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We ACE, Stickland AD, Clarke BO, Freguia S. The role of suspended biomass in PFAS enrichment in wastewater treatment foams. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 254:121349. [PMID: 38401288 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024]
Abstract
Foaming in aerated bioreactors at wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) has been identified as an operational issue for decades. However, the affinity of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) for air-liquid interfaces suggests that foam harvesting has the potential to become a sustainable method for PFAS removal from sewage. Aerated bioreactors' foams are considered three-phase systems, comprising air, aqueous and solid components, the latter consisting of activated sludge biomass. To achieve a comprehensive understanding of the capability of aerated bioreactors' foams to enrich PFAS, we analysed PFAS concentrations from WWTPs in both the solid and aqueous phases of the collapsed foams (foamate) and underlying bulk mixed liquors. Our findings show that PFAS enrichment occurs not only in the aqueous phase but also in the solid phase of the foamate. This suggests that previous field studies that only analysed the aqueous phase may have underestimated the capability of the aerated bioreactors' foams to enrich PFAS. Fractions of PFOA and PFOS sorbed to the solid phase of the foamate can be as high as 60 % and 95 %, respectively. Our findings highlight the importance of implementing effective foamate management strategies that consider both the aqueous and solid phases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angel Chyi En We
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia; Australian Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants, School of Chemistry, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Anthony D Stickland
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Bradley O Clarke
- Australian Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants, School of Chemistry, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Stefano Freguia
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia.
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Nzabanita D, Shen H, Grist S, Lewis PJ, Hampton JO, Firestone SM, Hufschmid J, Nugegoda D. Exposure to Persistent Organic Pollutants in Australian Waterbirds. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2024; 43:736-747. [PMID: 38085117 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
There is growing worldwide recognition of the threat posed by persistent organic pollutants (POPs) to wildlife populations. We aimed to measure exposure levels to POPs in a Southern Hemisphere aquatic waterbird species, the nomadic gray teal (Anas gracilis), which is found across Australia. We collected wings from 39 ducks harvested by recreational hunters at two sites (one coastal, one inland) in Victoria, southeastern Australia, in 2021. We examined three groups of POPs: nine congeners of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), 13 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), and 12 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The PCBs, OCPs, and PAHs were detected at quantifiable levels in 13%, 72%, and 100% of birds, respectively. Of the congeners we tested for in PCBs, OCPs, and PAHs, 33%, 38%, and 100% were detected at quantifiable levels, respectively. The highest levels of exposure to POPs that we found were to the PAH benzo[b]fluoranthene, occurring at a concentration range of 1.78 to 161.05 ng/g wet weight. There were some trends detected relating to differences between geographical sites, with higher levels of several PAHs at the coastal versus inland site. There were several strong, positive associations among PAHs found. We discuss potential sources for the POPs detected, including industrial and agricultural sources, and the likely role of large-scale forest fires in PAH levels. Our results confirm that while Australian waterbirds are exposed to a variety of POPs, exposure levels are currently relatively low. Additional future investigations are required to further characterize POPs within Australian waterbird species. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:736-747. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damien Nzabanita
- School of Science, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Hao Shen
- School of Science, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Stephen Grist
- School of Science, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Phoebe J Lewis
- Applied Sciences Division, Environment Protection Authority Victoria, Macleod, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jordan O Hampton
- Faculty of Science, Melbourne Veterinary School, University of Melbourne, Werribee, Victoria, Australia
- Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Simon M Firestone
- Faculty of Science, Melbourne Veterinary School, University of Melbourne, Werribee, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jasmin Hufschmid
- Faculty of Science, Melbourne Veterinary School, University of Melbourne, Werribee, Victoria, Australia
| | - Dayanthi Nugegoda
- School of Science, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Chen H, Jiang J, Tang J, Xu L, Deng W, Ye K, Zeng D, Luo Y. Legacy and emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in the Shuidong bay of South China: Occurrence, partitioning behavior, and ecological risks. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 350:141106. [PMID: 38171402 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.141106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/31/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
With the phase-out of legacy per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), PFAS alternatives have been increasingly used in industrial production and daily life. However, available information on the occurrence of PFASs and PFAS alternatives in semi-enclosed bays remains limited. As a representative semi-enclosed bay in Guangdong Province, China, Shuidong Bay has experienced severe anthropogenic pollution (industrial, shipping, cultural, and domestic) in recent decades. Water pollution in Shuidong Bay has worsened, and PFASs have been identified as ubiquitous environmental pollutants in this bay. In this study, 23 PFASs, including 5 emerging PFASs, were analyzed in water, suspended particulate matter (SPM), and sediment samples collected from Shuidong Bay. We determined that perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) was the predominant PFAS compound in seawater, whereas 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonic acid (FTS) and perfluorooctane sulfonamide acetate (FOSAA) were dominant in SPM and sediment, respectively. The sediment-water partitioning coefficients were greatly dependent on the perfluorinated carbon chain length. Chlorophyll a concentration had a significant effect on the dissolved concentrations of PFASs in seawater. The ecological risk assessment indicated that the PFASs detected in the seawater and sediment samples posed no considerable risks to aquatic organisms. This study provides a valuable reference for evaluating PFAS contamination in Shuidong Bay and conducting ecological risk assessments for aquatic organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Academy of Environmental Science, Guangzhou, 510045, China
| | - Jingyuan Jiang
- Guangdong Provincial Academy of Environmental Science, Guangzhou, 510045, China
| | - Junyi Tang
- Guangdong Provincial Academy of Environmental Science, Guangzhou, 510045, China
| | - Lijia Xu
- South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou, 510530, China
| | - Weihua Deng
- Guangdong Provincial Academy of Environmental Science, Guangzhou, 510045, China
| | - Kuangmin Ye
- Guangdong Provincial Academy of Environmental Science, Guangzhou, 510045, China
| | - Danna Zeng
- Guangdong Provincial Academy of Environmental Science, Guangzhou, 510045, China
| | - Yuchi Luo
- Guangdong Provincial Academy of Environmental Science, Guangzhou, 510045, China.
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Xu S, Zhang C, Zhou Y, Chen F, Chen F, Wang W, Tang H, Gao Y, Meng L. Occurrence and transport of novel and legacy poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances in coastal rivers along the Laizhou Bay, northern China. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 198:115909. [PMID: 38096694 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
The pollution profiles of 25 legacy and emerging poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in the estuaries along the Laizhou Bay, northern China were investigated to better understand the new structure of PFASs under international regulations and to estimate the mass loadings of PFASs in coastal rivers. About 39.87 kg/d of PFASs were discharged into the Laizhou Bay by the Xiaoqing, Mi and Zhimai Rivers. Total PFAS concentrations in the Xiaoqing River decreased notably in recent years, but were still greater than the levels in 2011. Contribution of replacement substances exhibited an increasing trend in recent years. However, the long-chain chemicals were still the larger contributors of PFASs. Perfluoromethoxypropionic acid (PFMPA) was first detected with high concentrations ranging from 165.3 to 586.3 ng/L in the Xiaoqing River. The results of this study provided baseline data for ecological risk assessment, environmental management and corresponding development of pollution treatment technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sisi Xu
- Resources and Environment Innovation Institute, Shandong Jianzhu University, Jinan 250101, Shandong, China
| | - Cunliang Zhang
- Shandong Provincial Eco-environment Monitoring Center, Jinan 250101, Shandong, China
| | - Yuanhang Zhou
- Resources and Environment Innovation Institute, Shandong Jianzhu University, Jinan 250101, Shandong, China
| | - Fanghui Chen
- Resources and Environment Innovation Institute, Shandong Jianzhu University, Jinan 250101, Shandong, China
| | - Feiyong Chen
- Resources and Environment Innovation Institute, Shandong Jianzhu University, Jinan 250101, Shandong, China.
| | - Wenlei Wang
- Shandong Provincial Eco-environment Monitoring Center, Jinan 250101, Shandong, China.
| | - Hua Tang
- Division of Chemical Metrology and Analytical Science, National Institute of Metrology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Yan Gao
- Division of Chemical Metrology and Analytical Science, National Institute of Metrology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Lun Meng
- Shandong Shike Modern Agriculture Investment Co., Ltd, Heze 274000, Shandong, China
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