Assessing the Impact of Organic and Inorganic Pollutants Released from a Wastewater Treatment Plant on Humans and Aquatic Environment, Al-Hoceima City, Morocco

Abstract

Wastewater contains a variety of compounds qualified as pollutants. These undergo incomplete treatment in wastewater treatment plants. The objective of this study is to determine the potential impacts on humans and aquatic environment of 46 organic and inorganic micropollutants using the USE-tox® model. The concentrations used in this study are obtained by analyzing raw and treated wastewater from the wastewater treatment plant of the city of Al-Hoceima, Morocco. The total human health impact score is 10 − 2, generally varying between 10 − 3 and 10 − 9. Ba, Hg, Zn and Cd had the highest score with a percentage of 92% of the total score. For the aquatic environment, impact was estimated for 25 compounds. Pyrene, Anthracene, Benzo(a)Anthracene, Fluoranthene and PCB-77 were the major contributors with an impact ranging from 3.43E + 02 to 1.21E + 01 PDF.m 3 .d. With a value of 3.43E + 02, Pyrene had the highest impact, contributing 73% by itself.

State of the art of trace metal detection in the mediterranean coastal marine environment, combinatorial approach using mytilus galloprovincialis and surface sediments

“…In fish, copper toxicity leads to disruption of membrane lipids and the formation of reactive oxygen species [33,34], altering fish gills and delaying spawning. This can disrupt marine food chains and affect biodiversity, leading to changes in marine community structure and reduced biodiversity [35,36]. Heavy metals can alter the physico-chemical characteristics of marine environments, such as salinity, pH and oxygen content, with consequences for the survival of marine species [37][38][39].…”

“…Populations that depend on marine resources for their food can be exposed to toxic trace metals present in marine organisms, leading to risks for human health, as these elements, such as Hg, Pb , Cd ,As ,Ni and Cr, accumulate over time and become a threat to human life, causing various types of illness, such as increased blood pressure, brittle bones, joint pain, as well as dysfunction of the hepatic, gastrointestinal, renal and reproductive systems, such as infertility in women and serious problems for the foetus, cell apoptosis [41,42]. Many have long-term carcinogenic effects [5,43,44]. High concentrations of heavy metals in Mediterranean coastal water can also pose challenges for the production of drinking water in desalination plants [45,46].…”

“…In terms of detection and monitoring, traditional techniques such as spectrometry and chemical methods are complemented by emerging approaches that exploit bioindicators and sediments [17]. Bioindicators, such as certain mollusc species like Mytilus sp., are particularly valued for their ability to accumulate trace metals, reflecting environmental contamination without the need for invasive or large-scale sampling [18][19][20].…”

The Production of Biochar from Sewage Sludge Pyrolysis and its Use: A Mini Review

“…However, these traditional approaches are far from ideal (Figure 1). Landfill, though widespread, occupies vast tracts of land and risks soil and groundwater contamination, not to mention the production of methane, a greenhouse gas, during the anaerobic decomposition of organic matter [13][14][15][16][17][18]. On the other hand, incineration, despite its ability to reduce sludge volume and generate energy, brings with it major environmental concerns [19][20][21][22][23].…”

A review of recent trends in the removal of emerging contaminants from wastewater using green adsorbents

“…The discharge of untreated wastewater into ecosystems presents significant health hazards, underscoring the imperative for effective wastewater treatment strategies to mitigate these detrimental impacts [1,[7][8][9]. Among the plethora of wastewater treatment methodologies, adsorption stands out for its economic efficiency, straightforward design, minimal carbon footprint, and environmental sustainability [10]. This method is lauded for its operational simplicity and high potential for adsorbent regeneration, making it a paragon of ecofriendly technology [11].…”