Cited by 88Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances researchPharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental ImpactsWastewater Treatment and Reuse

Role of wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in environmental cycling of poly-and perfluoroalkyl (PFAS) compounds

Open access
Hanna Hamid, Loretta Li, Hamid, Hanna, Li, Loretta·2016·Ecocycles

Abstract

The role of wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) in environmental cycling of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) through aqueous effluent, sludge and air emission has been critically reviewed here. Understanding the role of WWTPs can provide better understanding of global cycling of persistent PFASs and assist in formulating relevant environmental policies. The review suggests that WWTP effluent is a major source of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in surface water. Land application of biosolids (treated sludge) has shown preferential bioaccumulation of short chain (

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Crossref · 10.19040/ecocycles.v2i2.62

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  • WWTPs are not designed to remove PFAS from influent.

    “Because of the novelty of PFAS as a contaminant of concern, wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are not designed to remove PFAS from influent, often resulting in measured effluent concentrations exceeding influent concentrations (Coggan et al., 2019; Dalahmeh et al., 2018; Hamid and Li, 2016; Lenka et al., 2021).”

    From Occurrence, transformation, and transport of PFAS entering, leaving, and flowing past wastewater treatment plants with diverse land uses (2024) · cites this paper as Hamid and Li, 2016

    The Introduction says conventional wastewater treatment does not efficiently remove PFAAs, and the section on PFAS fate says primary treatment is aimed at settling solids and provides little or no PFAS removal. These passages support the practical point that conventional WWTPs remove PFAS poorly, but do not establish the broader claim about what WWTPs were designed to remove or attribute their design to PFAS's novelty. The paper also reports increased concentrations in some secondary effluent. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • The discharge of PFAS into wastewater mainly comes from industrial and manufacturing facilities and products consumption.

    “The discharge of PFAS into wastewater mainly comes from industrial and manufacturing facilities and products consumption (Hamid and Li, 2016).”
  • Measured effluent PFAS concentrations often exceed influent concentrations at WWTPs.

    “Because of the novelty of PFAS as a contaminant of concern, wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are not designed to remove PFAS from influent, often resulting in measured effluent concentrations exceeding influent concentrations (Coggan et al., 2019; Dalahmeh et al., 2018; Hamid and Li, 2016; Lenka et al., 2021).”

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Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. Huset, Carin A., Aurea C. Chiaia, Douglas F. Barofsky, Niels Jonkers, Hans-Peter E. Kohler, Christoph Ort, Walter Giger, and Jennifer A. Field. 2008b. "Occurrence and Mass Flows of Fluorochemicals in the Glatt Valley Watershed, Switzerland." Environmental Science & Technology 42 (17): 6369- 6377. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es703062f · DOI · Paper page
  2. Lin, A. Y. C., S. C. Panchangam, Y. T. Tsai, and T. H. Yu. 2014b. "Occurrence of Perfluorinated Compounds in the Aquatic Environment as found in Science Park Effluent, River Water, Rainwater, Sediments, and Biotissues." 186: 3265-3275. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10661-014-3617-9 · DOI
  3. Rostkowski, Pawel, Nobuyoshi Yamashita, Iris Man Ka So, Sachi Taniyasu, Paul Kwan Sing Lam, Jerzy Falandysz, Kyu Tae Lee, Seung Kyu Kim, Jong Seong Khim, and Sook Hyeon Im. 2006. "Perfluorinated Compounds in Streams of the Shihwa Industrial Zone and Lake Shihwa, South Korea." Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 25 (9): 2374-2380. http://dx.doi.org/10.1897/05-627R. · DOI

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Authors
Hanna Hamid, L. L., Hamid, H., & Li, L.
Affiliations
University of British Columbia (CA)
Venue
Ecocycles
Publisher
Ecocycles
Published
2016
Volume
2
Issue
2
ISSN
2416-2140 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2566970474
Cited by
88
References
67
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 4
FWCI
1.74
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • Ecocycles (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Repository of the Academy's Library (Library of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences) (acceptedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • Schlumberger Foundation
  • Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (185040–13, RGPIN 185040-13)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances research
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Waste Management and Disposal › Wastewater Treatment and Reuse
Keywords
wastewater treatment plants, PFAS, perfluoroalkyl acids, environmental cycling, biosolids, agricultural use of sludge, air pollutant emissions, wastewater effluent, surface water contamination, bioaccumulation, environmental policy

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