Organic Pollutants in Wastewater Treatment Plants: Level, Distribution and Potential risks

A wide range of organic chemicals has been using in industrial, household and health care products, but their potential risks to human health and the environment have not been comprehensively recognised. These chemicals are released and enter the wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) after their use. These substances have been found to accumulate in biosolids and are not efficiently removed following wastewater treatment. Discharge of effluent into surface waters, disposing of biosolids in landfills and applying biosolids in agriculture are the main pathways for re-release of these chemicals into the environment. Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are selected as the compounds of interest for this project, due to their frequent detection in WWTPs, persistence and toxicity. By systematic sampling and analysis in laboratory, this study aim to assess the level, distribution, and potential risk of these organic pollutants from WWTPs across Australia and Vietnam as a case study.

Presenter:

Ms Hue Nguyen, QAEHS PhD Candidate; mid-candidature review