Sewage sludge samples from 8 sewage treatment plants (STPs) were analysed for 17 toxic PCDD/Fs (poychlorinated dibenzo-p dioxins and dibenzofurans) and 17 congenerner of PBDEs (Polybrominated diphenyl ethers) isomers. The levels of PCDD/Fs in sewage s...
Sewage sludge samples from 8 sewage treatment plants (STPs) were analysed for 17 toxic PCDD/Fs (poychlorinated dibenzo-p dioxins and dibenzofurans) and 17 congenerner of PBDEs (Polybrominated diphenyl ethers) isomers. The levels of PCDD/Fs in sewage sludge samples were 1.34 ~ 178.50 pg I-TEQ/g dry wt. Which values were below the EU guideline (100 pg I-TEQ/g dry wt.) for the re-use of sewage sludge except a STP (SH). The distribution patterns of PCDD/Fs varied in accordance with input sources of influent. H7CDF and OCDD/F were dominant in 5 STPs which have input source of 100% residential sewage. However, homologue patterns in 3 STPs which have industrial wastewater contribution to influent (50∼70%) were different from above 5 STPs.
The levels of PBDEs in sewage sludge samples were 85.2 ~ 655.3 ng/g dry wt. and which were similar or a little bit higher than those of foreign countries. BDE-99 (45 ~ 67%) and BDE-47 (13 ~ 27%) were predominant among 17 PBDE isomers and the coefficient of determination (r2) between BDE-99 and BDE-47 was 0.87 (p<0.01), which results are similar with previous studies.
Distribution patterns of PBDEs isomers in sewage sludge (this study) was different from those in the atmosphere (previous study) but similar with those in sediment (previous study). It is likely that the physicochemical properties of PBDEs in atmosphere (deposition rate from airbone phase) and water environment (sedimentation with particular matter-from water phase to solid phase) affect the fate and distribution of PBDEs.
However, data exclusion of more higher molecluar weight PBDEs analysis, especially, BDE-209 and limited samples have an effect on interpretation of result. Therefore, more investigation for high molecular weight PBDEs (octa ∼ deca BDEs) analysis and monitoring of various sewage and wastewater sludge samples for PCDD/Fs and PBDEs are needed.