Abstract
Wastewater treatment plants (WTTPs) contribute to anthropogenic chemical contamination through the release of treated effluent. A constructed wetland (CW) interfaced with a WTTP could potentially purify and naturalize effluent water. This pilot study aimed to acquire baseline chemical data on the fate and distribution of phthalates in the water, sediment, and vegetation (Typha spp.) of a fully operational horizontal subsurface flow CW adjoined to a WWTP in Oregon, USA. Sample collection followed the flow of water from entrance to exit of the CW. Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) were the most abundant analogs in all matrices. Results indicate reduction of phthalates in water exiting the CW. Significant concentrations of DBP, DEHP, and other water-soluble phthalates were found in the shoots of Typha, indicating plant uptake as a potentially important removal mechanism.
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Acknowledgements
Thank you to Lilian Smith for her role in method development and laboratory and field support. We appreciate the guidance of Dr. Deke Gundersen and Dr. Heather Carpenter, and the assistance of Hoan Nguyen, Keilian MacCulloch, and Kim McAuliffe during field work.
Funding
This study was funded by The Murdock Charitable Trust (Grant Number FSU-2015207), The Alliance-Katherine Bisbee II Fund of Oregon Community Foundation, and Clean Water Services.
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Julie Layshock has received research grants from Clean Water Services. Clean Water Services had no part in study design, data analysis, nor the generation of the manuscript.
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Diepenheim, G., Gift, S.C., Harb, C. et al. Survey of Phthalate Mitigation and Distribution in Water, Sediment, and Typha in a Fully Operational Constructed Wetland: A Pilot Study. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 105, 205–210 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-020-02915-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-020-02915-9