Wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) matrices are one of the important point sources of emerging contaminants to environment. There is a growing concern about the potential risk associated with the presence of these contaminants during water reuse and land application of biosolids. Perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) are detected globally in wastewater matrices such as influents, effluents and biosolids. Very little is known about the concentrations of PFC precursors in these matrices and their fate and transport in the environment. The objective of the current study is to quantify the concentrations of PFCs and their precursors in treated effluents and biosolids. Grab samples of effluents and biosolids are collected from 9 WWTPs across the United States in four sampling events. The effluent and biosolid samples are extracted separately for PFCs and their precursors and are analyzed on UPLC/MS/MS and GC/MS/MS respectively.  Evaluation of fluctuations of the levels of these chemicals in each plant will be done in four sampling events during a period of one year. Based on the concentrations of PFCs and precursors, differences in the treatment processes, additives and other factors will be evaluated. The data will aid in understanding the fate and transport of PFCs in wastewater matrices and the results will provide information for the risk management of these chemicals in the environment. From this study, the data on the occurrence and concentrations of different PFCs and their precursors in effluents and biosolids from 9 WWTPs will be presented.

Concentrations of perfluorinated chemicals and their precursors in wastewater matrices across United States

246th National Meeting (2013)

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