Research and Monitoring, Swedish Museum of Natural History , Bo 50007, Stockholm 104 05, Sweden
| | - Åke Bergman
- Swedish Toxicology Sciences Research Center (Swetox) , Forskargatan 20, Södertälje 151 36, Sweden
| | - Rolf U Halden
- Biodesign Center for Environmental Security, The Biodesign Institute, Global Security Initiative and School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University , 781 E. Terrace Mall, Tempe 85287, United States
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Done HY, Venkatesan AK, Halden RU. Erratum to: Does the Recent Growth of Aquaculture Create Antibiotic Resistance Threats Different from those Associated with Land Animal Production in Agriculture? AAPS J 2016; 18:1583. [PMID: 27102142 DOI: 10.1208/s12248-016-9902-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hansa Y Done
- Center for Environmental Security, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, 781 E. Terrace Mall, Tempe, Arizona, 85287, USA.,Biological Design Graduate Program, School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, 85287, USA
| | - Arjun K Venkatesan
- Center for Environmental Security, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, 781 E. Terrace Mall, Tempe, Arizona, 85287, USA
| | - Rolf U Halden
- Center for Environmental Security, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, 781 E. Terrace Mall, Tempe, Arizona, 85287, USA. .,Biological Design Graduate Program, School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, 85287, USA. .,Department of Environmental Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
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Venkatesan AK, Halden RU. Modeling the pH-mediated extraction of ionizable organic contaminants to improve the quality of municipal sewage sludge destined for land application. Sci Total Environ 2016; 550:736-741. [PMID: 26849337 PMCID: PMC4769932 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.01.119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2015] [Revised: 01/17/2016] [Accepted: 01/19/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
A model was developed to assess the impact of adding acids and bases to processed municipal sewage sludge (MSS) to mobilize contaminants, facilitating their removal from sludge by flushing prior to land application. Among 312 organic contaminants documented to occur in U.S. MSS, 71 or 23% were identified as ionizable organic contaminants (IOCs), contributing a disproportionately large fraction of 82% of the total mass of sludge-borne contaminants. Detected IOCs included 57 pharmaceuticals and personal care products, 12 perfluorinated compounds, one surfactant and one pesticide. Annually, about 2000t of IOCs were estimated to be released to U.S. soils via land-application of MSS. A partitioning model developed to assess the impact of pH on hydrophobic sorption revealed that between 36 and 85% of the mass of individual classes of IOCs potentially could be desorbed from MSS via pH adjustment and flushing. Thus, modeling results suggest that a sequential pH treatment [acidic (~pH2) followed by basic (~pH12) treatment] has the potential to reduce the burden of harmful IOCs in MSS applied on U.S. land by up to 40±16t annually. This approach may serve as a cost-effective treatment process that can be implemented easily in existing sludge treatment infrastructure in the U.S. and worldwide, serving to significantly improve the quality of MSS destined for land application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arjun K Venkatesan
- Center for Environmental Security, The Biodesign Institute, Global Security Initiative, Arizona State University, 781 E. Terrace Mall, Tempe, AZ 85287, United States
| | - Rolf U Halden
- Center for Environmental Security, The Biodesign Institute, Global Security Initiative, Arizona State University, 781 E. Terrace Mall, Tempe, AZ 85287, United States.
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Venkatesan AK, Hamdan AHM, Chavez VM, Brown JD, Halden RU. Mass Balance Model for Sustainable Phosphorus Recovery in a US Wastewater Treatment Plant. J Environ Qual 2016; 45:84-9. [PMID: 26828163 DOI: 10.2134/jeq2014.11.0504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
In response to limited phosphorus (P) reserves worldwide, several countries have demonstrated the prospect of recovering significant amounts of P from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). This technique uses enhanced biological P removal (EBPR) to concentrate P in sludge followed by chemical precipitation of P as struvite, a usable phosphate mineral. The present study models the feasibility of this enhanced removal and recovery technique in a WWTP in Arizona with design parameters typical of infrastructure in the United States. A mass balance was performed for existing treatment processes and modifications proposed to estimate the quantity of P that could be recovered under current and future flow conditions. Modeling results show that about 71 to 96% of the P being lost potentially could be recovered as struvite. About 491 ± 64 t yr of struvite may be recovered after process modification, which corresponds to $150,000 ± $20,000 yr in P sales to fertilizer industries. The process was projected to be economically feasible, with a payback period of 45 ± 30 yr in the studied WWTP and a much shorter duration of 3 ± 1 yr for WWTPs already using an EBPR process. Furthermore, modeling results suggest that P recovery can improve the quality of biosolids by favorably reducing the P:N ratio. Implementation of this strategy at US WWTPs may increase national security by reducing dependence of limited P resources. Considering all aspects of the recovery process with respect to environmental, economic, and social implications, the examined technique is concluded to represent a cost-attractive and sustainable method for P management in US WWTPs.
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Yu X, Xue J, Yao H, Wu Q, Venkatesan AK, Halden RU, Kannan K. Occurrence and estrogenic potency of eight bisphenol analogs in sewage sludge from the U.S. EPA targeted national sewage sludge survey. J Hazard Mater 2015; 299:733-9. [PMID: 26298263 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2015.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2015] [Revised: 07/03/2015] [Accepted: 07/06/2015] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
As health concerns over bisphenol A (BPA) in consumer products are mounting, this weak estrogen mimicking compound is gradually being replaced with structural analogs, whose environmental occurrence and estrogen risks are not well understood yet. We used high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) to determine the concentrations of eight bisphenol analogs in 76 sewage sludge samples collected by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2006/2007 from 74 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in 35 states. Bisphenols were detected at the following concentration ranges (ng/g dry weight) and detection frequencies: BPA (6.5-4700; 100%); bisphenol S (BPS; <1.79-1480; 84%); bisphenol F (BPF; <1.79-242; 68%); bisphenol AF (BPAF; <1.79-72.2; 46%); bisphenol P (BPP; <1.79-6.42; <5%), bisphenol B (BPB; <1.79-5.60; <5%), and bisphenol Z (BPZ; <1.79--66.7; <5%). Bisphenol AP (BPAP) was not detected in any of the samples (<1.79 ng/g dw). Concentrations of BPA in sewage sludge were an order of magnitude higher than those reported in China but similar to those in Germany. The calculated 17β-estradiol equivalents (E2EQ) of bisphenols present in sludge samples were 7.74 (0.26-90.5) pg/g dw, which were three orders of magnitude lower than the estrogenic activity contributed by natural estrogens present in the sludge. The calculated mass loading of bisphenols through the disposal of sludge and wastewater was <0.02% of the total U.S. production. As the usage of BPA is expected to decline further, environmental emissions of BPS, BPF, and BPAF are likely to increase in the future. This study establishes baseline levels and estrogenic activity of diverse bisphenol analogs in sewage sludge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohua Yu
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, and Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, State University of New York at Albany, Empire State Plaza, P.O. Box 509, Albany, NY 12201-0509, USA; Department of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Jingchuan Xue
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, and Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, State University of New York at Albany, Empire State Plaza, P.O. Box 509, Albany, NY 12201-0509, USA
| | - Hong Yao
- Department of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Qian Wu
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, and Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, State University of New York at Albany, Empire State Plaza, P.O. Box 509, Albany, NY 12201-0509, USA
| | - Arjun K Venkatesan
- Center for Environmental Security, The Biodesign Institute, Global Security Initiative, Arizona State University, 781 E. Terrace Mall, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Rolf U Halden
- Center for Environmental Security, The Biodesign Institute, Global Security Initiative, Arizona State University, 781 E. Terrace Mall, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Kurunthachalam Kannan
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, and Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, State University of New York at Albany, Empire State Plaza, P.O. Box 509, Albany, NY 12201-0509, USA; Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science and Experimental Biochemistry Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
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Xue J, Venkatesan AK, Wu Q, Halden RU, Kannan K. Occurrence of Bisphenol A Diglycidyl Ethers (BADGEs) and Novolac Glycidyl Ethers (NOGEs) in Archived Biosolids from the U.S. EPA's Targeted National Sewage Sludge Survey. Environ Sci Technol 2015; 49:6538-6544. [PMID: 25922885 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b01115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Epoxy resins incorporating bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE) and novolac glycidyl ether (NOGE) are used in a wide range of applications, including adhesives, structural and electrical laminates. However, little is known about the occurrence of BADGE, NOGE, and their derivatives in the environment. Using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, BADGE, bisphenol F glycidyl ether (BFDGE), 3-ring NOGE, and eight of their derivatives (BADGE·2 H2O, BADGE·H2O, BADGE·HCl·H2O, BADGE·2 HCl, BADGE·HCl, BFDGE·2 H2O, and BFDGE·2 HCl) were determined in archived biosolid samples collected from 68 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) from the northeastern, midwestern, western, and southern regions of the USA. BADGE·2 H2O was the most frequently detected (DR = 99%) and the most abundant compound found (median: 93.6 ng/g dry weight [dw]) in this family. The highest total concentrations of target chemicals, ranging from 83.6 to 2490 ng/g dw, were found in biosolids collected from the northeastern United States. The sum of geometric mean (GM) concentration of BADGE, NOGE, and their derivatives in biosolids increased with the treatment capacity of WWTPs. Based on the measured concentrations in biosolids and predicted mass in wastewater, it was estimated that approximately 3.5% of the total production of BADGEs was emitted through WWTP discharges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingchuan Xue
- †Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, and Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, State University of New York at Albany, Albany, New York 12201, United States
| | - Arjun K Venkatesan
- ‡Center for Environmental Security, The Biodesign Institute, Global Security Initiative, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
| | - Qian Wu
- †Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, and Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, State University of New York at Albany, Albany, New York 12201, United States
| | - Rolf U Halden
- ‡Center for Environmental Security, The Biodesign Institute, Global Security Initiative, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
| | - Kurunthachalam Kannan
- †Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, and Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, State University of New York at Albany, Albany, New York 12201, United States
- §Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science and Experimental Biochemistry Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 22254, Saudi Arabia
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Done HY, Venkatesan AK, Halden RU. Does the Recent Growth of Aquaculture Create Antibiotic Resistance Threats Different from those Associated with Land Animal Production in Agriculture? AAPS J 2015; 17:513-24. [PMID: 25700799 DOI: 10.1208/s12248-015-9722-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2014] [Accepted: 01/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Important antibiotics in human medicine have been used for many decades in animal agriculture for growth promotion and disease treatment. Several publications have linked antibiotic resistance development and spread with animal production. Aquaculture, the newest and fastest growing food production sector, may promote similar or new resistance mechanisms. This review of 650+ papers from diverse sources examines parallels and differences between land-based agriculture of swine, beef, and poultry and aquaculture. Among three key findings was, first, that of 51 antibiotics commonly used in aquaculture and agriculture, 39 (or 76%) are also of importance in human medicine; furthermore, six classes of antibiotics commonly used in both agriculture and aquaculture are also included on the World Health Organization's (WHO) list of critically important/highly important/important antimicrobials. Second, various zoonotic pathogens isolated from meat and seafood were observed to feature resistance to multiple antibiotics on the WHO list, irrespective of their origin in either agriculture or aquaculture. Third, the data show that resistant bacteria isolated from both aquaculture and agriculture share the same resistance mechanisms, indicating that aquaculture is contributing to the same resistance issues established by terrestrial agriculture. More transparency in data collection and reporting is needed so the risks and benefits of antibiotic usage can be adequately assessed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hansa Y Done
- Center for Environmental Security, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, 781 E. Terrace Mall, Tempe, Arizona, 85287, USA
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Venkatesan AK, Done HY, Halden RU. United States National Sewage Sludge Repository at Arizona State University--a new resource and research tool for environmental scientists, engineers, and epidemiologists. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2015; 22:1577-86. [PMID: 24824503 PMCID: PMC4232481 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-014-2961-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2014] [Accepted: 04/21/2014] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Processed municipal sewage sludges (MSS) are an abundant, unwanted by-product of wastewater treatment, increasingly applied to agriculture and forestry for inexpensive disposal and soil conditioning. Due to their high organic carbon and lipid contents, MSS not only is rich in carbon and nutrients but also represents a "sink" for recalcitrant, hydrophobic, and potentially bioaccumulative compounds. Indeed, many organics sequestered and concentrated in MSS meet the US Environmental Protection Agency's definition of being persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT). In a strategic effort, our research team at the Biodesign Institute has created the National Sewage Sludge Repository (NSSR), a large repository of digested MSSs from 164 wastewater treatment plants from across the USA, as part of the Human Health Observatory (H2O) at Arizona State University (ASU). The NSSR likely represents the largest archive of digested MSS specimens in the USA. The present study summarizes key findings gleaned thus far from analysis of NSSR samples. For example, we evaluated the content of toxicants in MSS and computed estimates of nationwide inventories of mass produced chemicals that become sequestrated in sludge and later are released into the environment during sludge disposal on land. Ongoing efforts document co-occurrence of a variety of PBT compounds in both MSS and human samples, while also identifying a large number of potentially harmful MSS constituents for which human exposure data are still lacking. Finally, we summarize future opportunities and invite collaborative use of the NSSR by the research community. The H2O at ASU represents a new resource and research tool for environmental scientists and the larger research community. As illustrated in this work, this repository can serve to (i) identify and prioritize emerging contaminants, (ii) provide spatial and temporal trends of contaminants, (iii) inform and evaluate the effectiveness of environmental policy-making and regulations, and (iv) approximate, ongoing exposures and body burdens of mass-produced chemicals in human society.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Rolf U. Halden
- Corresponding author phone: +1 (480) 727-0893; fax: +1 (480) 965-6603;
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Venkatesan AK, Halden RU. Loss and in situ production of perfluoroalkyl chemicals in outdoor biosolids-soil mesocosms. Environ Res 2014; 132:321-7. [PMID: 24834828 PMCID: PMC4122524 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2014.04.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2013] [Revised: 04/10/2014] [Accepted: 04/16/2014] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
An outdoor mesocosm study was conducted in Baltimore, Maryland, to explore the fate of thirteen perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) over the course of three years in biosolids/soil mixtures (1:2) exposed to ambient outdoor conditions. Analysis by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry showed perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) to be the most abundant analyte found early in the soil weathering experiment at 24.1 ng/g dry weight (dw), followed by perfluoroundecanoate (PFUnDA) and perfluorodecanoate (PFDA) at 18.4 and 17.4 ng/g dw, respectively. Short-chain perfluorinated carboxylates (PFCAs; C4-C8) showed observable loss from biosolids/soil mixtures, with experimentally determined first-order half-lives in soil ranging from 385 to 866 days. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorononaoate (PFNA) and PFUnDA levels in biosolids/soil mixtures remained stable, while other long-chain PFCAs [PFDA, perfluorododecanoate (PFDoDA)] and perfluorooctane sulfonamide (PFOSA) levels increased over time, presumably due to the breakdown of unidentified precursors in a process analogous to that reported previously for wastewater treatment plants. This study informs risk assessment initiatives by furnishing data on the environmental persistence of PFASs while also constituting the first report on in situ production of long-chained PFASs in terrestrial environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arjun K Venkatesan
- Center for Environmental Security, The Biodesign Institute, Security and Defense Systems Initiative, Arizona State University, 781 E, Terrace Road, Tempe, AZ 85287, United States
| | - Rolf U Halden
- Center for Environmental Security, The Biodesign Institute, Security and Defense Systems Initiative, Arizona State University, 781 E, Terrace Road, Tempe, AZ 85287, United States.
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Venkatesan AK, Halden RU. Brominated flame retardants in U.S. biosolids from the EPA national sewage sludge survey and chemical persistence in outdoor soil mesocosms. Water Res 2014; 55:133-42. [PMID: 24607311 PMCID: PMC4013270 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2014.02.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2013] [Revised: 02/04/2014] [Accepted: 02/07/2014] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
We determined national baseline levels and release inventories of 77 traditional and novel brominated flame retardants (BFRs) in biosolids composites (prepared from 110 samples) from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 2001 national sewage sludge survey (NSSS). Additionally, analyses were performed on archived samples from a 3-year outdoor mesocosm study to determine the environmental persistence of BFRs in biosolids-amended soil. The total polybrominated diphenylether (PBDE) concentration detected in biosolids composites was 9400 ± 960 μg/kg dry weight, of which deca-BDE constituted 57% followed by nona- and penta-BDE at 18 and 13%, respectively. The annual mean loading rate estimated from the detected concentrations and approximate annual biosolids production and disposal numbers in the U.S., of the sum of PBDEs and non-BDE BFRs was calculated to be 47,900-60,100 and 12,900-16,200 kg/year, of which 24,000-36,000 and 6400-9700 kg/year are applied on land, respectively. Mean concentration of PBDEs were higher in the 2001 samples compared to levels reported in EPA's 2006/7 Targeted NSSS, reflecting on-going efforts in phasing-out PBDEs in the U.S. In outdoor soil mesocosms, >99% of the initial BFRs mass in the biosolids/soil mixtures (1:2) persisted over the monitoring duration of three years. Estimates of environmental releases may be refined in the future by analyzing individual rather than composited samples, and by integrating currently unavailable data on disposal of biosolids on a plant-specific basis. This study informs the risk assessment of BFRs by furnishing national inventories of BFR occurrence and environmental release via biosolids application on land.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arjun K Venkatesan
- Center for Environmental Security, The Biodesign Institute, Security and Defense Systems Initiative, Arizona State University, 781 E. Terrace Road, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Rolf U Halden
- Center for Environmental Security, The Biodesign Institute, Security and Defense Systems Initiative, Arizona State University, 781 E. Terrace Road, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA.
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Venkatesan AK, Halden RU. Wastewater treatment plants as chemical observatories to forecast ecological and human health risks of manmade chemicals. Sci Rep 2014; 4:3731. [PMID: 24429544 PMCID: PMC3893653 DOI: 10.1038/srep03731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2013] [Accepted: 12/20/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Thousands of chemicals have been identified as contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), but prioritizing them concerning ecological and human health risks is challenging. We explored the use of sewage treatment plants as chemical observatories to conveniently identify persistent and bioaccumulative CECs, including toxic organohalides. Nationally representative samples of sewage sludge (biosolids) were analyzed for 231 CECs, of which 123 were detected. Ten of the top 11 most abundant CECs in biosolids were found to be high-production volume chemicals, eight of which representing priority chemicals, including three flame retardants, three surfactants and two antimicrobials. A comparison of chemicals detected in nationally representative biological specimens from humans and municipal biosolids revealed 70% overlap. This observed co-occurrence of contaminants in both matrices suggests that the analysis of sewage sludge can inform human health risk assessments by providing current information on toxic exposures in human populations and associated body burdens of harmful environmental pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arjun K Venkatesan
- Center for Environmental Security, The Biodesign Institute, Security and Defense Systems Initiative, Arizona State University, 781 E. Terrace Road, Tempe, AZ 85287
| | - Rolf U Halden
- Center for Environmental Security, The Biodesign Institute, Security and Defense Systems Initiative, Arizona State University, 781 E. Terrace Road, Tempe, AZ 85287
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Venkatesan AK, Halden RU. National inventory of perfluoroalkyl substances in archived U.S. biosolids from the 2001 EPA National Sewage Sludge Survey. J Hazard Mater 2013; 252-253:413-8. [PMID: 23562984 PMCID: PMC3776589 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2013.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2012] [Revised: 02/11/2013] [Accepted: 03/08/2013] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, we determined the first nationwide inventories of 13 perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in U.S. biosolids via analysis of samples collected by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in the 2001 National Sewage Sludge Survey. Perfluorooctane sulfonate [PFOS; 403 ± 127 ng/g dry weight (dw)] was the most abundant PFAS detected in biosolids composites representing 32 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, followed by perfluorooctanoate [PFOA; 34 ± 22 ng/g dw] and perfluorodecanoate [PFDA; 26 ± 20 ng/g dw]. Mean concentrations in U.S. biosolids of the remaining ten PFASs ranged between 2 and 21 ng/g dw. Interestingly, concentrations of PFOS determined here in biosolids collected prior to the phase-out period (2002) were similar to levels reported in the literature for recent years. The mean load of ∑PFASs in U.S. biosolids was estimated at 2749-3450 kg/year, of which about 1375-2070 kg is applied on agricultural land and 467-587 kg goes to landfills as an alternative disposal route. This study informs the risk assessment of PFASs by furnishing national inventories of PFASs occurrence and environmental release via biosolids application on land.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arjun K. Venkatesan
- Center for Environmental Security, The Biodesign Institute, Security and Defense Systems Initiative, Arizona State University, 781 E. Terrace Road, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Rolf U. Halden
- Center for Environmental Security, The Biodesign Institute, Security and Defense Systems Initiative, Arizona State University, 781 E. Terrace Road, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Corresponding author at: Center for Environmental Security, The Biodesign Institute, Security and Defense Systems Initiative, Arizona State University, 781 E. Terrace Road, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA. Tel.: +1 480 727 0893; fax: +1 480 965 6603. , rolf.,
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Venkatesan AK, Halden RU. National inventory of alkylphenol ethoxylate compounds in U.S. sewage sludges and chemical fate in outdoor soil mesocosms. Environ Pollut 2013; 174:189-93. [PMID: 23274446 PMCID: PMC3552055 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2012.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2012] [Revised: 11/09/2012] [Accepted: 11/16/2012] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
We determined the first nationwide inventories of alkylphenol surfactants in U.S. sewage sludges (SS) using samples from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 2001 national SS survey. Additionally, analysis of archived 3-year outdoor mesocosm samples served to determine chemical fates in SS-amended soil. Nonylphenol (NP) was the most abundant analyte (534 ± 192 mg/kg) in SS composites, followed by its mono- and di-ethoxylates (62.1 ± 28 and 59.5 ± 52 mg/kg, respectively). The mean annual load of NP and its ethoxylates in SS was estimated at 2408-7149 metric tonnes, of which 1204-4289 is applied on U.S. land. NP compounds showed observable loss from SS/soil mixtures (1:2), with mean half-lives ranging from 301 to 495 days. Surfactant levels in U.S. SS ten-times in excess of European regulations, substantial releases to U.S. soils, and prolonged half-lives found under field conditions, all argue for the U.S. to follow Europe's move from 20 years ago to regulate these chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arjun K. Venkatesan
- Center for Environmental Security, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, 781 E. Terrace Road, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Rolf U. Halden
- Center for Environmental Security, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, 781 E. Terrace Road, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
- Corresponding author phone: +1 (480) 727-0893; fax: +1 (480) 727-0889;
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Venkatesan AK, Pycke BF, Barber LB, Lee KE, Halden RU. Occurrence of triclosan, triclocarban, and its lesser chlorinated congeners in Minnesota freshwater sediments collected near wastewater treatment plants. J Hazard Mater 2012; 229-230:29-35. [PMID: 22742731 PMCID: PMC3401314 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2012.05.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2011] [Revised: 04/26/2012] [Accepted: 05/12/2012] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
The antimicrobial agents triclosan (TCS), triclocarban (TCC) and their associated transformation products are of increasing concern as environmental pollutants due to their potential adverse effects on humans and wildlife, including bioaccumulation and endocrine-disrupting activity. Analysis by tandem mass spectrometry of 24 paired freshwater bed sediment samples (top 10 cm) collected by the U.S. Geological Survey near 12 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Minnesota revealed TCS and TCC concentrations of up to 85 and 822 ng/g dry weight (dw), respectively. Concentrations of TCS and TCC in bed sediments collected downstream of WWTPs were significantly greater than upstream concentrations in 58% and 42% of the sites, respectively. Dichloro- and non-chlorinated carbanilides (DCC and NCC) were detected in sediments collected at all sites at concentrations of up to 160 and 1.1 ng/g dw, respectively. Overall, antimicrobial concentrations were significantly higher in lakes than in rivers and creeks, with relative abundances decreasing from TCC>TCS>DCC>NCC. This is the first statewide report on the occurrence of TCS, TCC and TCC transformation products in freshwater sediments. Moreover, the results suggest biological or chemical TCC dechlorination products to be ubiquitous in freshwater environments of Minnesota, but whether this transformation occurs in the WWTP or bed sediment remains to be determined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arjun K. Venkatesan
- Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, The Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, USA
| | - Benny F.G. Pycke
- Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, The Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, USA
| | - Larry B. Barber
- U.S. Geological Survey, 3215 Marine Street, Boulder, CO 80303, USA
| | - Kathy E. Lee
- U.S. Geological Survey, Mounds View, MN 55112, USA
| | - Rolf U. Halden
- Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, The Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, USA
- Corresponding author phone: +1 (480) 727-0893; fax: +1 (480) 727-0889;
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Venkatesan AK, Ahmad S, Johnson W, Batista JR. Systems dynamic model to forecast salinity load to the Colorado River due to urbanization within the Las Vegas Valley. Sci Total Environ 2011; 409:2616-2625. [PMID: 21514626 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2011.03.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2010] [Revised: 03/16/2011] [Accepted: 03/17/2011] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
This study evaluates the impact of urban growth in the Las Vegas Valley (LVV), Nevada, USA on salinity of the Colorado River. In the past thirty eight years the LVV population has grown from 273,288 (1970) to 1,986,146 (2008). The wastewater effluents and runoff from the valley are diverted back to the Colorado River through the Las Vegas Wash (LVW). With the growth of the valley, the salinity released from urban areas has increased the level of TDS in the wastewater effluents, ultimately increasing the TDS in the Colorado River. The increased usage of water softeners in residential and commercial locations is a major contributor of TDS in the wastewater effluents. Controlling TDS release to the Colorado River is important because of the 1944 Treaty signed between the USA and Mexico. In addition, the agriculture salinity damage cost for the Colorado River has been estimated to be more than $306 a million per year using 2004 salinity levels. With the expected growth of LVV in coming years the TDS release into Lake Mead will increase over time. For this purpose, it is important to investigate future TDS release into the Colorado in anticipation of potential TDS reducing measures to be adopted. In this research, a dynamic simulation model was developed using system dynamics modeling to carry out water and TDS mass balances over the entire LVV. The dynamic model output agreed with historic data with an average error of 2%. Forecasts revealed that conservation efforts can reduce TDS load by 16% in the year 2035 when compared to the current trend. If total population using water softeners can be limited to 10% in the year 2035, from the current 30% usage, TDS load in the LVW can be reduced by 7%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arjun K Venkatesan
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), 4505 Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, NV 89154-4015, USA
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Venkatesan AK, Sharbatmaleki M, Batista JR. Bioregeneration of perchlorate-laden gel-type anion-exchange resin in a fluidized bed reactor. J Hazard Mater 2010; 177:730-737. [PMID: 20097003 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2009.12.092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2009] [Revised: 12/20/2009] [Accepted: 12/21/2009] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Selective ion-exchange resins are very effective to remove perchlorate from contaminated waters. However, these resins are currently incinerated after one time use, making the ion-exchange process incomplete and unsustainable for perchlorate removal. Resin bioregeneration is a new concept that combines ion-exchange with biological reduction by directly contacting perchlorate-laden resins with a perchlorate-reducing bacterial culture. In this research, feasibility of the bioregeneration of perchlorate-laden gel-type anion-exchange resin was investigated. Bench-scale bioregeneration experiments, using a fluidized bed reactor and a bioreactor, were performed to evaluate the feasibility of the process and to gain insight into potential mechanisms that control the process. The results of the bioregeneration tests suggested that the initial phase of the bioregeneration process might be controlled by kinetics, while the later phase seems to be controlled by diffusion. Feasibility study showed that direct bioregeneration of gel-type resin was effective in a fluidized-bed reactor, and that the resin could be defouled, reused, and repeatedly regenerated using the method applied in this research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arjun K Venkatesan
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nevada Las Vegas, 4505 Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, NV 89154-4015, USA
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