This study was devised to monitor the concentrations of 27 common pharmaceutical compounds both in the effluents of two wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), situated near Ferrara (Po Valley, Northern Italy), and in their respective receiving water bodies. These rivers were monitored both upstream and downstream of the effluent discharge point in order to determine the impact of the effluents on the quality of surface water, generally used for irrigation, and risk quotients were calculated for each compound. In general, the data collected reveal higher average values of the selected compounds in WWTP effluents than in surface waters, although some compounds not detected in the effluents but were present in the receiving water (upstream as well as downstream), highlighting the existence of other, untreated, sources of effluent. Risk assessment showed that the most environmentally critical compounds at both locations are the antibiotics sulphamethoxazole and clarithromycin. The average flow rate of the receiving water body with respect to the incoming effluent was found to be an important factor mitigating the negative effect of micro-pollutants.
Monitoring and Risk Assessment of Pharmaceutical Compounds in Two WWTP Effluents and Their Receiving Rivers in the Po Valley, Italy.
AL AUKIDY, Mustafa Kether;VERLICCHI, Paola;
2012
Abstract
This study was devised to monitor the concentrations of 27 common pharmaceutical compounds both in the effluents of two wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), situated near Ferrara (Po Valley, Northern Italy), and in their respective receiving water bodies. These rivers were monitored both upstream and downstream of the effluent discharge point in order to determine the impact of the effluents on the quality of surface water, generally used for irrigation, and risk quotients were calculated for each compound. In general, the data collected reveal higher average values of the selected compounds in WWTP effluents than in surface waters, although some compounds not detected in the effluents but were present in the receiving water (upstream as well as downstream), highlighting the existence of other, untreated, sources of effluent. Risk assessment showed that the most environmentally critical compounds at both locations are the antibiotics sulphamethoxazole and clarithromycin. The average flow rate of the receiving water body with respect to the incoming effluent was found to be an important factor mitigating the negative effect of micro-pollutants.I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
