Article
Engineering, Environmental
Pierre Guy Atangana Njock, Shui-Long Shen, Annan Zhou, Song-Shun Lin
Summary: Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are significant contamination sources with environmental risks as they rarely remove emerging pollutants from their effluents. This paper introduces a VIKOR-based model to evaluate the contamination risk posed by a cluster of WWTPs. The proposed approach, tested using a case study along the Pearl River, defines a risk index through a membership function that considers the performance of WWTPs and risk levels using fuzzy set theory. Sensitivity analyses confirm the robustness of the model, and comparison with a TOPSIS scheme validates its consistency, accuracy, and reliability. This approach can effectively enhance decentralized management of WWTPs-induced river contamination.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Rathinamoorthy Ramasamy, Tadele Assefa Aragaw, Raja Balasaraswathi Subramanian
Summary: The production, use, and disposal of synthetic textiles can release a significant amount of microfibers into the environment. Municipal wastewater treatment plants serve as a sink for these microfibers, but textile industry wastewater treatment plants have been largely overlooked. The review demonstrates that textile industry effluents contain much higher levels of microfibers than municipal WWTPs, and the sludge from these WWTPs is an important source of microfiber contamination.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jiemiao Ma, Xiaojing Ni, Chen Cai, Yuewu Da, Kan Hu, Ru Guo, Jia Liu, Kaiming Peng, Erwu Liu, Xiangfeng Huang
Summary: Based on a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in southern China, this study investigated the impacts of stricter discharge limits on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and identified key drivers using daily operating data. The research found that stricter discharge limits increased total GHG emission intensity by 18.2%, with direct emissions increasing more than indirect emissions. GHG emissions were negatively correlated with water quantity, showing a scale effect that became more pronounced with stricter discharge limits. Increasing influent chemical oxygen demand and total nitrogen concentrations drove significant variations in GHG emissions, particularly under stricter discharge limits. This study provides insights into evaluating GHG emissions from WWTPs in vulnerable water areas and implementing carbon-neutral wastewater management policies.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hanshi Su, Hang Yi, Weiyi Gu, Qi Wang, Beibei Liu, Bing Zhang
Summary: China has implemented stricter effluent standards for wastewater treatment plants in order to protect the aquatic environment, but this has come at the cost of increased resource consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Our study finds that upgrading the standards to the Special Discharge Limit by 2030 would significantly increase electricity consumption and operating costs for the wastewater treatment sector, and also lead to substantial regional differences in terms of resource burden.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Shira Joudan, Scott A. Mabury
Summary: A replacement fluorosurfactant has been introduced in the European market as an alternative to PFAS, and its transformation products were found to have lower bioaccumulation potential compared to other similar PFAS under sulfur-limited conditions.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-PROCESSES & IMPACTS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yuannan Long, Zhenyu Zhou, Xiaofeng Wen, Jianwu Wang, Ruihao Xiao, Wenming Wang, Xiwei Li, Xu Lai, You Zhang, Chaoping Deng, Jinsong Cao, Lingshi Yin
Summary: This study investigated the removal of microplastics (MPs) in a constructed wetland wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Changsha. The results showed that the MPs removal efficiency was highest in the primary treatment stage. The combination of bio-pond and constructed wetland reduced the MPs removal efficiency. The most common shape and type of MPs in the wastewater were fibers, polyethylene, and polystyrene.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Qian-gang Li, Guo-hua Liu, Lu Qi, Hong-chen Wang, Zheng-fang Ye, Quan-lin Zhao
Summary: Heavy metal-contained wastewater discharge during Chinese industrial development has caused environmental issues with regional variations. Government regulations and standards have successfully reduced HMW discharge, while various treatment technologies are utilized for HMW management.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
H. Sari Erkan, H. H. Emik, G. Onkal Engin
Summary: This study assessed the abundance and characteristics of microplastics (MPs) in wastewater and sludge from Gebze WWTP in the Marmara Sea. Despite high removal rates, a significant amount of MPs was still discharged into the sea. Fibers were the predominant shape of MPs and were effectively removed through primary and secondary treatments.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Limnology
Trista McKenzie, Shellie Habel, Henrietta Dulai
Summary: This study used geochemical tracers and emerging organic contaminants (EOCs) to monitor groundwater discharge and its wastewater content. The research found that groundwater discharge and EOCs fluctuated with tides in coastal and canal groundwater, surface water samples, and storm drains, indicating tidally driven GWI and wastewater discharge. This study provides field-based evidence for GWI of coastal WIS and shows that SLR is increasing risks to environmental and human health.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Peter E. Robins, Neil Dickson, Jessica L. Kevill, Shelagh K. Malham, Andrew C. Singer, Richard S. Quilliam, Davey L. Jones
Summary: This study assessed the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in UK rivers and estuaries, finding detectable virus in untreated wastewater but not in treated effluent. Results showed that under high flow conditions, viral RNA concentrated in estuaries, increasing the exposure risk to coastal bathing waters and shellfisheries.
Article
Environmental Sciences
S. Montecinos, S. Tognana, W. Salgueiro, C. Frosinini
Summary: The temporal variation of microplastic concentration was examined in the Langueyu stream in Tandil, Argentina. It was found that winter had the highest microplastic concentration, about 6 times higher than summer and autumn. This difference was not due to precipitation but rather associated with seasonal human activities, particularly the type of clothing used in cold season. Microfibers accounted for 60-90% of the microplastics found.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
G. Trommetter, D. Dumoulin, D. H. Dang, V. Alaimo, G. Billon
Summary: Increase of water quality has become a popular topic, and it is important to identify the sources of pollution. This study analyzed inorganic compounds along a stream to assess the impact of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and the effectiveness of tracers. The results showed that WWTPs strongly influenced water composition, especially within the first 6 km. However, some classical indicators had limitations, and using a set of relevant tracers, including alkali metals, could be a solution.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Min-Ji Kim, Sang-Heon Na, Rida Batool, In-Su Byun, Eun-Ju Kim
Summary: Wastewater treatment plants are significant sources of microplastics in aquatic environments. A study in a Korean WWTP found that all wastewater contained microplastics, with seasonal variations in influent concentrations but stable effluent concentrations. The treatment process removed most microplastics, but some still entered rivers.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lara Dronjak, Nora Exposito, Jordi Sierra, Marta Schuhmacher, Karin Florencio, Beatriz Corzo, Joaquim Rovira
Summary: Microplastic (MP) pollution is a global problem, and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are a major pathway for MPs to enter the natural environment. This study investigated the concentration, morphology, and composition of MPs in different treatment units of a WWTP. The results showed that WWTP can effectively remove MPs, with a removal efficiency exceeding 96%. The most common morphology of MPs is fibers, followed by fragments and films. Various types of plastics were detected in different units of the WWTP. The estimated number of MPs avoided from being released into the environment through direct water discharge was 9.1 x 1012 MP/year.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Yahui Li, Shikun Zhu, Yu Zhang, Minghuan Lv, Jean Joel Roland Kinhoun, Tingting Qian, Bin Fan
Summary: The discharge characteristics of washing wastewater in rural China affects the development of treatment technology, but after treatment using subsurface constructed wetlands, the effluent can meet the requirements for paddy field crop irrigation. Wetland plants and modular design have positive effects on the removal of nitrogen and phosphorous in the effluent.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Huahua Cai, Xin Liu, Jing Zou, Junyang Xiao, Baoling Yuan, Fei Li, Qingfeng Cheng
Article
Environmental Sciences
Fei Li, Qiangfa Su, Zhenming Zhou, Xiaobin Liao, Jing Zou, Baoling Yuan, Wenjie Sun
Article
Biophysics
Xueyin Wu, Zhe Feng, Baoling Yuan, Zhenming Zhou, Fei Li, Wenjie Sun
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES B-BIOINTERFACES
(2018)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Baoling Yuan, Fei Li, Dongmei Xu, Ming-Lai Fu
ANALYTICAL METHODS
(2013)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Fei Li, Chaojie Zhang, Yan Qu, Jing Chen, Xiang Hu, Qi Zhou
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2011)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Baoling Yuan, Fei Li, Yanmei Chen, Ming-Lai Fu
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
(2013)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yan Qu, Chaojie Zhang, Fei Li, Xiaowen Bo, Guangfu Liu, Qi Zhou
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2009)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Chaojie Zhang, Hong Yan, Fei Li, Xiang Hu, Qi Zhou
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2013)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Fei Li, Chaojie Zhang, Yan Qu, Jing Chen, Ling Chen, Ying Liu, Qi Zhou
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2010)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Baoling Yuan, Dongmei Xu, Fei Li, Ming-Lai Fu
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2013)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yan Qu, Chaojie Zhang, Fei Li, Jing Chen, Qi Zhou
Article
Environmental Sciences
Fei Li, Xinliang Fang, Zhenming Zhou, Xiaobin Liao, Jing Zou, Baoling Yuan, Wenjie Sun
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2019)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiaoyang Shi, Ran Bi, Baoling Yuan, Xiaobin Liao, Zhenming Zhou, Fei Li, Wenjie Sun
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2019)