Mass Loadings of Triclosan and Triclocarbon from Four Wastewater Treatment Plants to Three Rivers and Landfill in Savannah, Georgia, USA

Abstract

Triclosan (TCS) and triclocarbon (TCC) are bactericides used in various consumer and personal-care products. Recent studies have revealed considerable levels of these bactericides in wastewater, aquatic wildlife, and human samples. Consequently, in this study we measured TCS and TCC in influent and effluent, sludge, and pond water/sediment samples from four wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and three major rivers in Savannah, Georgia (USA). Among these treatment plants, the Wilshire plant showed elevated concentrations of TCS (influent, 86,161; effluent, 5370 ng/L), whereas TCC was greater in the Georgetown plant (influent, 36,221) and the Wilshire plant effluent (3045 ng/L). Clearance of TCS and TCC were 95 and 92%, respectively, in the President Street plant, 94 and 85%, respectively, in the Wilshire plant, 99 and 80%, respectively, in the Travis Field plant, and 99 and 99%, respectively, in the Georgetown plant. Based on the mass flow estimate, 138 g/day of TCS and 214 g/day TCC are released into the Savannah River from the President Street, Travis Field, and Wilshire plants and 1.60 g/day TCS and 1.64 g/day TCC are released to the Ogeechee River from the Georgetown plant. Based on the sludge data, the loading estimate can be calculated that 32 and 0.004 g/day TCS and 53 and 0.01 g/day TCC (nonincinerated and incinerated, respectively) are deposited in landfill from the President Street plant alone, whereas 4.6, 26, and 6.8 g/day TCS and 3.8, 23, and 5.9 g/day TCC (wet sludge) were produced and dumped in landfill from the rest of the WWTPs. Incineration of wet sludge can eliminate 99.99% of TCS and TCC. Concentrations of TCS and TCC in water and sediment were greater in the Vernon River, followed by the Savannah River and the Ogeechee River.

A reduction in triclosan and triclocarban in water resource recovery facilities’ influent, effluent, and biosolids following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's 2013 proposed rulemaking on antibacterial products

“…The 2012 effluent loading concentrations (non‐normalized data) for triclocarban and triclosan for all seven plants ranged from 0.91 to 407 g/day with a mean of 117 and 0.74–158 g/day with a mean of 55 g/day, respectively. These values are comparable to reported effluent loading concentrations of 1.6–168 g/day for triclocarban and 0.91–76 g/day for triclosan from four WRRFs in Savannah, GA with flows ranging from 5.1 × 10 3 to 7.3 × 10 4 m 3 /day (1.3–19 MGD) (Kumar, Priya, Peck, & Sajwan, ). Additionally, Heidler, Sapkota, and Halden () reported an effluent loading of 127 g/day for triclocarban from a WRRF in the Mid‐Atlantic region with a flow of 6.8 × 10 5 m 3 /day (180 MGD).…”

Personal care product preservatives: Risk assessment and mixture toxicities with an industrial wastewater

“…In addition to industrial wastewater, the regular usage of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) also contributes to the discharge of large quantities of unalterated preservatives (Ternes et al, 2004). Preservatives have been detected in concentrations of up to mg L À1 and mg L À1 in industrial effluents and STP influents, respectively (Kummerer et al, 1997;Woldegiorgis et al, 2007;Norstrom et al, 2008;Kasprzyk-Hordern et al 2009;Kumar et al, 2010;Poberznik et al, 2011). However, in comparison with other PPCPs such as antibiotics, relatively little is known about occurrence and toxicity of preservatives (Brausch and Rand, 2011).…”

Triclocarban Mediates Induction of Xenobiotic Metabolism through Activation of the Constitutive Androstane Receptor and the Estrogen Receptor Alpha

“…It has been estimated that the antibacterial agent is present in 76% of all liquid soaps, while TCC is the predominant antibacterial compound in all soaps [3]. Up to 454,000 kg of TCC is used in the United States each year [4]. As a result of its use in the health care industry and its resistance to degradation in sewage treatment processes, TCC has become a significant waste product that is found in numerous environmental compartments, such as water resources, sewage and sludge [4]–[6].…”

“…Up to 454,000 kg of TCC is used in the United States each year [4]. As a result of its use in the health care industry and its resistance to degradation in sewage treatment processes, TCC has become a significant waste product that is found in numerous environmental compartments, such as water resources, sewage and sludge [4]–[6]. Evidence indicates that TCC passes freely through wastewater treatment facilities into the effluent and accumulates in the processed sludge, which is often used as a soil amendment or fertilizer, thus allowing TCC to be reintroduced into the environment.…”