The Importance of the Management of Micropollutants in an Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant in the Amazon

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to determine the dynamics of the discharge of micropollutants in the Amazon River from an advanced wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) and discusses the importance of management in order to minimize impacts. Methodology: A total of 13 micropollutants: ibuprofen (IBP), paracetamol (PCM), atenolol (ATL), loratadine (LTD), fexofenadine hydrochloride (FXF), amoxicillin (AMX), 17α-ethynyl estradiol (EE2), caffeine (CAF), sodium diclofenac (DCF), estrone (E1), estriol (E3), bisphenol A (BPA), and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) were analyzed in effluent samples that came from different treatment stages of a WWTP with advanced treatment technology at different periods of the day. The presence of micropollutants and their quantification were obtained using LC-MS and GC-MS techniques. Originality/Relevance: This is the first study carried out at a WWTP in Manaus, a city in Brazil that is located within one of the most extensive fluvial system in the world. The data obtained are important for understanding the dynamics of the discharge of micropollutants into the Amazon River and its implications. Main results: After the treatment process, the micropollutants paracetamol, fexofenadine hydrochloride, caffeine, sodium diclofenac, and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate were detected in the final effluent. Contributions: The results obtained in this study indicate the need for integrated management, considering technical, governmental, organizational and community-based approaches to minimize the effects of the discharge of micropollutants into the environment.