Occurrence of linear alkylbenzene sulfonates, nonylphenol ethoxylates and di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate in composting processes: Environmental risks

Composting is an important waste management strategy, providing an economical and environment-friendly approach to sanitizing and stabilizing biosolids for land soil amendment. However, the resulting product can contain a large number of organic pollutants that may have adverse effects on the ecosys...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Martín Bueno, Julia, Mejías Padilla, Carmen, Arenas Molina, Marina, Santos Morcillo, Juan Luis, Aparicio Gómez, Irene, Alonso Álvarez, Esteban
Format: article
Status:Published version
Publication Date:2022
Country:España
Institution:Universidad de Sevilla (US)
Repository:idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevilla
OAI Identifier:oai:idus.us.es:11441/131141
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/11441/131141
https://doi.org/10.3390/su14010186
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Linear alkylbenzene sulfonate
Nonylphenol ethoxylates
Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate
Occurrence
Composting processes
Risk assessment
Description
Summary:Composting is an important waste management strategy, providing an economical and environment-friendly approach to sanitizing and stabilizing biosolids for land soil amendment. However, the resulting product can contain a large number of organic pollutants that may have adverse effects on the ecosystem. This paper presents the occurrence of eight widely used organic pollutants (four linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS C10-C13), nonylphenol and its mono- and di-ethoxylates (NPE) and a di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP)) in full-scale composting processes. LAS homologues were detected at the highest concentrations (range of ∑LAS: 2068–9375 mg kg−1 dm), exceeding the limit fixed in the EU Directive draft. The concentration levels of the NPE and DEHP were significantly lower (up to 27.5 and 156.8 mg kg−1 dm, respectively) and did not exceed their fixed limits in the EU Directive draft. Ecotoxicological risk assessment for when compost is amended onto soils has also been evaluated. The concentrations measured represented a medium-low risk for most compounds, although it was not enough in the case of LAS C11 and C13 and NP.