Aerosol-bound emissions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and sterols from aeration tanks of a municipal waste water treatment plant

Aeration tanks of wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) are a potential source of atmospheric aerosol particles. Several groups of organic compounds (sterols, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, estrogens) were analyzed in aerosol particles sampled at a municipal WWTP, and the particle size distribution was measured directly with optical particle counters. Aerosol emissions from an activated treatment tank equipped with fine bubble diffusers were low; however, at the preaeration tank equipped with coarse bubble diffusers, sterol concentrations up to 14 ng m(-3) were measured. Directly next to the tank, sterols were associated mainly to particles with aerodynamic diameter > 1.35 mum. The results suggest that coprostanol could be a useful tracer for monitoring the emission of aerosol particles from WWTPs. Moreover, wastewater treatment could contribute substantially to the atmospheric concentrations of cholesterol and 24-ethylcholesterol. Aeration tanks with fine bubble diffusers are no major source of atmospheric aerosol particles, whereas coarse bubbling devices seem to emit considerable amounts of aerosol particles.