A pilot study on the assessment of trace organic contaminants including pharmaceuticals and personal care products from on-site wastewater treatment systems along Skaneateles Lake in New York State, USA. (1st April 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Subedi, Bikram; Codru, Neculai; Dziewulski, David M.; Wilson, Lloyd R.; Xue, Jingchuan; Yun, Sehun; Braun-Howland, Ellen; Minihane, Christine; Kannan, Kurunthachalam
• Is Part Of: Water research. Volume 72(2015)
• Page Start: 28
• Page End: 39
• Publication Date: 2015-04-01
• Subjects: On-site wastewater treatment -- PPCPs -- Perfluorinated compounds -- PBDEs -- PCBs -- Septic effluent; ANL atenolol -- BPA bisphenol A -- CFI caffeine -- CBZ carbamazepine -- ETD estratrien-diol -- ETE estratrien-ethynyl-diol -- ETO estratrien-one -- ETUs enhanced treatment units -- IPF ibuprofen -- MDL method detection limits -- OXB oxybenzone -- OWTS on-site wastewater treatment systems -- PFASs perfluoroalkyl surfactants -- PFBS perfluorobutanesulfonate -- PFDS perfluorodecanesulfonate -- PFDA perfluorodecanoic acid -- PFDoDA perfluorododecanoic acid -- PFHpA perfluoroheptanoic acid -- PFHxS perfluorohexanesulfonate -- PFHxA perfluorohexanoic acid -- PFNA perfluorononanoic acid -- PFOSA perfluorooctanesulfonamide -- PFOS perfluorooctanesulfonate -- PFOA perfluorooctanoic acid -- PFUnDA perfluoroundecanoic acid -- PPCPs pharmaceuticals and personal care products -- PBDEs polybrominated diphenyl ethers -- PCBs polychlorinated biphenyls -- SMX sulfamethoxazole -- TCC triclocarban -- TCS triclosan -- TMP trimethoprim; Water -- Pollution -- Research -- Periodicals; 363.7394
• DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2014.10.049
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0043-1354

Abstract

Abstract: On-site wastewater treatment systems (OWTSs or septic systems) are designed to treat and dispose effluents on the same property that produces the wastewater. Approximately 25% of the U.S. population is served by such facilities. Nevertheless, studies on the treatment efficiency and discharge of organic contaminants through septic effluents are lacking. This pilot study showed the occurrence of organic contaminants including pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), perfluoroalkyl surfactants (PFASs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in septic effluents, adjacent lake water samples, household drinking water in homes that use lake water or a well adjacent to the lake as a source of drinking water, and offshore lake water samples. Septic effluent as well as lake and tap water samples were collected from several households with OWTSs around Skaneateles Lake located in central New York. The advanced on-site systems were installed in some households for the purpose of limiting nutrient levels in the effluent to protect the local surface water. Additionally, because many of these systems serve homes with limited land, advanced treatment systems were needed. The median concentrations of ten PPCPs (ranged from 0.45 to 388 ng/L) and eleven PFASs (ranged from 0.20 to 14.6 ng/L) in septic water were significantly higher ( p ≤ 0.01) than in lake water samples. The median concentrations of PPCPs and PFASs in lake and tap water samples were not significantly different ( p ≥ 0.65). The median concentrations of ∑PBDEs in septic, lake, and tap water samples were 7.47, 3.49, and 2.22 ng/L, respectively, and those for ∑PCBs were 33.1, 29.2, and 28.6 ng/L, respectively. The mass flux of PPCPs (i.e. the mass flow of PPCPs per unit area per unit time) through the disposal of treated septic effluent from textile biofilter and aerobic treatments to the dispersal unit ranged from 12 (carbamazepine) to 66900 μg/m 2 /day (caffeine) whereas that for PFASs ranged from 7.0 (perfluorobutanesulfonate) to 833 μg/m 2 /day (perfluorooctanoic acid). Based on the ratio of measured concentrations and method detection limit, triclocarban, perfluorooctanoic acid, and perfluorooctanesulfonate have the potential to be used as chemical tracers of septic water contamination in Skaneateles Lake. The median concentrations of atenolol, a beta-blocker drug, in septic water were significantly ( ρ = 0.86, p = 0.01) correlated with enterococci counts. Graphical abstract: Highlights: Efficiency of onsite wastewater treatment systems to remove organic pollutants was studied. Ten PPCPs and 11 PFASs were higher in septic water than in nearby lake water. Triclocarban and PFOS are potential tracers of septic contamination in nearby lakes. Atenolol concentration in septic water was correlated with enterococci counts.