E. Touraud

Discharge of pharmaceutical products (PPs) through a conventional biological sewage treatment plant: MECs vs PECs?

Pharmaceuticals for human use are consumed in significant quantities and their occurrence in aquatic systems has been reported by a number of authors. In the context of environmental risk assessment, there is an increasing interest in evaluating the discharge of pharmaceutical products to surface waters through sewage treatment plants (STP). This case study was carried out on a conventional biological treatment plant (Alès, France) and focused on a set of eleven drugs representing the main therapeutic classes. Measured environmental concentrations (MECs) range from the low ng L(-1) to 1.5 microg L(-1) in effluent and up to few hundred ng L(-1) in receiving surface waters. There is a good agreement between MEC and predicted environmental concentration (PEC) values for seven of the eleven investigated drugs in STP effluent. There is not such a good match between PEC and MEC values in surface waters, and this highlights the limits of this approach, at the local scale.

Drug residues and endocrine disruptors in drinking water: risk for humans?

The presence of pharmaceuticals and endocrine disruptors in the environment raises many questions about risk to the environment and human health. Environmental exposure has been largely studied, providing to date a realistic picture of the degree of contamination of the environment by pharmaceuticals and hormones. Conversely, little information is available regarding human exposure. NSAIDS, carbamazepine, iodinated contrast media, β-blockers, antibiotics have been detected in drinking water, mostly in the range of ng/L. it is questioned if such concentrations may affect human health. Currently, no consensus among the scientific community exists on what risk, if any, pharmaceuticals and endocrine disruptors pose to human health. Future European research will focus, on one hand, on genotoxic and cytotoxic anti-cancer drugs and, on the other hand, on the induction of genetic resistance by antibiotics. This review does not aim to give a comprehensive overview of human health risk of drug residues and endocrine disruptors in drinking water but rather highlight important topics of discussion.

Spectroscopic study of dissolved organic sulfur (DOS): a case study of mercaptans

Sulfur compounds are often present in petrochemical wastewater and can be detected by UV spectrophotometry. This technique allows to point out specific absorptions of mineral sulfide and mercaptans and can be used for the determination of acidity constants. From a quantitative point of view, using a spectral deconvolution method, a specific determination of some mercaptans is obtained. Detection limits for ethanethiol and thiophenol are 0.7 and 2.5 mg l(-1), respectively.

On line spectrophotometric method for the monitoring of colour removal processes

Abstract A spectrophotometric method for the monitoring of a discoloration process, based on the calculation, in CIELAB colour space, of colour differences from visible spectra, has been developed. This procedure, simple and rapid, has been tested on standard azo dyes solutions (Trypan Blue and Red Remazol) and an industrial wastewater (paper industry). Advanced oxidation processes, vacuum UV photolysis and photo-oxidation in presence of hydrogen peroxide, have been studied. A discoloration yield ( τ ) has been defined from colour differences and a minimal value of this parameter ( τ min ) has been calculated according to the colourless zone (Standard Method 2120C). When τ value reaches τ min value, studied sample is colourless and the treatment process may be stopped. Moreover, the proposed procedure allows to detect any trouble shooting during the discoloration process (d τ /d t =0 when τ τ min ). The proposed procedure requires only the acquisition of UV–visible spectra versus time, is easy to implement on line and gives real time information.

Chapter 3 – Organic Constituents

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the importance of identifying organic constituents in water and wastewater that is related to their potential toxicity, biodegradability, and availability. Synthetic organic compounds are produced either for domestic, industrial or agricultural uses. Around 60,000 compounds are widely used in human activities and could be found in the environment, especially in water or polluted soils. . Most of them present a conjugated structure, which induces UV absorption, sometimes in the visible range if the conjugation in the molecule is extended. The aliphatic compounds that have a chromophore in their structure show poor absorption in the UV region. Derivation, with the use of a specific reagent, enhances their absorption. Carbohydrates do not absorb either in visible range or in UV range. However, they can be revealed after a photo-oxidation step.

Photochemical reaction monitoring by ultra-violet spectrophotometry

Within the framework of the monitoring of the trichloroacetylchloride (TCAC) photosynthesis, ultra-violet (UV) spectrophotometry is proposed as a simple and rapid tool allowing, in real time, the control of the process efficiency. A good correlation has been obtained between the results acquired by this alternative method and the standard gas chromatography.

Chapter 10 Leachates and organic extracts from solids

Publisher Summary This chapter presents some applications related with landfill leachates, contaminated soils, and solid waste composts. A complementary study concerning natural sediments is presented in the chapter. Landfill leachates are considered to be highly polluted media, containing various organic compounds refractory to biodegradation. Regarding leachate analysis, ultraviolet (UV) spectrophotometry can be useful for a fast characterization or the study of landfill evolution. Depending on the nature of organic components, aqueous solutions can limit the interest of the approach. In this case, an extraction step of the solid matrix with an organic solution can be necessary in order to have more specific information. The aim of solid wastes treatment is both to reduce their size and to stabilize their organic content. The characterization of natural soils and sediments with UV spectrophotometry applied after leaching tests is possible.

Chapter 9 Industrial wastewater

Publisher Summary This chapter examines the ultraviolet (UV) spectra of raw industrial effluents with respect to the industrial activity. Practical qualitative and quantitative applications, concerning petrochemistry, are proposed. Raw industrial effluents can be classified according to the dominant nature of pollution, organic or mineral. Raw industrial wastewater is generally produced continuously during the industrial process, but can include some other liquid wastes such as washing residues and process water, in case of an incident. One of the most important applications of UV spectrophotometry, particularly for industrial wastewater quality control, is the rapid estimation of the concentration of some substances or some parameter values, among which are aggregate organic parameters and N or P compounds. Physico-chemical treatments of urban wastewater include either separation techniques or processes based on a chemical reaction. A treatability study is often needed for designing an industrial treatment plant. As biological processes are often preferred, biodegradation tests are carried out.

Rapid Diagnosis of Hydrocarbons Contaminated Soils Using UV Detection

Investigation of contaminated soils, assessment of treatment process and environmental monitoring of remediated soils require screening of lots of samples. In this context, rapid analysis tests are interesting. Moreover, a better knowledge of the nature and behaviour of organic matter in soils is necessary and get through this approach. The Industrial Environment Engineering Laboratory of Ales School of Mines is developing a methodology for rapid diagnosis of aromatic hydrocarbons, especially polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in contaminated soils.

Regulation and the Market-Incentives

Pharmaceutical products (PPs) have been detected in surface, ground and drinking waters in Europe and worldwide. This has raised concerns about potential impacts on humans and organisms in the environment. Regulators are now acting on these concerns. For example, Sweden’s Stockholm County Council has been working toward the assessment and classification of pharmaceuticals according to their environmental impact (see Wennmalm and Gunnarsson, Chap. 16, this book). An environmental label is being introduced in Sweden with the assistance of the pharmaceutical industry, which would enable the physician and the patient, where medications of similar action and efficiency are available, to select the treatment that is more environment friendly. The European Union is proposing more extensive environmental testing for product registrations while others are investigating mitigation measures such as take-back schemes, water treatment upgrades and labelling revisions (Wennmalm and Gunnarsson 2009). Other ideas involve incentives for development and market introduction of “green” pharmaceuticals and raising public awareness of the issues surrounding the environmental impacts of pharmaceutical products need strong support (Knappe 2008).