Sources and pathways for pharmaceuticals in the urban water environment
Conference paper
Tuckwell, R., Revitt, D., Garelick, H., Jones, H. and Ellis, J. 2011. Sources and pathways for pharmaceuticals in the urban water environment. 12th International Conference on Urban Drainage. Porto Alegre, Brazil 11 - 16 Sep 2011
Type | Conference paper |
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Title | Sources and pathways for pharmaceuticals in the urban water environment |
Authors | Tuckwell, R., Revitt, D., Garelick, H., Jones, H. and Ellis, J. |
Abstract | The progress of five pharmaceutical compounds (bezafibrate, carbamazepine, diclofenac, ibuprofen and sulfasalazine) and one antibacterial agent (triclosan) were monitored through the treatment stages of a large sewage treatment works (STW) using activated sludge as well as in the receiving water both upstream and downstream of the effluent discharge. All except sulfasalazine were detected in the influent at concentrations ranging from 1.44-3.75 µg/L. The analysis of prescription data has been used as a tool to predict the amount of pharmaceuticals potentially released into the catchment of the investigated sewage treatment works and the results compared with the measured influent concentrations. A reduction in concentration between influent and final effluent samples (51-97%) indicates the variable removal of these compounds and therefore their potential to be discharged into receiving surface waters. The analysis of primary and final effluents highlight the important processes involved in the removal of pharmaceuticals and indicate that sorption processes are important for bezafibrate, carbamazepine and diclofenac. These three PPCPs were observed at higher concentrations (0.07-0.35 µg/L) downstream of the discharged effluent compared to upstream (0.02-0.04 µg/L) although the risks that these compounds pose in the environment are not yet fully understood. |
Conference | 12th International Conference on Urban Drainage |
Publication dates | |
16 Sep 2011 | |
Publication process dates | |
Deposited | 23 Apr 2015 |
Output status | Published |
Accepted author manuscript | |
Copyright Statement | Post-print version included as permitted by conference organisers. |
Language | English |
https://repository.mdx.ac.uk/item/8517w
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