204018 Wastewater Reuse: An Analysis of Sorption Behavior of Pharmaceuticals in the Environment

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Simone M. Charles, PhD , Environmental Health Sciences, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA
The purpose of this study is to investigate the fate and transport of pharmaceuticals in the environment. Through this study we propose to determine sorption behavior of selected pharmaceuticals in pure systems and in soil. This work would contribute to: (1) the development of a system that could effectively and efficiently remove pharmaceuticals and their metabolites from wastewaters and (2) add to the growing body of literature assessing the movement and potential human and ecological exposure to pharmaceuticals present in wastewaters intended for reuse (e.g., irrigation). In this study, I hope to determine the distribution coefficient of the pharmaceuticals to clay minerals, mineral-coated sands, and soil. This is an important part of environmental risk assessment for groundwater protection, and for assessing the availability of these compounds to human or animals. In addition, such studies aid the understanding of potential removal methods of these compounds from wastewater. This study will lead to further studies on persistence, kinetics, constructed systems (including organoclays and mineral-coated clays) and a greater understanding of mechanisms of sorption of these compounds and compound mixtures. The final product would advance the knowledge of risk of wastewater reuse as well as potential user groups (e.g., wastewater treatment plants) on a removal method.

Learning Objectives:
The learning objectives of this study are: 1. Determination of extent of sorption (i.e., extent of binding to media which hinders movement and availability) and extent of desorption (i.e., how readily compounds detach from systems and are made available for uptake/exposure and movement) of selected pharmaceuticals to mineral systems 2. Determination of nature of and extent of influence of factors on sorption and desorption of selected pharmaceuticals to mineral systems 3. Determination of efficacy of mineral-coated sands for potential compound removals from wastewater

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have conducted similar work during my graduate studies. I have published several papers on similar studies.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.