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Project Code [2007-FS-30]
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Project title
Pharmaceutical residues within sewage sludges (b)
Primary Funding Agency
Environmental Protection Agency
Co-Funding Organisation(s)
n/a
Lead Organisation
Dublin City University (DCU)
Lead Applicant
Leon Barron
Project Abstract
(Project Cost Extension) - Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) represent a ?new wave? of environmental pollutants. To date in Ireland very little work has been carried out to evaluate the level of environmental contamination by such products, although pioneering projects aimed at (a) method development1 (IRCSET funded postgraduate fellowship for Mr. J.J. Bones, Oct. 2003) and (b) assessment of pharmaceutical residue levels at selected sewage treatment plants (STPs) have recently been initiated at DCU (EPA ERTDI programme project no. 2004-PHD4-6). Current work in the EU indicates that sorption to sewage sludge during wastewater treatment may be the main removal process for certain classes of pharmaceuticals which in turn represents an important route of entry to the environment for these PPCPs when the sludge is used as a fertiliser on agricultural land. Therefore, the purpose of this project is to develop methods for the determination of selected PPCPs sorbed onto solid phase, to characterise the sorption of a range of PPCPs onto actual sludge in laboratory trials and finally, to assess the levels of PPCPs in sludges obtained from selected Irish STPs.
Grant Approved
�86,015.08
Research Hub
Green and Circular Economy
Research Theme
Waste and Resources Management
Initial Projected Completion Date
06/03/2009