A framework for screening sites at risk from contaminants of emerging concern

Abstract

Trace levels of a variety of currently unregulated organic chemicals have been detected in treated wastewater effluents and surface waters that receive treated effluents. Many of these chemicals of emerging concern (CECs) originate from pharmaceuticals and personal care products that are used widely and that frequently are transported "down the drain" to a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). Actual effects of CECs on aquatic life have been difficult to document, although biological effects consistent with effects of some CECs have been noted. There is a critical need to find appropriate ways to screen wastewater sites that have the greatest potential of CEC risk to biota. Building on the work of several researchers, the authors present a screening framework, as well as examples based on the framework, designed to identify high-risk versus lower-risk sites that are influenced by WWTP effluent. It is hoped that this framework can help researchers, utilities, and the larger water resource community focus efforts toward improving CEC risk determinations and management of these risks.

An Assessment of the Spatial and Temporal Variability of Biological Responses to Municipal Wastewater Effluent in Rainbow Darter (Etheostoma caeruleum) Collected along an Urban Gradient

“…This is a significant issue because measures at higher levels of biological organization provide regulators with the information necessary to make decisions. For example, a recently proposed framework for screening sites at risk from CECs suggested identifying sites where population and community effects are observed [ 80 ].…”

Removal of Enteric Pathogens from Real Wastewater Using Single and Catalytic Ozonation

“…The conventional wastewater treatment reveals difficulty in removing both chemical and biological emerging contaminants from water [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. Among these pollutants, pharmaceutical and personal care products, as well as enteric pathogens [8][9][10][11][12], are of concern.…”

Use of prospective and retrospective risk assessment methods that simplify chemical mixtures associated with treated domestic wastewater discharges

“…In this case, a retrospective assessment using the framework shown in Figure could be used to determine whether there is evidence of chemical mixture exposure. Although the figure suggests a linear approach, in the process of going from effluent analysis to measurements downstream of a domestic WWTP discharge, any or all of the steps shown may be used simultaneously or in a different order depending on the site‐specific situation and the information available (see, for example, Diamond et al ). Use of more of the steps shown in Figure may lead to a more informed risk management outcome.…”