Wastewater Treatment Plants as a Source of Malodorous Substances Hazardous to Health, Including a Case Study from Poland

Abstract

Using Poland as an example, it was shown that 41.6% of the requests for intervention in 2016–2021 by Environmental Protection Inspections were related to odour nuisance. Further analysis of the statistical data confirmed that approximately 5.4% of wastewater treatment plants in the group of municipal facilities were subject to complaints. Detailed identification of the subject of odour nuisance at wastewater treatment plants identified hydrogen sulphide (H2S), ammonia (NH3) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as the most common malodorous substances within these facilities. Moreover, the concentrations of hydrogen sulphide and ammonia exceed the reference values for some substances in the air (0.02 mg/m3 for H2S and 0.4 mg/m3 for NH3). A thorough assessment of the properties of these substances made it clear that even in small concentrations they have a negative impact on the human body and the environment, and their degree of nuisance is described as high. In the two WWTPs analysed in Poland (WWTP 1 and WWTP 2), hydrogen sulphide concentrations were in the range of 0–41.86 mg/m3 (Long-Term Exposure Limit for H2S is 7.0 mg/m3), ammonia 0–1.43 mg/m3 and VOCs 0.60–134.79 ppm. The values recognised for H2S cause lacrimation, coughing, olfactory impairment, psychomotor agitation, and swelling of the cornea with photophobia. Recognition of the methods used in practice at WWTPs to reduce and control malodorous emissions indicates the possibility of protecting the environment and human health, but these solutions are ignored in most facilities due to the lack of requirements specified in legislation.