Effluent Dispersion Research Articles

A novel tool for modeling the near- and far-field dispersion of brine effluent from desalination plants

A novel tool for modeling the near- and far-field dispersion of brine effluent from desalination plants

Plastic Analysis with a Plasmonic Nano-Gold Sensor Coated with Plastic-Binding Peptides.

Contamination with plastics of small dimensions (<1 µm) represents a health concern for many terrestrial and aquatic organisms. This study examined the use of plastic-binding peptides as a coating probe to detect various types of plastic using a plasmon nano-gold sensor. Plastic-binding peptides were selected for polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS) based on the reported literature. Using nAu with each of these peptides to test the target plastics revealed high signal, at 525/630 nm, suggesting that the target plastic limited HCl-induced nAu aggregation. Testing with other plastics revealed some lack of specificity but the signal was always lower than that of the target plastic. This suggests that these peptides, although reacting mainly with their target plastic, show partial reactivity with the other target plastics. By using a multiple regression model, the relative levels of a given plastic could be corrected by the presence of other plastics. This approach was tested in freshwater mussels caged for 3 months at sites suspected to release plastic materials: in rainfall overflow discharges, downstream a largely populated city, and in a municipal effluent dispersion plume. The data revealed that the digestive glands of the mussels contained higher levels of PP, PE, and PET plastic particles at the rainfall overflow and downstream city sites compared to the treated municipal effluent site. This corroborated earlier findings that wastewater treatment could remove nanoparticles, at least in part. A quick and inexpensive screening test for plastic nanoparticles in biological samples with plasmonic nAu-peptides is proposed.

Micro and Nanoplastic Contamination and Its Effects on Freshwater Mussels Caged in an Urban Area.

Plastic-based contamination has become a major cause of concern as it pervades many environments such as air, water, sediments, and soils. This study sought to examine the presence of microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) in freshwater mussels placed at rainfall/street runoff overflows, downstream (15 km) of the city centre of Montréal, and 8 km downstream of a municipal effluent dispersion plume. MPs and NPs were determined using flow cytometry and size exclusion chromatography using fluorescence detection. Following 3 months of exposure during the summer season, mussels contained elevated amounts of both MPs and NPs. The rainfall overflow and downstream of the city centre were the most contaminated sites. Lipid peroxidation, metallothioneins, and protein aggregates (amyloids) were significantly increased at the most contaminated sites and were significantly correlated with NPs in tissues. Based on the levels of MPs and NPs in mussels exposed to municipal effluent, wastewater treatment plants appear to mitigate plastic contamination albeit not completely. In conclusion, the data support the hypothesis that mussels placed in urbanized areas are more contaminated by plastics, which are associated with oxidative damage. The highest responses observed at the overflow site suggest that tire wear and/or asphalt (road) erosion MPs/NPs represent important sources of contamination for the aquatic biota.

Comparative toxicity of urban wastewater and rainfall overflow in caged freshwater mussel Elliptio complanata.

Municipal effluents are well-recognized as disrupting sexual differentiation and reproduction in mussels. However, the contribution to this problem made by rainfall combined with sewer overflow (increased by rain due to climate change) is not well understood. The purpose of this study was to compare the neuroendocrine effects of municipal discharge and rainfall overflow on caged endemic mussel Elliptio complanata. To this end, mussels were experimentally caged and placed for 3 months at a municipal effluent dispersion plume site and at overflow sites. Data revealed that downstream surface water contained some pharmaceuticals (caffeine and carbamazepine) and accumulated significant levels of heterotrophic bacteria, but these effects were not observed at the overflow sites. The principal effects observed at the downstream site were increased soft tissue mass (and gonad index), inflammation, and Vtg proteins in male mussels as determined by a novel immunostaining methodology. The rainfall overflow sites had no effects on these markers, but were specifically associated with reduced Vtg proteins in females, dopamine (Dop), gonad lipids, and DNA strand breaks, with increased metallothioneins. In conclusion, the observed feminizing effects of municipal effluent were not additionally observed in mussels caged at rainfall overflow sites, although the latter exhibited a different pattern of toxicity.

Insights for Sea Outfall Turbid Plume Monitoring with High-Spatial-Resolution Satellite Imagery Application in Portugal

Coastal municipalities and industries often discharge poorly treated wastewater into proximate marine and estuarine environments. The urban and/or effluent input can lead to eutrophication and lower water quality, as it holds high concentrations of nutrients and pollutants. One widely applied tool to increase effluent dispersion and direct it away from coastal areas, thus causing fewer impacts on human activities, is sea outfall. In Aveiro, Portugal, the São Jacinto sea outfall construction was completed in 1998; however, limited literature regarding the sea outfall’s monitoring using satellite data is available. The methodology in this study involved collecting four years’ worth (2016–2019) of satellite data to investigate visible traces of the interaction between the S. Jacinto sewage water mass and the Ria de Aveiro lagoon ecosystem using ocean color and spectral analysis, and producing new qualitative data regarding sea outfall plume dispersion monitoring through high-resolution Sentinel-2 imagery. The results showed a clear spectral signature of the sewage water mass, and a seasonal pattern was observed in which the plume was more evident in winter and autumn. Additionally, the coastal longshore current and the Aveiro lagoon’s runoff were able to restrict the marine outfall’s dispersion superficially. Ocean color data were revealed to be a factual and cost-effective tool to monitor the plume water. Finally, an exchange between the marine outfall water mass and Ria de Aveiro lagoon could happen in high tide under northern wind conditions. Therefore, it is important to monitor the water quality to ensure the coastal ecosystem’s good environmental state.

Study of atmospheric dispersion of radioactive effluents under inversion condition at coastal station Kalpakkam for radiological impact

Study of atmospheric dispersion of radioactive effluents under inversion condition at coastal station Kalpakkam for radiological impact

Azorean Vascular Plants with Potential Use in Constructed Wetlands with Horizontal Subsurface Flow

Constructed wetlands are considered integrated ecosystems and a promising wastewater treatment option, relying on vegetation, soils, and microbial assemblages. The potential dispersal of effluents from domestic septic systems, the application of dairy farm effluents containing excessive nutrients and pathogens into pastures, and undertreated effluent discharge in coastal areas are some of the threats to water quality in the Azores. Constructed wetlands could be used in the Azores to protect and preserve the quality of drinking water sources and bathing waters. However, the most used plant species in other regions are considered as introduced in the Azores, where a considerable number of invasive plants and weeds are already present. Here, we present a review of the plant taxa already present in the Azorean flora with the potential to be used in constructed wetland systems, based on a literature review, and on the assessment of nine criteria. We evaluated 73 taxa, including mostly Cyperaceae, Poaceae and Juncaceae, showing that, although some of the top-ranking species were considered potentially noxious, several native and some naturalized taxa could be used for wastewater treatment. This work supports the implementation of constructed wetlands in the Azores, while minimizing the risk of new invasions.

Submarine metalliferous carbonate mounds in the Cambrian of the Baltoscandian Basin induced by vent networks and water column stratification

Two massive precipitation events of polymetallic ore deposits, encrusted by a mixture of authigenic carbonates, are documented from the Cambrian of the semi-enclosed Baltoscandian Basin. δ34S (‒9.33 to ‒2.08‰) and δ33S (‒4.75 to ‒1.06‰) values from the basal sulphide breccias, sourced from contemporaneous Pb–Zn–Fe-bearing vein stockworks, reflect sulphide derived from both microbial and abiotic sulphate reduction. Submarine metalliferous deposits were triggered by non-buoyant hydrothermal plumes: plumes of buoyant fluid were trapped by water column stratification because their buoyancy with respect to the environment reversed, fluids became heavier than their surroundings and gravitational forces brought them to a halt, spreading out laterally from originating vents and resulting in the lateral dispersion of effluents and sulphide particle settling. Subsequently, polymetallic exhalites were sealed by carbonate crusts displaying three generations of ikaite-to-aragonite palisade crystals, now recrystallized to calcite and subsidiary vaterite. Th of fluid inclusions in early calcite crystals, ranging from 65 to 78 ºC, provide minimum entrapment temperatures for carbonate precipitation and early recrystallization. δ13Ccarb (‒1.1 to + 1.6‰) and δ18Ocarb (‒7.6 to ‒6.5‰) values are higher than those preserved in contemporaneous glendonite concretions (‒8.5 to ‒4.7‰ and ‒12.4 to ‒9.1‰, respectively) embedded in kerogenous shales, the latter related to thermal degradation of organic matter. Hydrothermal discharges graded from highly reduced, acidic, metalliferous, and hot (~ 150 ºC) to slightly alkaline, calcium-rich and warm (< 100 ºC), controlling the precipitation of authigenic carbonates.

Examination of the Performance of a Three-Phase Atmospheric Turbulence Model for Line-Source Dispersion Modeling Using Multiple Air Quality Datasets

One of the weaknesses of current line-source models for predicting downwind concentrations from mobile sources is accounting for the dispersion of effluents. Most of the investigators in the field have taken different approaches over the last 50 years, ranging from the use of Pasquill–Gifford (P-G) dispersion curves to the use of equations based on atmospheric turbulence for point source dispersion. Madiraju and Kumar (2021) proposed a three-phase turbulence (TPT) model using the key features of mobile source dispersion that appear in the existing literature. This paper examines the performance of line-source models using an updated TPT model. The generic dispersion equations were considered from the SLINE 1.1, CALINE 4, ADMS, and SLSM models. Multiple air quality field data sets collected by other investigators near the roadways were used during this study. These include field data collected from the Idaho Falls Tracer Experiment 2008 (used as the dataset to compare with the initial model), the CALTRANS Highway 99 Tracer experiment, and the Raleigh 2006 experiment. The predicted concentrations were grouped under unstable and stable atmospheric conditions. The evaluation of the model was performed using several statistical parameters such as FB, NMSE, R2, MG, VG, MSLE, and MAPE. The results indicate that the ADMS and SLINE 1.1 models perform better than CALINE4 and SLSM. SLINE 1.1 tends to overpredict for stable atmospheric conditions and underpredict for unstable atmospheric conditions. A trial test was performed to implement the TPT model in the basic line-source model (SLSM). The results indicate that the majority (FB, NMSE, R2, and MSLE) of the indicators have improved and are in the satisfactory range of a good model performance level.

Understanding the bioaccumulation of pharmaceutical active compounds by clams Ruditapes decussatus exposed to a UWWTP discharge

Twenty-four pharmaceutical active compounds (PhACs) were evaluated in the soft tissues of clams Ruditappes decussatus exposed along a 1.5-km dispersal gradient of the treated effluent from an urban wastewater treatment plant discharging in Ria Formosa, and compared with those in the marine waters and discharged effluents. The clams were exposed for 1 month, in June–July 2016, 2017 and 2018. PhACs were quantified by high performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry after the quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe (QuEChERS) method (clams) or solid-phase extraction (water samples). The most representative PhACs in the effluents and receiving waters (regardless of the tidal dilution effect) were diclofenac, carbamazepine and caffeine (on average ≤ 2 μg/L) and only caffeine exhibited significant inter-annual differences, with higher values in 2017. In turn, the most bioaccumulated PhACs in clams were caffeine (0.54–27 ng/g wet weight, significantly higher in 2016) and acetaminophen (0.37–3.7 ng/g wet weight, significant lower in 2016). A multivariate principal component analysis showed (i) PhAC bioaccumulation primarily depended on biotic factors (clams length and weight), (ii) PhAC physicochemical properties Log Kow, pKa and water solubility interplaying with water abiotic variables were more relevant for explaining data variability in water than the physical dilution/tidal mixing, (iii) this process, reflected by the salinity gradient, had a tertiary role in data variation, responsible for spatial discrimination of marine waters. This study provides a better understanding of PhACs bioaccumulation by clams Ruditapes decussatus in real environmental conditions, under the influence of urban treated effluent dispersal in Ria Formosa coastal lagoon, a major producer of bivalves, ultimately disentangling key factors of PhAC bioaccumulation.

Development of Gaussian dispersion computer code enhanced with building downwash parameter

Atmospheric dispersion has been well known in environmental risk assessment. However, one parameter in atmospheric dispersion which is the building downwash was always neglected when calculating the dispersion of radioactive effluent using basic Gaussian dispersion model. In the Gaussian model, this parameter usually replaces by a value which is far from being accurate. The results of can differ almost to half of the actual result. Thus, the building downwash must be included in the calculation for more accurate dispersion results. This work focusses on the development of computer code to calculate the dispersion of radionuclide effluent which emphasis on the building downwash parameters. There are two parts of this work, the first is the basic Gaussian dispersion model computer code, named GD-Nx3 and the second part is the Gaussian dispersion model enhanced with building downwash which called GDb-Nx3. Both computer codes were build using Fortran computer language.

Biomarker Responses of the Clam Ruditapes decussatus Exposed to a Complex Mixture of Environmental Stressors under the Influence of an Urban Wastewater-Treatment Plant.

To evaluate the potential impact of an urban wastewater-treatment plant on Ria Formosa coastal lagoon, a sentinel species, the clam Ruditapes decussatus, was exposed along a gradient of the effluent's dispersal for 1 mo. Three exposure sites were selected to study the responses of 3 biomarkers: electron transport system, acetylcholinesterase, and lipid peroxidation. As complementary data, morphometric measurements, condition index, and lipid and protein content were considered together with in situ physicochemical characterization of the sites (temperature, salinity, pH, and dissolved oxygen). Electron transport system activity levels were between 35.7 and 50.5 nmol O2 /min g protein, acetylcholinesterase activity levels ranged from 2.6 to 3.8 nmol/min g protein, and lipid peroxidation ranged from 174.7 to 246.4 nmol malondialdehyde/g protein. The exposure sites shaped the response not only of biomarkers but also of "health" parameters (protein, lipids, and condition index). Lipid peroxidation was the most responsive biomarker also associated with electron transport system, especially at the closest site to the urban wastewater-treatment plant. Because of the presence of complex mixtures of contaminants in urban effluents, biomarker responses can provide valuable information in environmental assessment. However, it is vital to identify all biological and ecological factors induced by the natural life cycle of clams. Abiotic factors can mask or overlap the response of biomarkers and should be considered in a multibiomarker approach. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:272-283. © 2020 SETAC.

Dynamic modeling of effluent dispersion on Mangueira bay — Patos Lagoon (Brazil)

The city of Rio Grande, located in the south of Brazil, suffers with the inadequate coverage of its network of sewage collection and treatment. In addition, there are clandestine effluents ducts being launched in the Mangueira bay, a region of extreme economic and ecological importance. This article aims to understand the influence of the Patos lagoon hydrodynamics, as well as inside the bay, in the behavior effluents dispersion in two different conditions: flood and ebb events. Further, the assessment of local pollution analyzing indicators of the contamination degree was performed. For the development of this study a hydrodynamic model TELEMAC-3D coupled to a dispersion pollutant model were applied. The results indicate that minor parts of the pollutants are dispersed outward the bay, whilst the bay is the most susceptible site to contamination since a large part of pollutants remain trapped in this region.

Impact of Large Cooling Tower on Atmospheric Dispersion of Effluent from Coastal Nuclear Power Plant

Wang, X.; Wei, G.; Wang, S.; Yang, Y.; Du, F., and Wang, B., 2020. Impact of large cooling tower on atmospheric dispersion of effluent from coastal nuclear power plant. In: Yang, Y.; Mi, C.; Zhao, L., and Lam, S. (eds.), Global Topics and New Trends in Coastal Research: Port, Coastal and Ocean Engineering. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 103, pp. 474–478. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.In order to improve the simulation quality of atmospheric dispersion on coastal nuclear power plant, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method was used to simulate the impact of large cooling tower on the diffusion of gaseous effluent from coastal nuclear power plant. The simulation results show that when the release point is directly in front of the cooling tower, with considering the natural ventilation effect of the cooling tower, the axis concentration of the effluent is significantly reduced by about 1 to 2 orders of magnitude. Compared with different ambient wind speeds, the cooling tower has a more significant effect on the diffusion under low wind speed. For the ground release, atmospheric stability conditions have little effect on the concentration distribution. On this basis, a correction of the Gaussian model for the cooling tower effect is proposed. The atmospheric diffusion parameters in the Gaussian plume model can be given by three distance segments, which are 0-240 m, 240-270 m and above.

Impacts of Decommissioning and Upgrading Urban Wastewater Treatment Plants on the Water Quality in a Shellfish Farming Coastal Lagoon (Ria Formosa, South Portugal)

Jacob, J.; Correia, C.; Torres, A.F.; Xufre, G.; Matos, A.; Ferreira, C.; Reis, M.P.; Caetano, S.; Freitas, C.S.; Barbosa, A.B., and Cravo, A., 2020. Impacts of decommissioning and upgrading urban wastewater treatment plants on the water quality in a shellfish farming coastal lagoon (Ria Formosa, South Portugal). In: Malvarez, G. and Navas, F. (eds.), Global Coastal Issues of 2020. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 95, pp. 45–50. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.Ria Formosa is a productive coastal lagoon, located on the south coast of Portugal, and represents the largest national producer of shellfish bivalves (ca. 90% production). This ecosystem is subjected to various anthropogenic pressures, including the discharge of urban wastewater treatment plants (UWWTP), which impacts the lagoon water quality. This study aimed to assess the impact of alterations in the functioning of two UWWTP on the water quality of Ria Formosa, based on chemical variables, phytoplankton composition (including potential harmful species) and faecal contamination. During the period September 2018 - October 2019, water sampling was conducted along dominant longitudinal gradients of the effluent dispersion from the discharge point (1-2 km), for two sites: a decommissioned (OP) and a modified (FO) UWWTP. After modification, the later started receiving a higher influent volume (ca. 40%), under an innovative technology system (biological treatment in aerobic granular sludge). Based on chemical water quality variables, phytoplankton and indicators of faecal contamination, a significant improvement along the longitudinal gradient from the discharge point was observed after OP decommissioning. This improvement was fast, being detected two months after decommissioning, positively affecting areas used as shellfish farming grounds. However, distribution patterns of bacteriological indicators and regular shellfish harvesting interdictions suggested an alternative source of faecal contamination after OP decommissioning. At FO, both chemical variables and bacteriological indicators of faecal contamination revealed a slower improvement, only six-months after the UWWTP alteration. Before that, increased and highly variable ammonium, chlorophyll a concentration, phytoplankton abundances and Escherichia coli densities, revealed an unstable phase. Overall, a lower water quality at FO in respect to OP reflected not only a higher effluent volume but also more restricted water circulation for the former.

Long-term and comparative impacts of combined sewers and municipal effluents to freshwater mussels

Excess rainfall events could lead to overflows and combined sewer overflows, which could threaten local mussel populations. This study sought to compare the long- term effects of combined sewer overflows and treated municipal effluents in caged Elliptio complanata mussels. Mussels were caged at 2 overflow sites, one downstream site of a major municipal effluent dispersion plume and a reference upstream site for 3 months during the summer. At the end of the exposure period, mussels were collected, analyzed for municipal contaminants (including pharmaceuticals), and effects biomarkers based on endocrine disruption (vitellogenin expression), xenobiotic detoxification (glutathione S-transferase and metallothioneins), oxidative stress/inflammation (cyclooxygenase and lipid peroxidation) and DNA damage. The data revealed that surface waters contained less pharmaceutical products than the downstream site but atrazine and its metabolite were at higher levels in overflow sites. Mussels contained elevated amounts of total heterotrophic bacteria, caffeine, acebutolol and venlafaxine at the downstream site relative to the upstream site where caffeine was higher at one of the overflow site. The levels of vitellogenin gene expression were significantly increased in both sexes of mussels caged at the downstream site only. Multivariate analysis revealed that the biomarker responses were completely separated between upstream, overflow and downstream sites. The site discrimination was based on vitellogenin, metallothioneins, DNA damage in gonad and digestive gland, gonad lipids/proteins reserves, lipid peroxidation, gonado-somatic index and condition factor. Adverse outcome pathways analysis using the power law approach revealed that most changes in the biomarkers identified by discriminant function analysis were significantly scaled to gonad energy reserves, tissue/ mussel size and loss of weight following air emersion stress. In conclusion, the toxic effects of mussels caged at overflow sites generally displayed lower responses than mussels caged downstream a treated municipal effluent suggesting that these overflows pose a lower risk than the continuous exposure to treated municipal effluent.

Sea outfall disposal of stormwater in Doha Bay: Risk assessment based on dispersion modelling

A 3D numerical hydrodynamic and dispersion study was carried out using the MIKE3 Hydrodynamic model to assess the dispersion of stormwater effluents discharged from the four sea outfalls into Doha bay area in Qatar. Dispersion simulations were carried out for three scenarios: dry weather, representative storm event and first flush. Input parameters (such as temperature, salinity, total suspended solids, total Nitrogen and Faecal coliform) for the dispersion simulation were defined from measurements obtained during representative events for each scenario of interest. Results show that variation of temperature and salinity mostly occurred at the vicinity of disposal point. The net sedimentation of solids was observed above 25 g/m2 within about 250 m from the outfalls. Concentration of Faecal coliform was found >500 count/100 mL >90% of the simulation time within 50 m from one of the outfalls, which reduced to 250–500 count/100 mL at 100 m distance. Simulation of exceedance for total N of 0.2 mg/L shows that during the dry weather flow condition, overall in the Southern Doha Bay, total N exceeded from 70% to >90% of the time. However, when exceedance of 0.6 mg/L of total N was modelled, the vicinity of only one outfall showed exceedance >90% of the simulation period. A risk assessment was carried out using results of the numerical dispersion modelling based on negligible, minor, moderate and major risk categories. Criteria for risk assessment were developed based on field observation of local ambient sea water condition. Risk of eutrophication, impact on swimming water quality and sedimentation of hazardous contaminants was evaluated. The developed risk criteria are applicable for similar bays in Qatar and in other GCC countries near Arabian Gulf.

Downstream evolution of wastewater treatment plant nutrient signals using high‐temporal monitoring

AbstractWastewater treatment plants are major point‐sources of nutrients to streams globally, but the impact on receiving streams is not always clear. Previous research has shown mixed responses in receiving streams, with some showing no net retention through in‐stream processing for large distances below plants and some showing high rates of processing and retention. This study focuses on Sandy Run, a small, suburban stream in Montgomery County, PA, that receives effluent from two plants, where effluent makes up an estimated 50% of outlet discharge at baseflow. Two sites were monitored in late summer baseflow using high‐temporal loggers to evaluate nitrate and phosphate retention with distance below the plants. Effluent quantity was monitored immediately below the effluent outfalls using specific conductivity as a conservative signal of solute fluctuations throughout the day. A site 1 km downstream showed diel nitrate changes, but despite moderate gross primary productivity and ecosystem respiration rates, there was little net retention of nutrients and the diel nitrate signal can be attributed to advection and dispersion of variable upstream effluent. A site 5.4 km below the plant showed a diel nitrate signal as well, but baseflow daily hysteresis plots of nitrate and specific conductivity showed the effluent and nitrate peaks did not coincide. Instead, the effluent input signal was seen overnight, but there was in‐stream removal and release processes during the day. Over the distance to this site, the stream was metabolizing some of the high nutrient loads, although gross primary productivity and ecosystem respiration rates were lower. It is important to understand subdaily changes in nutrient processing to fully quantify the impacts of effluent on small streams at different scales. Furthermore, looking at the diel signal without considering conservative transport would overestimate in‐stream processing.

Radiological dose assessment due to hypothetical nuclear power plant operation in Mersing, Johor, Malaysia

Malaysia has considered for some time to adopt nuclear power to cater to the increasing demand of electricity following other developed Asian countries such as Japan, Korea, and China. In implementing a nuclear power plant, strict regulations and guidelines by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) must be fulfilled before any construction license is given for a new nuclear power program. One of the assessments include the estimation of potential radiological risks to both humans and environment from routine and accidental release of radioactive effluent from the nuclear power plant (NPP). In this work, simulations of radionuclide dispersion from a hypothetical NPP site in Mersing, Johor will be presented. The simulation was performed based on the Lagrangian atmospheric dispersion model using the HYSPLIT software. The radioactive effluent release rate was approximated to the value found in the Fukushima Dai-ichi accident in 2011. Meteorological data of 2017 were utilized in this study. Simulation results showed that the dispersion of radioactive effluent from the hypothetical NPP can potentially affect areas around Johor Bahru district, Singapore, and even some areas in Indonesia.

Study of emission of radioactive gaseous effluents in the production of 18F-FDG

The number of units producing radiopharmaceuticals with a half-life of fewer than two hours has increased with the growth of PET technology in Brazil. In the production of such radiopharmaceuticals such as 18F-FDG or 11C-PIB, gaseous waste is formed. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) proposes a methodology that can be used to evaluate the dispersion of these gaseous effluents. This work has retrospectively evaluated the emission of radioactive gaseous effluents generated in the production of 18F-FDG, in order, to delimit yield values of radioactive waste in the gaseous form and to verify the effectiveness and the design of the safety elements of the exhaust system evaluated before the standards of the National Nuclear Energy Commission (CNEN) and IAEA recommendations. Thirty-six productions of 18F-FDG were found.