Survey of Levels of Phthalate Ester Plasticizers in a Sewage Lagoon Effluent and a Receiving Stream

Abstract

In this study, samples from a sewage treatment lagoon and those from a receiving stream were analyzed for their phthalate esters content. Knowledge of the distribution of ubiquitous phthalate esters in the sewage lagoon and the receiving stream was necessary because of the reports of their subtle toxicity to aquatic biota and humans. Liquid-liquid extraction, Clean-up experiment and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) were the methods employed for the quantitative determination of the Phthalates. A study of uncontaminated water was done to establish blank levels. The sewage lagoon and the receiving stream were grossly polluted as several phthalate ester plasticizers: DMP, DEP, DPhP, DBP, DEHP, DOP and DINP were found present at monthly mean levels of between 24.02 mg/L and 139.25 mg/L in the sewage treatment lagoon and 10.41 mg/L and 80.53 mg/L in the receiving stream. The results showed higher levels of phthalate esters in the sewage lagoon compared to the receiving stream. The sewage lagoon was identified as a pollution point source into the receiving stream. Levels of phthalates obtained from the receiving stream are much higher than the water criteria of 3 microg/L phthalates recommended by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) for the protection of fish and other aquatic life in water and the Suggested No-Adverse Effect Levels (SNAEL) of 7.5-38.5 microg/L for drinking water. This should give cause for great environmental concern. Peoples' health downstream is at stake and so is the 'health' of the ecosystem.

Urban groundwater quality in sub-Saharan Africa: current status and implications for water security and public health

“…Fatoki et al (2010) studied phthalates in surface water and found concentrations which gave cause for concern with diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) posing the greatest risk (range 0.3-2.78 mg/L). Ogunfowokan et al (2006) assessed phthalates in a sewage lagoon and adjacent surface water. Both were assessed as being polluted by a range of phthalate compounds.…”

Surface Water Quality Monitoring in Nigeria: Situational Analysis and Future Management Strategy

“…Several phthalate esters, dimethyl-(DMP), diethyl-(DEP), and di-n-butyl-(DBP) were found present at levels of 10 mg L -1 to 1472 mg L -1 in river water and 91 mg L -1 to 1219 mg L -1 in tap water from the cities' water treatment plants. Ogunfowokan et al (2006) investigated the levels and seasonal variations in the occurrence of PAEs in sewage oxidation pond at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. The sewage lagoon and the receiving stream were grossly polluted as several phthalate ester plasticizers: dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), di-2-propyl heptyl phthalate (DPHP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), diethyl hexyl phthalate (DEHP), di-octyl phthalate (DOP) and diisononyl phthalate (DINP) were found present at monthly mean levels of between 24.02 and 139.25 mg L -1 in the sewage treatment lagoon and 10.41 and 80.53 mg L -1 in the receiving stream.…”

Determination of organochlorine pesticides in the agricultural soil of Oke-Osun farm settlement, Osogbo, Nigeria

“…The method of Ogunfowokan et al (2003Ogunfowokan et al ( , 2006 was used. The response factor of the standard OCPs was determined by analysing 1.0 μL of 1,000 ppm stock solution of the standard mixture containing the internal standard (I.S.)…”