Isolation of Mutagenic Compounds from Sludges and Wastewaters

Abstract

Extracts of sludges and effluent wastewaters from municipal sewage treatment plants have been shown to be complex mixtures of organic chemicals (e.g., Baird et al., 1980; Bedding et al., 1982; Ellis et al., 1982; Johnston et al., 1982; Naylor and Loehr, 1982a, b; Clevenger et al., 1983; Hrubec et al., 1983; Strachan et al., 1983). During the past few years, these residue organics have been characterized as toxic and/or mutagenic in a variety of bacterial, animal, and plant test systems (e.g., Rappaport et al., 1979; Baird et al., 1980; Neal et al., 1980; Babish et al., 1982; Hopke et al., 1982; Johnston et al., 1982; Babish et al., 1983; Clevenger et al., 1983; Hopke and Plewa, 1983; Hrubec et al., 1983; Maciorowski et al., 1983; Hopke et al., in press; Meier and Bishop, 1984). The major mutagens appeared to be in the nonvolatile residue organic materials from sewages that included industrial sources. Although many volatile compounds, including priority pollutants, have been identified and quantified (e.g.. Bedding et al., 1982; Harrold et al., 1982; Johnston et al., 1982; Naylor and Loehr, 1982a, b; Petrasek et al., 1983; Strachan et al., 1983), the chemical identity and source of the vast majority of the mutagens is unknown (Nellor et al., 1982).