| Title: | Systematic study of the contamination of wastewater treatment plant effluents by organic priority compounds in Almeria province (SE Spain) |
| Author(s): | Barco-Bonilla N; Romero-Gonzalez R; Plaza-Bolanos P; Martinez Vidal JL; Garrido Frenich A; |
| Address: | "Department of Chemistry and Physics (Analytical Chemistry Area), University of Almeria, Andalusian Center for the Assessment and Monitoring of Global Change (CAESCG), Agrifood Campus of International Excellence, ceiA3, E-04120, Almeria, Spain" |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.01.027 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1879-1026 (Electronic) 0048-9697 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "The occurrence of priority organic pollutants in wastewater (WW) effluents was evaluated in a semi-arid area, characterized by a high agricultural and tourism activity, as Almeria province (Southeastern Spain). Twelve wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) were sampled in three campaigns during 2011, obtaining a total of 33 WW samples, monitoring 226 compounds, including pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phenolic compounds and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Certain banned organochlorine pesticides such as aldrin, pentachlorobenzene, o,p'-DDD and endosulfan lactone were found, and the most frequently detected pesticides were herbicides (diuron, triazines). PAHs and VOCs were also detected, noting that some of these pollutants were ubiquitous. Regarding phenolic compounds, 4-tertoctylphenol was found in all the WW samples at high concentration levels (up to 89.7 mug/L). Furthermore, it was observed that WW effluent samples were less contaminated in the second and third sampling periods, which corresponded to dry season. This evaluation revealed that despite the WW was treated in the WWTP, organic contaminants are still being detected in WW effluents and therefore they are released into the environment. Finally the risk of environmental threat due to the presence of some compounds in WWTP effluents, especially concerning 4-tertoctylphenol must be indicated" |
| Keywords: | Agriculture Aldrin/analysis Chlorobenzenes/analysis Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane/analysis Endosulfan/analysis Environmental Monitoring Pesticides/*analysis Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons/*analysis Spain Volatile Organic Compounds/analysis Waste Dispos; |
| Notes: | "MedlineBarco-Bonilla, Nieves Romero-Gonzalez, Roberto Plaza-Bolanos, Patricia Martinez Vidal, Jose L Garrido Frenich, Antonia eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Netherlands 2013/02/16 Sci Total Environ. 2013 Mar 1; 447:381-9. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.01.027. Epub 2013 Feb 11" |
