Triclosan, an antimicrobial agent used in many personal care products, is chlorinated in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) giving rise to chlorinated triclosan derivatives (CTDs). Through photolysis in natural waters, these compounds yield specific polyhalogenated dibenzo-p-dioxins. Hydroxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (OH-PBDEs), which have natural and anthropogenic sources, are of similar structure to triclosan and may react similarly. It is important to understand the loads of these chemicals emanating from WWTPs and how disinfection practices influence these concentrations.  Using pre-concentration of water samples by solid phase extraction followed by quantification using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, the yield of chlorinated triclosan derivatives (CTDs) from triclosan has been quantified at WWTPs using different disinfection treatments. The concentrations of OH-BDE-47 at the same WWTPs before and after disinfection are also reported for the first time.

Chlorinated triclosan derivatives and hydroxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers in wastewater effluents

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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