Treatment/Destruction of Endocrine Disruptors

Some of the Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs) are known as potential Endocrine Disruptor Compounds (EDCs). Known EDCs can come from groups of compounds such as human and veterinary drugs, pesticides and industrial chemicals. Only some of the compounds in these groups are EDCs. EDCs include naturally occurring and synthetic steroid hormones, organohalides, metals, alkylphenols, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, crude oil and plasticizers. These compounds may interfere with hormone processes in both humans and wildlife. EDCs are being detected more in the environment in water, wastewater and biosolids as more studies are done and analytical techniques have progressed. This topic has galvanized the scientific, regulatory and public communities alike. The WEF Compounds of Emerging Concerns Community of Practice has developed some "Technical Practice Updates" on CECs including one on treatment, which will be summarized. This presentation will discuss the physical and chemical properties of these compounds and what types of treatment and destruction technologies are evaluated and used on projects. An approach for evaluating and developing wastewater treatment solutions will be discussed. Part of the approach is bench-scale and pilot-scale treatability studies which are used to test treatment processes in the laboratory prior to design. Another part of the approach is developing and using cost and non-cost evaluation criteria. Three pharmaceutical case studies will be presented to show how treatment solutions are both plant location and compound specific. One case study will show how a pharmaceutical compound, which passes through conventional treatment, can be destroyed in pretreatment and reduce effluent toxicity. A second case study will show how one company controls the discharge of a pharmaceutical active while doing water conservation and reuse. A third case study will show an approach for determining the ultimate fate of the compound and what percentage ends up in biosolids. Some of the literature studies showing how these compounds are removed through municipal treatment systems will also be summarized. The various case studies will show how the approach ties together the key issues and selection criteria to the overall selection of technologies. The combination of treatment technologies selected is used to achieve treatment/destruction of EDCs and determine the ultimate fate of the EDCs while achieving water conservation, reuse and environmental compliance goals.