Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Comparison of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Levels in Sludges from Municipal and Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plants

  • Published:
Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the concentrations and potential sources of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sludge of 14 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Sludge samples were collected from 2 municipal WWTPs, 11 industrial WWTPs, and 1 sanitary landfill leachate treatment plant within the city of Bursa, Turkey during the summer of 2008. Ultrasonication was applied for extraction and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry was used to analyze the PAH contents of the samples. Twelve of the 16 EPA-listed PAH compounds were determined. Total PAH concentrations (∑12 PAHs) determined in all of the sludge samples ranged from 1,781 to 19,866 μg/kg dry matter (dm). The sum of 8 of the 11 EU PAHs varied between 1,481 and 17,314 μg/kg dm, and 3 of the samples exceeded the proposed EU limit for land application. One of the automotive industry sludges contained the highest level of PAHs, followed by one of the municipal sludges. The average sum of 5- and 6-ring PAH compounds in all of the sludge samples amounted to almost 65% of the total PAHs. The diagnostic ratios of specific PAHs were calculated to determine the dominant sources for the PAHs in the sludge samples.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abad E, Martinez K, Planas C, Palacios O, Caixach J, Rivera J (2005) Priority organic pollutant assessment of sludges for agricultural purposes. Chemosphere 61:1358–1369

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • ATSDR (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry) (1993) Toxicological profile for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Draft for public comment. Update, Cement International Corporation, under Contract No. 205-88-0608. US Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Washington, DC

  • Baran S, Oleszczuk P (2003) The concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sewage sludge in relation to the amount and origin of purified sewage. Pol J Environ Stud 12:523–529

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Berset JD, Holzer R (1999) Quantitative determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides in sewage sludges using supercritical fluid extraction and mass spectrometric detection. J Chromatogr A 852:545–558

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Blanchard M, Teil MJ, Ollivon D, Legenti L, Chevreuil M (2004) Polyaromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorobiphenyls in wastewaters and sewage sludges from the Paris area (France). Environ Res 95:184–197

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bozlaker A, Muezzinoglu A, Odabasi M (2008) Atmospheric concentrations, dry deposition and air-soil exchange of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in an industrial region in Turkey. J Hazard Mater 153:1093–1102

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brandli RC, Bucheli TD, Kupper T, Mayer J, Stadelmann FX, Tarradellas J (2007) Fate of PCBs, PAHs and their source characteristic ratios during composting and digestion of source-separated organic waste in full-scale plants. Environ Pollut 148:520–528

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bright DA, Healey N (2003) Contaminant risks from biosolids land application: contemporary organic contamination levels in digested sewage sludge from five treatment plants in Greater Vancouver, British Columbia. Environ Pollut 126:39–49

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bucheli TD, Blum F, Desaules A, Gustafsson O (2004) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, black carbon, and molecular markers in soils of Switzerland. Chemosphere 56:1061–1076

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Budzinski H, Jones I, Bellocq J, Pierard C, Garrigues P (1997) Evaluation of sediment contamination by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the Gironde estuary. Mar Chem 58:85–97

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cai QY, Mo CH, Wu QT, Zeng QY, Katsoyiannis A (2007) Occurrence of organic contaminants in sewage sludges from eleven wastewater treatment plants, China. Chemosphere 68:1751–1762

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • CEC (2000) Council of the European Community, Working document on sludge, third draft. Council of the European Community, Brussels

  • Cousins IT, Gevao B, Jones KC (1999) Measuring and modeling the vertical distribution of semivolatile organic compounds in soils. I: PCB and PAH soil core data. Chemosphere 39:2507–2518

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dai J, Xu M, Chen J, Xiangping Y, Ke Z (2007) PCDD/F, PAH and heavy metals in the sewage sludge from six wastewater treatment plants in Beijing, China. Chemosphere 66:353–361

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dincer F, Müezzinoglu A (2008) Odor-causing volatile organic compounds in wastewater treatment plant units and sludge management areas. J Environ Sci Health A Environ Sci Eng Toxic Hazard Subst Control 43:1569–1574

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eriksson E, Christensen N, Schmidt JE, Ledin A (2008) Potential priority pollutants in sewage sludge. Desalination 226:371–388

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Esen F, Tasdemir Y, Vardar N (2008a) Atmospheric concentrations of PAHs, their possible sources and gas-to-particle partitioning at a residential site of Bursa, Turkey. At Res 88:243–255

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Esen F, Cindoruk SS, Tasdemir Y (2008b) Bulk deposition of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in an industrial site of Turkey. Environ Pollut 152:461–467

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • EU (2008) EU Directive 2008/105/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on environmental quality standards in the field of water policy, amending and subsequently repealing Council Directives 82/176/EEC, 83/513/EEC, 84/156/EEC, 84/491/EEC, 86/280/EEC and amending Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council. Offic J Eur Union, No: L 348, 51:84–96

  • Filibeli A, Ayol A (2007) Historical development of sludge management in Turkey. J Residuals Sci Technol 4:167–171

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrison EZ, Oakes SR, Hysell M, Hay A (2006) Organic chemicals in sewage sludges. Sci Total Environ 367:481–497

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hua L, Wu WX, Liu YX, Tientchen CM, Chen YX (2008) Heavy metals and PAHs in sewage sludge from twelve wastewater treatment plants in Zhejiang province. Biomed Environ Sci 21:345–352

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) (1983) IARC monographs on the evaluation of the carcinogenic risk of chemicals to humans. Polynuclear aromatic compounds, Part 1. Chemical, environmental and experimental data, vol 32. World Health Organization, Lyon, pp 33–224

  • IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) (1985) IARC monographs on the evaluation of the carcinogenic risk of chemicals to humans. Polynuclear aromatic compounds, Part 4. Bitumens, coal-tars and derived products, shale-oils and soots, vol 35. World Health Organization, Lyon, pp 88, 91, 164, 225

  • Jiries A, Hussain H, Lintelmann J (2000) Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in wastewater, sediments, sludge and plants in Karak province, Jordan. Water Air Soil Pollut 121:217–228

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jones KC, Stratford JA, Waterhouse KS, Vogtt NB (1989) Organic contaminants in Welsh soils: polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons. Environ Sci Technol 23:540–550

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ju JH, Lee IS, Sim WJ, Eun H, Oh JE (2009) Analysis and evaluation of chlorinated persistent organic compounds and PAHs in sludge in Korea. Chemosphere 74:441–447

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Karickhoff SW (1981) Semi-empirical estimation of sorption of hydrophobic pollutants on natural sediments and soils. Chemosphere 10:833–846

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Katsoyiannis A, Terzi E, Cai QY (2007) Discussion: on the use of PAH molecular diagnostic ratios in sewage sludge for the understanding of the PAH sources. Is this use appropriate? Chemosphere 69:1337–1339

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Klöpffer W (1996) Environmental hazard assessment of chemicals and products. Part V. Anthropogenic chemicals in sewage sludge. Chemosphere 33:1067–1081

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Latimer JS, Zheng J (2003) The sources, transport and fate of PAHs in the marine environment. In: Douben PET (ed) PAHs: an ecotoxicological perspective. Wiley, Chichester, pp 9–33

    Google Scholar 

  • Laturnus F, Arnold K, Gron C (2007) Organic contaminants from sewage sludge applied to agricultural soils. Environ Sci Pollut Res 14:53–60

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mansuy-Huault L, Regier A, Faure P (2009) Analyzing hydrocarbons in sewer to help in PAH source apportionment in sewage sludges. Chemosphere 75:995–1002

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moreda JM, Arranz A, Betono SFD, Cid A, Arranz JF (1998) Chromatic determination of aliphatic hydrocarbons and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in a sewage sludge. Sci Total Environ 220:33–43

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mumford JL, Williams RW, Walsh DB, Burton RM, Svendsgaard DJ, Chuang JC, Houk VS, Lewtas J (1991) Indoor air pollutants from unvented kerosene heater emissions in mobile homes: studies on particles, semivolatile organics, carbon monoxide, and mutagenicity. Environ Sci Technol 25:1732–1738

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Özsoy G, Dilek FB, Sanin FD (2006) An investigation of agricultural potential of wastewater sludges in Turkey: case of heavy metals. Water Sci Technol 54:155–161

    Google Scholar 

  • Perez S, Guillamon M, Barcelo D (2001) Quantitative analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sewage sludge from wastewater treatment plants. J Chromatogr A 938:57–65

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Salihoglu NK, Pinarli V, Salihoglu G (2007) Solar drying in sludge management in Turkey. Renew Energy 32:1661–1675

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shen RY, Luo YM, Zhang GY, Teng Y, Li ZG (2007) Contamination of PAHs in sludge samples from the Yangtze river delta area. Pedosphere 17:373–382

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stamatiadis S, Doran JW, Kettler T (1999) Field and laboratory evaluation of soil quality changes resulting from injection of liquid sewage sludge. Appl Soil Ecol 12:263–272

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Standard Methods (1998) Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater, 20th edn. American Public Health Association, American Water Works Association, Water Environment Federation, Washington, DC

  • Stevens JL, Northcott GL, Stern GA, Tomy GT, Jones KC (2003) PAHs, PCBs, PCNs, organochlorine pesticides, synthetic musks, and polychlorinated n-alkanes in U.K. sewage sludge: survey results and implications. Environ Sci Technol 37:462–467

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tasdemir Y, Esen F (2007) Dry deposition fluxes and deposition velocities of PAHs at an urban site in Turkey. At Environ 41:1288–1301

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Villar P, Callejon M, Alonso E, Jimenez JC, Guiraum A (2006) Temporal evolution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sludge from wastewater treatment plants: comparison between PAHs and heavy metals. Chemosphere 64:535–541

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wild SR, Waterhouse KS, McGrath SP, Jones KC (1990) Organic contaminants in an agricultural soil with a known history of sewage sludge amendments: polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons. Environ Sci Technol 24:1706–1711

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wlodarczyk-Makula M (2008) PAHs balance in solid and liquid phase of sewage sludge during fermentation process. J Environ Sci Health A Environ Sci Eng Toxic Toxic Hazard Subst Control 43:1602–1609

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yunker MB, Macdonald RW, Vingarzan R, Mitchell RH, Goyette D, Sylvestre S (2002) PAHs in the Fraser River basin: a critical appraisal of PAH ratios as indicators of PAH source and composition. Org Geochem 33:489–515

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang XL, Tao S, Liu WX, Yang Y, Zuo Q, Liu SZ (2005) Source diagnostics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons based on species ratios: a multimedia approach. Environ Sci Technol 39:9109–9114

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Commission of Scientific Research Projects of Uludag University (Project No: M-2008/9). We are grateful to Bursa Water and Sewerage Administration (BUSKI) for supporting this project. We would like to thank Gaye Aydogdu, Zeynep Lök, and Hatice Secgin for their tireless work during the laboratory studies.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering & Architecture, Uludag University, 16059, Bursa, Turkey

    N. Kamil Salihoglu, Güray Salihoglu, Yücel Tasdemir, S. Sıddık Cindoruk, Didem Yolsal, Ruken Ogulmus & Gizem Karaca

Authors
  1. N. Kamil Salihoglu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Güray Salihoglu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yücel Tasdemir
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. S. Sıddık Cindoruk
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Didem Yolsal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Ruken Ogulmus
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Gizem Karaca
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to N. Kamil Salihoglu.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Salihoglu, N.K., Salihoglu, G., Tasdemir, Y. et al. Comparison of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Levels in Sludges from Municipal and Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plants. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 58, 523–534 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-009-9389-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-009-9389-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation