Location
Science and Engineering Building, UNLV
Start Date
27-4-2012 10:30 AM
End Date
27-4-2012 4:00 PM
Description
Endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs), such as estrogen, are known to be present in the aquatic environment at concentrations that affect fish and other wildlife. For example, juvenile male fish exposed to estrogen will synthesize vitellogenin, which is a female-specific protein. Estrogen exposure is also linked to sex reversal, intersexuality, and inhibition of gonadal growth (Jobling et al., 1996).
Wastewater treatment plants are major contributors of EDCs into the environment. EDCs end up in wastewater as a result of natural excretion from the body or being washed off the skin. WWTPs are not designed to remove these substances. As a result, EDCs are released via effluent discharge to rivers and lakes, as well as through solid waste placed in landfills or applied to fields (biosolids) as fertilizer.
In both the effluent and sludge, the final concentration of a compound depends on the treatment processes, chemical properties of the compound, and environmental conditions. This study focuses on estrogen concentration in wastewater sludge as a result of sludge handling processes.
Keywords
Endocrine disrupting chemicals in water; Fishes--Development--Endocrine aspects; Sewage sludge--Environmental aspects; Water reuse
Disciplines
Chemical Engineering | Environmental Engineering | Fresh Water Studies | Water Resource Management
Language
English
Included in
Chemical Engineering Commons, Environmental Engineering Commons, Fresh Water Studies Commons, Water Resource Management Commons
Impact of Sludge Treatment Processes on Estrogen Concentration in Wastewater Sludge
Science and Engineering Building, UNLV
Endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs), such as estrogen, are known to be present in the aquatic environment at concentrations that affect fish and other wildlife. For example, juvenile male fish exposed to estrogen will synthesize vitellogenin, which is a female-specific protein. Estrogen exposure is also linked to sex reversal, intersexuality, and inhibition of gonadal growth (Jobling et al., 1996).
Wastewater treatment plants are major contributors of EDCs into the environment. EDCs end up in wastewater as a result of natural excretion from the body or being washed off the skin. WWTPs are not designed to remove these substances. As a result, EDCs are released via effluent discharge to rivers and lakes, as well as through solid waste placed in landfills or applied to fields (biosolids) as fertilizer.
In both the effluent and sludge, the final concentration of a compound depends on the treatment processes, chemical properties of the compound, and environmental conditions. This study focuses on estrogen concentration in wastewater sludge as a result of sludge handling processes.
Comments
First Place
Advised by: Jacimaria Batista
Related Thesis:
http://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/thesesdissertations/1684/