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The fate of triclosan in diverse stages of two sewage treatment processes has been determined. The elimination process differed considerably depending on the technology applied in the respective sewage treatment plant (STP). The plant operating with a two-stage biologic (activated sludge) process removed triclosan more efficiently than the STP with a combination of physical and activated sludge process. The treatment in the aeration basin was the dominant elimination mechanism, whereas the final biologic filter was not very effective. The elimination rates for triclosan were 87% and 95%, respectively. These data were compared with emissions of a multitude of STPs in the river Ruhr catchment area as well as triclosan and its known transformation product, triclosan-methyl, in the river. The concentrations of both compounds were between <3 and 10 ng/L in true surface-water samples for triclosan and between 0.3 and 10 ng/L for triclosan-methyl. The STP effluents held higher concentrations (10 to 600 ng/L triclosan). The ratio of triclosan to triclosan-methyl did not change significantly within the longitudinal profile of the river, but diverse STPs discharging to the river exhibited individual triclosan-to-triclosan-methyl ratios. From the riverine concentration data, in-river elimination rates and half-life were estimated.

Previous studies have revealed that chlorinated and non-chlorinated organophosphorous flame retardants and plasticisers are important contaminants in German surface waters and it has been demonstrated that wastewater treatment plants contribute to the emission of these substances. In this study temporal development as well as elimination efficiency were determined in two wastewater treatment plants (STP) in the Ruhr/Rhine area at different stages of the wastewater treatment process. The samples were analysed for the non-chlorinated organophosphate esters tri-n-butylphosphate (TnBP), tri-iso-butylphosphate (TiBP), tris-(butoxyethyl)-phosphate (TBEP) and triphenylphosphate (TPP) and the chlorinated organophosphate esters tris-(2-chloro, 1-methylethyl)-phosphate (TCPP), tris-(2-chloro-, 1-chloromethylethyl)-phosphate (TDCP) and tris-(2-chloroethyl)-phosphate (TCEP). The study showed that there were significant differences in the elimination of chlorinated and non-chlorinated organophosphorous flame retardants. The elimination rates ranged from 57-86% for TiBP, TnBP and TBEP at both STP's. No elimination of the chlorinated flame retardants TCPP, TDCP and TCEP was observed in any of the sampled STPs. At both STPs the first treatment steps and the final filtration did not contribute to the elimination of the non-chlorinated organophosphorous flame retardants while the aeration step did. At both STPs the efficiency of the cleaning process concerning the flame retardants was comparable. Thus the type of construction of the STP was not relevant for the elimination of these substances. Additionally a strong day-to-day variation was observed, while in one STP a temporal trend for TCPP during the week was found.

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