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Abstract: The fate of 14 antidepressants along with their respective N-desmethyl metabolites and the anticonvulsive drug carbamazepine (CBZ) was studied in 5 different sewage treatment plants (STPs) across Canada. Using two validated LC-MS/MS analytical methods, the concentrations of the different compounds were determined in raw influent, final effluent and treated biosolids samples. Out of the 15 compounds investigated, 13 were positively detected in most 24-h composite raw influent samples. Analysis showed that venlafaxine (VEN), its metabolite O-desmethylvenlafaxine (DVEN), citalopram (CIT), and CBZ were detected at the highest concentrations in raw influent (up to 4.3 μg L−1 for DVEN). Cumulated results showed strong evidence that primary treatment and trickling filter/solids contact has limited capacity to remove antidepressants from sewage, while activated sludge, biological aerated filter, and biological nutrient removal processes yielded moderate results (mean removal rates: 30%). The more recalcitrant compounds to be eliminated from secondary STPs were VEN, DVEN and CBZ with mean removal rates close to 12%. Parent compounds were removed to a greater degree than their metabolites. The highest mean concentrations in treated biosolids samples were found for CIT (1033 ng g−1), amitriptyline (768 ng g−1), and VEN (833 ng g−1). Experimental sorption coefficients (K d ) were also determined. The lowest K d values were obtained with VEN, DVEN, and CBZ (67–490 L kg−1). Sorption of these compounds on solids was assumed negligible (log K d  ≤ 2). However, important sorption on solids was observed for sertraline, desmethylsertraline, paroxetine and fluoxetine (log K d  > 4). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Plasticizers can persist during the treatment of wastewaters in sewage treatment plants (STPs) and can be discharged in effluents and/or accumulated in sewage sludges. For example, di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) is a common plasticizer that is now considered a priority pollutant and is known to accumulate in sludges. This may add constraints to the exploitation of the beneficial uses of sludges that contain significant quantities of plasticizers. Recently, it was demonstrated in studies with pure cultures that the biodegradation of plasticizers including DEHP and di-ethylhexyl adipate (DEHA) generates toxic metabolites including 2-ethylhexanoic acid, 2-ethylhexanol, and 2-ethylhexanal. However, the environmental impacts and fate of the degradation products arising from plasticizers are unknown. Therefore, this work investigated the concentrations of DEHP and DEHA and their metabolites in the sludges from several STPs in Quebec, Canada. DEHP and DEHA were found in concentrations ranging from 15 to 346 mg kg-1 and 4 to 743 mg kg-1, respectively, in primary, secondary, digested, dewatered or dried sludges. Metabolites were detected in almost all sludges, except those that had undergone a drying process at high temperature. It is concluded that sludges can represent significant sources of plasticizers and their toxic metabolites in the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]