PAH and PCB removal efficiencies in UmeÅ (Sweden) and Siauliai (Lithuania) municipal wastewater treatment plants

• Published in: Water, air, and soil pollution Vol. 175; no. 1-4; pp. 291 - 303
• Main Authors: BERGQVIST, P.-A, AUGULYTE, L, JURJONIENE, V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 01.09.2006; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Analysis; Applied sciences; Bioavailability; Bioavailable fraction; Continental surface waters; Diffusive sampling; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Effluent; Effluents; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Environmental monitoring; Exact sciences and technology; Hydrophobicity; Molecular weight; Municipal wastes; Municipal wastewater; Natural water pollution; Other wastewaters; PAHs; PCB; PCBs; Persistent organic pollutants; Pollutants; Pollution; Pollution, environment geology; Polychlorinated biphenyls; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Sampling; Sampling techniques; Semipermeable membranes; Sewage disposal; Sewage treatment; Sewage treatment plants; SPMDs; Wastewater treatment; Wastewater treatment efficiency; Wastewater treatment plants; Wastewaters; Water treatment; Water treatment and pollution; Sweden; Lithuania; Eastern Europe; Europe; PCBs; SPMDs; bioavailable fraction; Persistent organic pollutant; Passive detection; Aromatic compound; Stream; Urban waste water; wastewater treatment efficiency; Sampling; Organic compounds; Semipermeable membrane; Hydrocarbon; Hydrophobic compound; diffusive sampling; Polycyclic aromatic compound; analysis; Polychlorobiphenyl; Organic chlorine compounds; Sewage treatment plant; effluent; Surface water; Water quality; PAHs; Waste water purification; Performance
• ISSN: 0049-6979; 1573-2932
• DOI: 10.1007/s11270-006-9139-5

Dissolved concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the influents and effluents of two municipal sewage treatment plants (STPs) were monitored over 16- (Umeå, Sweden) and 22- (Siauliai, Lithuania) day sampling periods. Sampling was performed using a passive sampling technique (semipermeable membrane devices; SPMDs) for sequestration of the dissolved (readily bioavailable) fraction of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Removal efficiencies for individual low molecular weight (LMW) PAH compounds varied from 84% to levels at which the compounds were not detected in effluents from Umeå. The corresponding efficiencies of the Siauliai plant were 33-95%. Measurements revealed that dissolved concentrations of most of the PCBs and some of the high molecular weight (HMW) PAHs increased during the conventional wastewater treatment at both plants. The release of dissolved PAHs and PCBs in the effluents from municipal wastewater treatment plants might increase the environmental contamination by readily bioavailable pollutants in the recipient waters; the rivers Umeälven and Kulpè. SPMDs were found to be suitable sampling tools for long-term (weeks-month) integrative monitoring of trace concentrations of the dissolved fraction of hydrophobic pollutants in the wastewater process, since the sampling and clean-up steps were easy to perform.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]