State Key Laboratory of Environmental Aquatic Chemistry, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, PR China; National Engineering Laboratory for VOCs Pollution Control Material & Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 101408, PR China.
Beijing Mechanical-Biological Treatment Engineer Co., Ltd., Beijing, 100086, PR China.
Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2019 Nov 15;183:109543. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.109543. Epub 2019 Aug 7.
Aerosols from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are considered to be potentially hazardous to on-site employees and surrounding residents. However, their harmful components and their effects remain poorly understood. In this study, the characteristics, responsible factors, sources and exposure risks of potential pathogens and toxic metal(loid)s in aerosols from four WWTPs were investigated. There were 21 potential pathogens and 15 toxic metal(loid)s detected in the aerosols. Arcobacter and Fe were the dominant taxa responsible for the dissimilarity of the potential pathogen population and toxic metal(loid) composition between the aerosols and the wastewater/sludge, respectively. Both meteorological factors and sources affected pathogen and toxic metal(loid) composition. The potential pathogens and toxic metal(loid)s in indoor aerosols mainly originated from wastewater/sludge, while those in outdoor aerosols originated from wastewater/sludge and ambient air. The highest respirable fraction (<3.30 μm) concentrations and proportions were detected at the aeration units. Non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks of toxic metal(loid)s for both adults and children were found within and/or around WWTPs, and non-carcinogenic risks of bacteria for children were found at downwind, suggesting the need for active safeguard procedures, such as that employees wear masks and work clothes, covering the main emission sites, and collecting and destroying of aerosols.
污水处理厂（WWTP）产生的气溶胶被认为对现场员工和周围居民具有潜在危害。然而，其有害成分及其影响仍知之甚少。在这项研究中，调查了四个 WWTP 中气溶胶中潜在病原体和有毒金属（类）的特征、责任因素、来源和暴露风险。气溶胶中检测到 21 种潜在病原体和 15 种有毒金属（类）。弧菌和铁分别是导致潜在病原体种群和有毒金属（类）组成在气溶胶和废水/污泥之间存在差异的主要分类群。气象因素和来源都影响了病原体和有毒金属（类）的组成。室内气溶胶中的潜在病原体和有毒金属（类）主要来源于废水/污泥，而室外气溶胶中的潜在病原体和有毒金属（类）则来源于废水/污泥和环境空气。曝气单元中检测到最高的可吸入分数（<3.30μm）浓度和比例。在 WWTP 内和/或周围，发现了有毒金属（类）对成人和儿童的非致癌和致癌风险，以及儿童对细菌的非致癌风险，这表明需要采取积极的保护措施，例如员工佩戴口罩和工作服，覆盖主要排放源，以及收集和销毁气溶胶。
