Occurrence and Removal of Triclosan in Canadian Wastewater Systems

Overview

Journal Environ Sci Pollut Res Int

Publisher Springer

Specialties Environmental Health
Toxicology

Date 2019 Sep 7

PMID 31489545

Citations 8

Authors

Paula Guerra

Steven Teslic

Ariba Shah

Amber Albert

Sarah B Gewurtz

Shirley Anne Smyth

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Triclosan (TCS) is an antimicrobial agent used in many personal care and cleaning products. It has been detected in most environmental compartments and the main entry pathway is wastewater effluents and biosolids. TCS was analyzed in 300 samples of raw influent, final effluent, and biosolids from 13 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) across Canada representing five types of typical wastewater treatment systems. TCS was almost always detected in influent (median 1480 ng/L), effluent (median 107 ng/L), and biosolids (median 8000 ng/g dry weight) samples. Removals of TCS from lagoons as well as secondary and advanced treatment facilities were significantly higher than primary treatment facilities (p < 0.001). TCS removal was strongly correlated with organic nitrogen removal. TCS removals at most lagoons and plants that use biological treatment were higher during summer compared with winter. However, no seasonal or temperature effects were observed at the two primary facilities, likely due to the absence of biological activity. Aerobically digested solids contained the lowest levels (median 555 ng/g) while anaerobically digested primary solids contained the highest levels of TCS (median 22,700 ng/g). The results of this large comprehensive study demonstrate that TCS is consistently present in wastewater and biosolids at relatively high concentrations and that removal from wastewater and levels in biosolids are strongly influenced by the wastewater and solids treatment types.

Citing Articles

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products in Canadian municipal wastewater and biosolids: occurrence, fate, and time trends 2010-2013 to 2022.

Gewurtz S, Auyeung A, Teslic S, Smyth S Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2025; 32(9):5022-5039.

PMID: 39899207 PMC: 11868229. DOI: 10.1007/s11356-025-36007-0.

Invited Perspective: Toward Resilience-Community-Based Approaches to Managing Combined Sewer Overflows in a Changing Climate.

Semenza J Environ Health Perspect. 2024; 132(5):51301.

PMID: 38775487 PMC: 11110653. DOI: 10.1289/EHP15000.

Assessing Contributions of Synthetic Musk Compounds from Wastewater Treatment Plants to Atmospheric and Aquatic Environments.

Li W, Shunthirasingham C, Wong F, Smyth S, Pajda A, Alexandrou N Environ Sci Technol. 2024; 58(12):5524-5533.

PMID: 38466636 PMC: 10976898. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c00840.

Potential application of 2D nano-layered MXene in analysing and remediating endocrine disruptor compounds and heavy metals in water.

Rozaini M, Khoo K, Abdah M, Ethiraj B, Alam M, Anwar A Environ Geochem Health. 2024; 46(3):111.

PMID: 38466501 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-024-01917-4.

Correlation between Triclosan (TCS) exposure and endometriosis.

Ma K, Cheng Y, Guo H, Wang J, Yu T Pak J Med Sci. 2023; 39(6):1701-1705.

PMID: 37936784 PMC: 10626101. DOI: 10.12669/pjms.39.6.7170.

References

Armstrong D, Rice C, Ramirez M, Torrents A . Influence of thermal hydrolysis-anaerobic digestion treatment of wastewater solids on concentrations of triclosan, triclocarban, and their transformation products in biosolids. Chemosphere. 2017; 171:609-616. DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.12.122. View

Lozano N, Rice C, Ramirez M, Torrents A . Fate of Triclocarban, Triclosan and Methyltriclosan during wastewater and biosolids treatment processes. Water Res. 2013; 47(13):4519-27. DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2013.05.015. View

Chen F, Ying G, Ma Y, Chen Z, Lai H, Peng F . Field dissipation and risk assessment of typical personal care products TCC, TCS, AHTN and HHCB in biosolid-amended soils. Sci Total Environ. 2013; 470-471:1078-86. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.10.080. View

Lishman L, Smyth S, Sarafin K, Kleywegt S, Toito J, Peart T . Occurrence and reductions of pharmaceuticals and personal care products and estrogens by municipal wastewater treatment plants in Ontario, Canada. Sci Total Environ. 2006; 367(2-3):544-58. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2006.03.021. View

Bedoux G, Roig B, Thomas O, Dupont V, Le Bot B . Occurrence and toxicity of antimicrobial triclosan and by-products in the environment. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2011; 19(4):1044-65. DOI: 10.1007/s11356-011-0632-z. View

Andrade N, Lozano N, McConnell L, Torrents A, Rice C, Ramirez M . Long-term trends of PBDEs, triclosan, and triclocarban in biosolids from a wastewater treatment plant in the Mid-Atlantic region of the US. J Hazard Mater. 2014; 282:68-74. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2014.09.028. View

Yu C, Chu K . Occurrence of pharmaceuticals and personal care products along the West Prong Little Pigeon River in east Tennessee, USA. Chemosphere. 2009; 75(10):1281-6. DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2009.03.043. View

McNamara P, LaPara T, Novak P . The impacts of triclosan on anaerobic community structures, function, and antimicrobial resistance. Environ Sci Technol. 2014; 48(13):7393-400. DOI: 10.1021/es501388v. View

Ort C, Lawrence M, Reungoat J, Mueller J . Sampling for PPCPs in wastewater systems: comparison of different sampling modes and optimization strategies. Environ Sci Technol. 2010; 44(16):6289-96. DOI: 10.1021/es100778d. View

10.

Heidler J, Halden R . Mass balance assessment of triclosan removal during conventional sewage treatment. Chemosphere. 2006; 66(2):362-9. DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2006.04.066. View

11.

Tran N, Reinhard M, Gin K . Occurrence and fate of emerging contaminants in municipal wastewater treatment plants from different geographical regions-a review. Water Res. 2018; 133:182-207. DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2017.12.029. View

12.

Ort C, Lawrence M, Rieckermann J, Joss A . Sampling for pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) and illicit drugs in wastewater systems: are your conclusions valid? A critical review. Environ Sci Technol. 2010; 44(16):6024-35. DOI: 10.1021/es100779n. View

13.

Coogan M, Edziyie R, La Point T, Venables B . Algal bioaccumulation of triclocarban, triclosan, and methyl-triclosan in a North Texas wastewater treatment plant receiving stream. Chemosphere. 2007; 67(10):1911-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2006.12.027. View

14.

McAvoy D, Schatowitz B, Jacob M, Hauk A, Eckhoff W . Measurement of triclosan in wastewater treatment systems. Environ Toxicol Chem. 2002; 21(7):1323-9. View

15.

Hedgespeth M, Sapozhnikova Y, Pennington P, Clum A, Fairey A, Wirth E . Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in treated wastewater discharges into Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. Sci Total Environ. 2012; 437:1-9. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.07.076. View

16.

Guerra P, Kim M, Shah A, Alaee M, Smyth S . Occurrence and fate of antibiotic, analgesic/anti-inflammatory, and antifungal compounds in five wastewater treatment processes. Sci Total Environ. 2013; 473-474:235-43. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.12.008. View

17.

Kookana R, Ying G, Waller N . Triclosan: its occurrence, fate and effects in the Australian environment. Water Sci Technol. 2011; 63(4):598-604. DOI: 10.2166/wst.2011.205. View

18.

Baalbaki Z, Sultana T, Maere T, Vanrolleghem P, Metcalfe C, Yargeau V . Fate and mass balance of contaminants of emerging concern during wastewater treatment determined using the fractionated approach. Sci Total Environ. 2016; 573:1147-1158. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.08.073. View

19.

Regueiro J, Becerril E, Garcia-Jares C, Llompart M . Trace analysis of parabens, triclosan and related chlorophenols in water by headspace solid-phase microextraction with in situ derivatization and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. J Chromatogr A. 2009; 1216(23):4693-702. DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2009.04.025. View

20.

Calafat A, Ye X, Wong L, Reidy J, Needham L . Urinary concentrations of triclosan in the U.S. population: 2003-2004. Environ Health Perspect. 2008; 116(3):303-7. PMC: 2265044. DOI: 10.1289/ehp.10768. View