Abstract
The aim of this study was to analyze the presence and concentration of selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water samples from different stages of treatment and to verify the usefulness of semipermeable membrane devices for analysis of drinking water. For this purpose, study was conducted for a period of 5 months. Semipermeable membrane devices were deployed in a surface water treatment plant located in Lower Silesia (Poland). To determine the effect of water treatment on concentration of PAHs, three sampling places were chosen: raw water input, stream of water just before disinfection and treated water output. After each month of sampling SPMDs were changed for fresh ones and prepared for further analysis. Concentrations of fifteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Presented study indicates that the use of semipermeable membrane devices can be an effective tool for the analysis of aquatic environment, including monitoring of drinking water, where organic micropollutants are present at very low concentrations.
Highlights
Many of organic micropollutants present in potential sources of drinking water e.g. polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dioxins are considered to be hazardous to human, because of their toxic, genotoxic and carcinogenic potential [1,2,3,4,5]
The results of quantitative analysis of fifteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water samples from various stages of potabilization are shown in Table 3 and Table 4
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are removed in a very efficient way during the water treatment process that is used in the "Mokry Dwór" Water Treatment Plant
Summary
Many of organic micropollutants present in potential sources of drinking water e.g. polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dioxins are considered to be hazardous to human, because of their toxic, genotoxic and carcinogenic potential [1,2,3,4,5].Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are a class of organic chemical consisting of two or more fused aromatic rings and do not contain heteroatom or carry substituents. Many of organic micropollutants present in potential sources of drinking water e.g. polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dioxins are considered to be hazardous to human, because of their toxic, genotoxic and carcinogenic potential [1,2,3,4,5]. PAHs belong to the group of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). These are organic pollutant contaminants that are resistant to degradation, can remain in environment for a long period and have the potential to cause adverse environmental effects [6]. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are rapidly absorbed through the digestive tract and distributed in various tissues, and the fetus. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) categorize benzo[a]pyrene and other PAHs in Group 1 (carcinogenic to humans), 2A and 2B (possible or probable carcinogens to humans) [7, 8]
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