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Urban wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are major contributors of microplastics (MPs) in the environment, despite achieving relatively high removal percentages. This study conducted a comprehensive assessment of the abundance and characteristics of MPs in wastewater and sludge at various treatment stages at Gebze WWTP located in the Marmara Sea, for the first time. The influent exhibited an average MPs concentration of 70.1 ± 28.6 MPs/L. After undergoing the fine screen and grit chamber units, the MPs concentration significantly reduced to 19.7 ± 3.6 MPs/L, indicating an impressive removal rate of 71.8%. Upon completion of the secondary treatment, the effluent contained 7.1 ± 1.7 MPs/L, resulting in an overall MP removal of 89.9–91.0%. The findings indicated that fibers constituted the predominant particle shape, followed by fragments. Fibers were effectively removed through primary treatment (71.8%), while fragments were efficiently removed during secondary treatment (81.1%). The analysis of sludge samples from the aeration basin and sludge thickening tank revealed higher concentrations, with 14.3 and 25 folds increase compared to the influent, respectively indicating the accumulation of MPs in sludge. Despite the treatment process, it is noteworthy that the effluent still exhibited a significant abundance of fibers. Micro-Raman analysis identified polyethylene and polypropylene as the main polymer types present. Although the WWTP demonstrated a high overall removal rate, an estimated 1022.4 × 106 ± 244.8 × 106 MPs/d were still being discharged with the effluent into the Marmara Sea. Recognizing the potential impact of MPs on marine organisms, measures, such as introduction of tertiary treatment processes, were taken to mitigate this issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assessed the human health risk of exposure to legacy PAHs in the Nwaenebo River sediments that received effluents for over two decades from the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) petroleum product Depot in Emene, Enugu, Nigeria. The study went further to estimate economic costs of the sediment PAHs pollution based on the human health risk of exposure. The human health risks were determined by estimating carcinogenic and mutagenic risks via Benzo[a]pyrene total potential equivalent (BaP TPE) and mutagenic equivalent quotient (MEQ). The economic costs of the sediment pollution comprised costs due to mortality and those due to morbidity and were estimated using the value of statistical lives (VSLs) and cost of illness (CoI), respectively. The study, with an appropriate selection of sampling points established that the NNPC petroleum Depot was responsible for the Nwaenebo River sediment PAHs pollution with ƩPAHs concentration 14.3–163 mg/kg. The carcinogenic and mutagenic risks varied from 1.3*10^-5 to 4.7*10^-5 and 1.4*10^-5 to 6.0*10^-5 respectively. Based on risk threshold of 10^-6, these risks were high. The long term economic costs of pollution of the sediments by the PAHs were estimated at 60.5 million USD and 0.46 million USD for mortality and morbidity costs, respectively. [Display omitted] • Nwaenebo river PAHs sediment pollution is due to the Enugu petroleum depot. • The health risk of legacy PAHs due to the petroleum depots is significant. • The 4-and 5-member ring PAHs are predominant in the Nwaenebo River sediment. • The economic cost of legacy PAHs pollution of Nwaenebo River sediment is huge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The insectivorous tree swallow was chosen as an indicator species toinvestigate the uptake of pulp mill-related chlorinated hydrocarbonsfrom emergent aquatic insects. Nest box populations were monitored for reproductive success at locations upstream and downstream of pulp mills on two river systems in British Columbia, Canada. Also, 16-day-old nestlings were collected and analysed for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs), pesticides, chlorophenols and chloroguaiacols. Most reproductive parameters were not different between populations at upstream and downstream locations, and were equivalent to or greater than those recorded for other tree swallow populations. Chlorinated hydrocarbon contamination of nestlings was low at all sites. The highest tissueconcentrations were detected downstream of pulp mills on the Fraser River, where PCDD and PCDF patterns along with the presence of pentachlorophenol (PCP) suggested that the primary source of contaminants was past use of PCP for timber preservation. Although the absolute tissue concentration of contaminants was less, the toxic concentration (as estimated with I-TEQs) was greatest in nestlings downstream of a pulp mill on the Thompson River. The proportionately larger contributions from 2,3,7,8-TCDF and PCB-77 elevated these TEQs in comparison toother populations. Nest success was the one reproductive measure that showed substantial reductions in downstream populations on both rivers; however, there was little indication that nest failures were thedirect result of contamination. Failures were largely due to parental abandonment, and, while poor parental attentiveness and nest abandonment have been associated with chlorinated hydrocarbon tissue concentrations in other studies, our 1-year assessment was insufficient to establish any link with pulp mill effluent exposure. Nestling growth models showed some subtle differences in growth patterns between nestbox p [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experimental microcosm has been designed for simulating and studying impacts of a wastewater treatment plant (WTP) discharge on a freshwater/sediment ecosystem. The study was focused on the changes in biodiversity of benthic populations, especially bacteria and oligochaetes. Effluents were discharged in the Saone river, near Lyon (France) from a small treatment plant which treated domestic raw water by an activated sludge process. Freshwater and sediments were sampled in theSaone river upstream of the discharge point and placed in microcosms. Following the WTP discharge, physicochemical parameters of the overlying water column and sediments exhibited only a slight change, as compared to a reference.Characterization of the sediment bacterial populations was conducted with the Biolog and API systems. Strain identification and interpretation of data was difficult using these two systems. Bacterial taxa in the sediments increased slightly below the WTP discharge. Gram negative strains dominated in the effluents, but G+and G- bacteria were balanced in the sediments. Pseudomonas sp. and Bacillus sp., were the dominant strains. Invertebrate populations indicated an effect of the WTP discharge, with increasing of pollution resistant strains (Tubificidae) and disappearance of pollution intolerant strains such as Limnodrilus udekemianus and Quistadrilus multicoetosus.Taken as a whole, biological parameters indicated an environmental changes despite only slight changes in the physicochemistry of water. This experimental microcosm has proven to be a useful tool for studying impact of wastewater discharge on benthic populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present three examples to show the importance of sediment-water interactions to electric utilities: 1) Selenium (Se), in ash pond effluents, has caused declines in fish populations in North Carolina. A biogeochemistry model appears to explain Se dynamics for several reservoirs. However, further work on sediment water interactions is neededto predict the speed of reservoir Se declines following cessation ofinputs; 2) Mercury (Hg), volatilized in stack gases from coal fired power plants, is a public and wildlife health concern. Sediments playa major role in the biogeochemistry of Hg as documented in the Mercury Cycling Model (MCM); As with Se, questions about sediment water interactions limit the confidence in predictions about dynamics and effects of Hg; and 3) One of the recommendations from a recent Pellston Conference was to evaluate the use of a new paradigm as a basis for metals regulations. Under this new paradigm, effects of surface activemetals (Ag, Al, Cd, Cu, Ni and Zn) on fish can be viewed as dependent on competition between the gill, a 'biotic ligand', and other environmental ligands for metals in discharges. Under this new paradigm, then, the mechanics of toxicity can be viewed as analogous to interactions at the sediment-water interface. It is clear from these three examples that fostering discussion among chemists and toxicologists, through joint participation at meetings and publication in journals used by both fields, is critical for development of accurate assessment capabilities and support of cost effective decision making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]