8.1 Sources and types of micropollutants

Micropollutants in wastewater come from various sources like pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and industrial chemicals. These substances, present in trace amounts, pose risks to aquatic ecosystems and human health due to their persistent nature and biological effects.

Detecting and quantifying micropollutants is challenging due to their low concentrations and the complex matrix of wastewater. Advanced analytical techniques are necessary, but they're costly and require expertise. Conventional treatment processes often fall short in removing these contaminants effectively.

Sources and Types of Micropollutants

Sources of wastewater micropollutants

Top images from around the web for Sources of wastewater micropollutants

• 

  Pharmaceuticals and personal care products in water and wastewater: a review of treatment ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Frontiers | Emerging Trends in Biological Treatment of Wastewater From Unconventional Oil and ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Downloads - Wasser 3.0 View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Pharmaceuticals and personal care products in water and wastewater: a review of treatment ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Frontiers | Emerging Trends in Biological Treatment of Wastewater From Unconventional Oil and ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Sources of wastewater micropollutants

• 

  Pharmaceuticals and personal care products in water and wastewater: a review of treatment ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Frontiers | Emerging Trends in Biological Treatment of Wastewater From Unconventional Oil and ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Downloads - Wasser 3.0 View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Pharmaceuticals and personal care products in water and wastewater: a review of treatment ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Frontiers | Emerging Trends in Biological Treatment of Wastewater From Unconventional Oil and ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

• Pharmaceuticals enter wastewater through human excretion and improper disposal of unused medications (aspirin, antibiotics, birth control pills)
• Personal care products contribute to micropollutants when washed off the body or discarded (shampoos, lotions, cosmetics, sunscreens)
• Industrial chemicals used in manufacturing processes can leak into wastewater systems (plasticizers, flame retardants, surfactants)
• Household products release micropollutants when used and rinsed down drains (cleaning agents, disinfectants, laundry detergents)
• Hormones and steroids naturally excreted by humans and animals or from synthetic sources (estrogen, testosterone, growth hormones)

Categories of micropollutants

• Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) resist degradation, bioaccumulate in food chains, and have long-term environmental impacts (PCBs, dioxins, DDT)
• Endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) interfere with hormone function, causing reproductive and developmental issues in organisms (BPA, phthalates, ethinylestradiol)
• Pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) designed to have biological effects at low concentrations can affect non-target organisms (antibiotics, antidepressants, beta-blockers)
• Metals and metalloids are toxic to aquatic life, accumulate in sediments, and pose risks to human health (mercury, lead, arsenic)

Detection and Quantification Challenges

Challenges in micropollutant detection

• Micropollutants present at trace levels (ng/L to μg/L) require highly sensitive analytical techniques for accurate detection
• Wastewater's complex matrix containing various organic and inorganic substances can mask micropollutants' presence
• Sample preparation involving extraction and concentration steps is necessary but can lead to underestimation if incomplete or sample loss occurs
• Advanced analytical methods like liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) are costly and require specialized expertise

Risks of micropollutants

• Aquatic ecosystems face chronic exposure to low micropollutant concentrations, leading to adverse effects on organisms and bioaccumulation in food chains (behavioral changes, reproductive issues)
• Human health risks arise from drinking water exposure and consuming contaminated aquatic organisms, with potential long-term effects like endocrine disruption and antibiotic resistance
• Conventional wastewater treatment processes not designed for effective micropollutant removal may require advanced technologies (activated carbon adsorption, advanced oxidation processes)