Dissolved concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the influents and effluents of two municipal sewage treatment plants (STPs) were monitored over 16-(Umeå, Sweden) and 22-(Šiauliai, Lithuania) day sampling periods. Sampling was performed using a passive sampling technique (semipermeable membrane devices; SPMDs) for sequestration of the dissolved (readily bioavailable) fraction of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Removal efficiencies for individual low molecular weight (LMW) PAH compounds varied from 84% to levels at which the compounds were not detected in effluents from Umeå. The corresponding efficiencies of theŠiauliai plant were 33-95%. Measurements revealed that dissolved concentrations of most of the PCBs and some of the high molecular weight (HMW) PAHs increased during the conventional wastewater treatment at both plants. The release of dissolved PAHs and PCBs in the effluents from municipal wastewater treatment plants might increase the environmental contamination by readily bioavailable pollutants in the recipient waters; the rivers Umeälven and Kulpè. SPMDs were found to be suitable sampling tools for long-term (weeks-month) integrative monitoring of trace concentrations of the dissolved fraction of hydrophobic pollutants in the wastewater process, since the sampling and clean-up steps were easy to perform.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.