Mass fluxes per capita of organic contaminants from on-site sewage treatment facilities

Abstract

This study is the first attempt to quantify environmental fluxes per capita of organic contaminants discharged from on-site sewage treatment facilities (OSSFs) in affected recipients. Five sites were monitored around the River Fyris in Sweden: three mainly affected by OSSFs and two mainly affected by municipal sewage treatment plants (STPs). Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to determine environmental concentrations of 30 anthropogenic contaminants, including organophosphorus compounds, rubber and plastic additives, UV stabilizers, fragrances, surfactant ingredients and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Uni- and multivariate statistical analysis of the most frequently detected contaminants showed that median fluxes per capita of tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate, tris(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate, tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate, and n-butylbenzene sulfonamide were similar at OSSF and SW sites, but the mass fluxes per capita of tris-(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate, 2-(methylthio) benzothiazole, and galaxolide, were significantly lower (-2-3-fold) at OSSF sites than at SW sites (Mann Whitney, alpha = 0.05). Differences between these sites were larger in samples collected in summer and autumn than in samples collected in winter. Deviations likely originated from differences in fate processes and distances between source and sampling sites. Further studies are needed to characterize mass fluxes per capita of contaminants in waters that directly receive discharges from OSSFs. (C) 2018 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Keywords

Decentralized wastewater treatment systems; Environmental load; Surface water; Diffuse sources; GCxGC-HRMS

Published in

Chemosphere
2018, Volume: 201, pages: 864-873
Publisher: PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

SLU Authors

• Ahrens, Lutz

  • Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Gros Calvo, Meritxell

  • Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Wiberg, Karin

  • Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG3 Good health and well-being
SDG6 Clean water and sanitation


UKÄ Subject classification

Oceanography, Hydrology, Water Resources


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.03.058

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/95103