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J Environ Monit

Title:		Comparative assessments of VOC emission rates and associated health risks from wastewater treatment processes
Author(s):		Yang WB; Chen WH; Yuan CS; Yang JC; Zhao QL;
Address:		"Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung 804, Taiwan, R.O.C"
Journal Title:		J Environ Monit
Year:		2012
Volume:		20120730
Issue:		9
Page Number:		2464 - 2474
DOI:		10.1039/c2em30138e
ISSN/ISBN:		1464-0333 (Electronic) 1464-0325 (Linking)
Abstract:		"With the growing concern regarding emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), the relationship between the VOC emission rates and the associated public health risks has been rarely discussed. The objective of this study was to examine and compare the VOC emission rates and cancer and non-cancer risks by inhalation intake, using a municipal WWTP in China as an example, with respect to the effects of treatment technologies, VOC species, and seasonal variation. Given the treatment technology considered, the emission rates of VOCs in this study were estimated by means of mass balance or calculated on the molecular level. From the viewpoints of both emission rates and cancer and non-cancer risks, sedimentation was the treatment technology with the highest health risks to the workers. Slightly lower VOC emission rates and health risks than those for sedimentation were observed in anaerobic treatment. Although the aeration significantly enhanced the VOC emission rates in the aerobic treatment process, the associated health risks were limited due to the low VOC concentrations in the gas phase, which were likely attributed to the strong mixing and dilution with fresh air by aeration. Amongst the VOCs investigated, benzene was the VOC with both a relatively high emission rate and health risk, while trichloroethylene possessed a high emission rate but the lowest health risk. Without strong interfacial aeration and turbulence between the water and atmosphere, the effects of treatment technology and seasonal variation on the health risks might be connected to the VOC emission rates, while the effect of VOC species depended considerably on the respective cancer slope factors and reference concentrations; the employment of aeration provided a different conclusion in which the emission rates were enhanced without a significant increase in the related cancer risks. These findings can provide insight into future health risk management and reduction strategies for workers in WWTPs"
Keywords:		"Air Pollutants/*analysis China Environmental Monitoring/methods Humans Neoplasms/epidemiology Risk Assessment Seasons Volatile Organic Compounds/*analysis Waste Disposal, Fluid/*statistics & numerical data Wastewater/*chemistry;"
Notes:		"MedlineYang, Wen-Ben Chen, Wei-Hsiang Yuan, Chung-Shin Yang, Jun-Chen Zhao, Qing-Liang eng Comparative Study Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2012/07/31 J Environ Monit. 2012 Sep; 14(9):2464-74. doi: 10.1039/c2em30138e. Epub 2012 Jul 30"