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Lakshminarasimman N, Gewurtz SB, Parker WJ, Smyth SA. Quantifying the removal of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in physical, chemical, and biological sludge treatment systems. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 351:141203. [PMID: 38228194 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141203] [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: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) are priority contaminants historically used as flame retardants. PBDEs are known to occur in wastewater biosolids posing potential concerns with the beneficial land application of the biosolids. This study evaluated the removal of 21 congeners in nine full-scale sludge treatment systems including pelletization (P), alkaline stabilization (AS), and aerobic (AE) and anaerobic (AN) digestion. It is the first study to conduct a mass balance analysis of a broad spectrum of PBDEs during physical, chemical, and biological sludge treatment. The PBDE congener pattern in raw sludge and biosolids samples was consistent with commercial formulations. The fully brominated congener BDE-209 dominated biosolids from all sites with an average concentration of 620 ng/g dry weight (dw), followed by BDE-99 (173 ng/g dw) and BDE-47 (162 ng/g dw). Mass balance analysis on the P and AS processes showed no change in PBDE mass flows with treatment. However, aerobic and anaerobic digestion processes reported significant levels of removal and formation of individual congeners, though the results were not consistent between facilities. One aerobic digestion process (AE2) reported an overall average removal of 48%, whereas the other (AE1) reported very high levels of accumulation of tri- and tetraBDE congeners. Similarly, there were significant variations in PBDE behavior across the five anaerobic digestion plants studied. The plant with the longest solids retention time (SRT) (AN1) reported a moderate removal (50%) of overall PBDE loading and lower congeners, whereas other plants (AN2-AN5) showed significant low (-19%) to high (-166%) levels of formation of lower congeners. The results suggest that reduced SRTs result in formation of lower congeners while extended SRTs can lead to moderate removal of some PBDEs. Conventional sludge treatment result in low to moderate PBDE removal and advanced thermal conversion technologies may be needed to improve the contaminant removal during sludge treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sarah B Gewurtz
- Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, ON, Canada, L7S 1A1
| | - Wayne J Parker
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada, N2L 3G1
| | - Shirley Anne Smyth
- Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, ON, Canada, L7S 1A1
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Shi C, Hu Y, Kobayashi T, Zhang N, Kuramochi H, Zhang Z, Lei Z, Xu KQ. Comparison of decabromodiphenyl ether degradation in long-term operated anaerobic bioreactors under thermophilic and mesophilic conditions and the pathways involved. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 294:113009. [PMID: 34126536 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113009] [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: 11/29/2020] [Revised: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Anaerobic digestion of decabromodiphenyl ether was carried out and compared in two continuously stirred anaerobic bioreactors for 210 days under thermophilic and mesophilic conditions. Results show that the degradation of decabromodiphenyl ether followed the first-order reaction kinetics, which exhibited a higher removal rate in the thermophilic reactor when compared to the mesophilic one, reaching its maximum of 1.1 μg·day-1. The anaerobic digestion of decabromodiphenyl ether was found to involve the replacement of bromines from polybrominated diphenyl ether by hydrogen atoms, gradually forming nona-, octa- and hepta-brominated diphenyl ether, respectively. Under the thermophilic condition, the reactors were dominated by Bacillus sp. and Methanosarcina sp. with high bioactivity and high concentrations of debromination microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Shi
- Material Cycles Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8506, Japan; Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8572, Japan; Sino-Dutch R&D Centre for Future Wastewater Treatment Technologies, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Future Urban Design, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing, 100044, PR China
| | - Yong Hu
- Material Cycles Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8506, Japan
| | - Takuro Kobayashi
- Material Cycles Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8506, Japan.
| | - Nan Zhang
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8572, Japan
| | - Hidetoshi Kuramochi
- Material Cycles Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8506, Japan
| | - Zhenya Zhang
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8572, Japan
| | - Zhongfang Lei
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8572, Japan
| | - Kai-Qin Xu
- Material Cycles Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8506, Japan; Fujian Ospring Technology Development Co., Ltd., No. 22 Jinrong North Road Cangshan District, Fuzhou, 350000, PR China.
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Airaksinen R, Hallikainen A, Rantakokko P, Ruokojärvi P, Vuorinen PJ, Mannio J, Kiviranta H. Levels and congener profiles of PBDEs in edible Baltic, freshwater, and farmed fish in Finland. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2015; 49:3851-9. [PMID: 25699573 DOI: 10.1021/es505266p] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Fish is the major source of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) for Finnish consumers. To estimate the PBDE contamination in fish that Finns regularly consume as food, a large-scale sampling was undertaken in 2009-2010. Altogether 207 samples of 17 edible fish species were collected from commercially and recreationally important fishing areas in the Baltic Sea, freshwater lakes, and farming facilities. The analysis of 15 PBDE congeners was performed in an accredited testing laboratory with high-resolution gas chromatography mass spectrometry. In all of the samples, the Σ15PBDE varied between 0.029 and 73 ng/g fw. The most abundant congeners were BDE-47 (average proportion 42%), -99 (8.4%), -100 (11%), -154 (5.6%), and -209 (27%). High levels of BDE-209 were observed in the Baltic Sea, off the coast of Pori, in Baltic herring, perch, pike, and pike-perch. Overall, the PBDE levels in Baltic and freshwater fish were low. The levels in farmed whitefish were slightly higher than in wild whitefish. The reasons for the high BDE-209 levels in Baltic herring in Pori and the elevated levels of PBDEs in farmed whitefish should be investigated more thoroughly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riikka Airaksinen
- †Department of Environmental Health, National Institute for Health and Welfare, P.O. Box 95, FI-70701 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Anja Hallikainen
- ‡Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira, Mustialankatu 3, FI-00790 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Panu Rantakokko
- †Department of Environmental Health, National Institute for Health and Welfare, P.O. Box 95, FI-70701 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Päivi Ruokojärvi
- †Department of Environmental Health, National Institute for Health and Welfare, P.O. Box 95, FI-70701 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Pekka J Vuorinen
- §Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Viikinkaari 4, FI-00790 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jaakko Mannio
- ∥Finnish Environment Institute, P.O. Box 140, FI-00251 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Hannu Kiviranta
- †Department of Environmental Health, National Institute for Health and Welfare, P.O. Box 95, FI-70701 Kuopio, Finland
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Gevao B, Ghadban AN, Porcelli M, Ali L, Rashdan A, Al-Bahloul M, Matrouk K, Zafar J. Seasonal variations in the atmospheric concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in Kuwait. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2013; 454-455:534-541. [PMID: 23567174 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.02.073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2012] [Revised: 02/24/2013] [Accepted: 02/24/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The study reports fortnightly atmospheric concentrations of PBDEs concomitantly measured at an urban and a remote location over a twelve-month period in Kuwait to examine seasonal variability and urban-rural concentration gradients. The annual mean (and range) of ∑PBDE concentrations was 32 (3-208) pgm(-3) at the remote site and 57 (0.3-445) pgm(-3) at the urban site. Although not statistically significant, the median (29 pg m(-3)) and mean (57 pg m(-3)) concentrations at the urban location were higher than those measured at the remote location (18 and 29 pg m(-3) respectively), consistent with the view that urban centers are an important net source of these compounds to the environment. Although Clausius-Clapeyron plots showed statistically significant correlations (p<0.05) with temperature for low molecular weight congeners (BDEs 28, 47, 100), correlations with the ΣPBDE concentrations were not significant at both urban and remote sites. The seasonal variations in ΣPBDE concentrations were not markedly different at the urban location, but the median summer ΣPBDE concentration at the remote location was significantly higher than winter median ΣPBDE concentrations. The absence in seasonality at the urban location may be due to ongoing primary emissions in urban areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bondi Gevao
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Environment and Urban Development Division, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, P. O. Box 24885, 13109 Safat, Kuwait.
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Weinberg I, Dreyer A, Ebinghaus R. Waste water treatment plants as sources of polyfluorinated compounds, polybrominated diphenyl ethers and musk fragrances to ambient air. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2011; 159:125-132. [PMID: 20951480 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2010.09.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2010] [Revised: 09/06/2010] [Accepted: 09/10/2010] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
To investigate waste water treatment plants (WWTPs) as sources of polyfluorinated compounds (PFCs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and synthetic musk fragrances to the atmosphere, air samples were simultaneously taken at two WWTPs and two reference sites using high volume samplers. Contaminants were accumulated on glass fiber filters and PUF/XAD-2/PUF cartridges, extracted compound-dependent by MTBE/acetone, methanol, or hexane/acetone and detected by GC-MS or HPLC-MS/MS. Total (gas+particle phase) concentrations ranged from 97 to 1004 pg m(-3) (neutral PFCs), <MQL to 13 pg m(-3) (ionic PFCs), 5781 to 482,163 pg m(-3) (musk fragrances) and <1 to 27 pg m(-3) (PBDEs) and were usually higher at WWTPs than at corresponding reference sites, revealing that WWTPs can be regarded as sources of musk fragrances, PFCs and probably PBDEs to the atmosphere. Different concentrations at the two WWTPs indicated an influence of WWTP size or waste water origin on emitted contaminant amounts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingo Weinberg
- GKSS Research Centre Geesthacht, Max Planck Str. 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany; Leuphana University Lüneburg, Institute for Ecology and Environmental Chemistry, Scharnhorststr. 1, 21335 Lüneburg, Germany.
| | - Annekatrin Dreyer
- GKSS Research Centre Geesthacht, Max Planck Str. 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany
| | - Ralf Ebinghaus
- GKSS Research Centre Geesthacht, Max Planck Str. 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany
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Citulski JA, Farahbakhsh K. Fate of endocrine-active compounds during municipal biosolids treatment: a review. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2010; 44:8367-76. [PMID: 20961053 DOI: 10.1021/es102403y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
For two decades, the fates of endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) across various wastewater treatment processes have been studied using chemical and in vitro bioassay measurements. In comparison, little work has been conducted to track the fates of EDCs during municipal biosolids stabilization, particularly using bioassay approaches. This leads to knowledge gaps with respect to understanding which single or combined biosolid treatments facilitate EDC removal, and what the total endocrine-active potency of treated biosolids might be. These unknowns in turn heighten public opposition and distrust of biosolids reuse applications. This review aims to summarize what is currently known regarding EDC removal during commonly used full-scale biosolids treatment processes and highlights analytical challenges that are relevant when in vitro bioassays and chemical analyses are applied to biosolids samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel A Citulski
- School of Engineering, Thornbrough Building, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
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New perspective on the determination of flame retardants in sewage sludge by using ultrahigh pressure liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry with different ion sources. J Chromatogr A 2010; 1217:4601-11. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2010.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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