Environmental and health impacts of industrial wastewater effluents in Pakistan: a review.

In developing countries, one of the most severe modern-day dilemmas is the management of industrial wastewater. In these countries, industrial wastewater effluents are directly discharged into the natural drain, a sewer system, an internal septic tank or a nearby field. Some of these industrial wastewater effluents are inadequately treated or untreated before being discharged. In recent years, in developing countries, urbanization and industrial activities have led to environmental deterioration. This paper was designed to review the health and environmental impacts of inadequately treated or untreated industrial wastewater effluents in Pakistan. The quality of industrial wastewater effluents is responsible for the degradation of the receiving water bodies. This is due to the reason that inadequately treated or untreated industrial wastewater effluents may cause eutrophication in the receiving water bodies and also form a favorable condition for toxin-producing waterborne pathogens. In order to comply with the wastewater guidelines and legislations, there is a need for proper treatment before discharge. In order to minimize the risk to the environment and public health, there is a need for proper treatment processes for industrial wastewater effluents. To achieve unpolluted discharge of industrial wastewater into the receiving water bodies, regular monitoring, proper and suitable treatment, careful planning and appropriate legislation are recommended.

Health risks associated with the pharmaceuticals in wastewater.

The overwhelming population growth in recent decades and water crisis along with limited and uneven geographical distribution of fresh water resources is a growing challenge for the economic and human development. Wastewater reclamation and use could be an alternative for intact water sources and a promising solution to water scarcity and unequal distribution. However, wastewater is a double-edged resource both as an accessible water source for food production and human usage and concurrently may carry uncharacterized content with unknown toxicological profile causing acute or long-term health risks. Pharmaceuticals, cosmeceuticals, nanomaterials and their chemical decomposition derivatives found in wastewater are not well known in many cases. Their unknown toxicity, teratogenicity and carcinogenicity profile associated with lack of monitoring and control measures impose a significant hazard risk on the public health. This paper reviews the evidence on the health risks associated with the wastewater use for irrigated food production and the imposed risk on the end consumers mainly from pharmaceutical industry and related research facilities. Then, we suggest an applied framework for planning and policy-making to mitigate the health risks and optimally employ reclaimed wastewater for human purposes.

¿Por qué continúa la contaminación de aguas en Guatemala? / Why does water pollution continue in Guatemala?

Para la protección ambiental se han emitido en Guatemala tres reglamentos que se refieren al agua residual, y una ley de protección y mejoramiento del medio ambiente. El último reglamento emitido es el Acuerdo Gubernativo 236-2006, denominado Reglamento de las Descargas y Reúso de Aguas Residuales y de la Disposiciónde Lodos, que derogó los reglamentos anteriores (Acuerdo Gubernativo del Reglamento de Requisitos Mínimos y sus Límites Máximos Permisibles de Contaminación para la Descarga de Aguas Servidas (1989) y Acuerdo Gubernativo del Reglamento de Descargas de Aguas Residuales a Cuerpos Receptores (2005)). El problema es que, el reglamento vigente tiene varias deficiencias y en muchos aspectos no mejoró lo que se había estipulado en losacuerdos previos, además al compararlo con los reglamentos equivalentes de México y Costa Rica, el reglamento guatemalteco es ineficaz. Entre las carencias se encuentra que; no diferencia los cuerpos de agua receptores, el plazo de cumplimiento es largo, no distingue tipos de industria, se redujeron las categorías de reúso de agua residual, disminuye el involucramiento del Ministerio de Salud Pública y Asistencia Social, la periodicidad de muestreoses menor, no se considera la medición de demanda química de oxígeno, la medición de color en el agua no es la adecuada y no considera la presencia de parásitos en las descargas. En virtud de la protección ambiental que el país requiere, es necesario realizar una revisión al Acuerdo Gubernativo de 2006 del Reglamento de las Descargas y Reúso de Aguas Residuales y de la Disposición de Lodos, que debería concluir con la derogación del reglamento y la emisión de uno nuevo más completo, mejorado y que se base en investigación científica.

For the environmental protection in Guatemala there have been three regulations for discharge and reuse of wastewater and sludge disposal, and one law for environmental protection. The last regulation issued that is currentlyin force is the Environment Agreement 236-2006 “Regulation of Discharge and Reuse of Wastewater and SludgeDisposal”, repealing the previous regulations (Government Agreement 60-1989 and 66-2005). But the regulation 236-2006 has many deficiencies and in many aspects did not improve what had been stipulated in the previous agreements, also when is compared with the regulations of Mexico and Costa Rica, Guatemala’s regulations are ineffective. Among the deficiencies in 236-2006, it is observed that: there is not difference between receiving bodies,the compliance deadline is long, there is not difference for industries and their wastewater, the reuse categoriesfor wastewater was reduced, there is less engagement of the Health Ministry, less frequency of sampling, it is notconsidered the measurement of chemical oxygen demand, color measurement in water is not adequate and there isnot consideration for the presence of helminths in the treated wastewater. For the environmental protection that thecountry needs, it is necessary to perform a review of the Government Agreement 236-2006 and it should conclude with the repeal of regulation and issuance of a new one more complete, improved and based on scientific research.

Possible underestimations of risks for the environment due to unregulated emissions of biocides from households to wastewater.

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of household products as possible sources of biocidal active substances in municipal wastewater and their regulation under the Biocidal Products Regulation (EU) 528/2012. In 131 households, we investigated the prevalence of products used to control pests, washing and cleaning agents and select personal care products with high release to wastewater. Inventories of these products were established with the help of barcode scanning. All uses of biocidal active substances were evaluated regarding their assessment under the Biocidal Products Regulation. 2963 products were scanned in total, with 48% being washing and cleaning agents, 43% personal care products and 9% products used to control pests. Biocidal active substances were found in each household. These were observed primarily in washing and cleaning agents and personal care products (90%), while only a small percentage of the observations of biocidal active substances was in biocidal products. 64% of the observations of biocidal active substances were in applications that do not fall under the Biocidal Products Regulation and are thus not subject to its environmental risk assessment. This study shows clearly that risks for the environment are underestimated because unregulated emissions to wastewater occur. It demonstrates that there are gaps in the current chemical legislation that lead to a release of substances into wastewater that were not subject to environmental risk assessment under the Biocidal Products Regulation. This is one example of the limitations of scientific risk assessment of chemicals - its complexity is immense. From our point of view, the results underline the importance of a sustainable use of the substances as this is the only way to decrease yet unidentified risks.

Peligrosidad de los componentes del paquete radiográfico intraoral y líquidos de procesado / Danger of the intraoral radiographic package and developer liquid components

En odontología, para la obtención de imágenes radiográficas intraorales por métodos convencionales, se utilizan paquetes radiográficos que contienen en su interior a la película radiográfica. Luego de la exposición del paquete radiográfico a los rayos X se realiza el procesado, lo cual requiere el uso de líquidos reveladores y fijadores, que son las sustancias químicas que harán posible la visualización de la imagen.Tanto el paquete radiográfico como lo líquidos de procesado presentan en su constitución elementos que, por sus características, pueden ser incluidos enel rubro de “elementos peligrosos” para la salud y para el medio ambiente. En este trabajo de divulgación se pretende realizar un análisis de las características que hacen a la peligrosidad de cada uno de los componentes del paquete radiográfico y de los líquidos —revelador y fijador— usados en el procesado, lo cual es necesario conocer para el manejo seguro y adecuado de este tipo de elementos...

Heterogeneity of the environmental regulation of industrial wastewater: European wineries.

The European legislation of the pollution of industrial wastewater shows a high degree of heterogeneity. This fact implies that there is a market failure with relevant consequences. Within the European Union, each Member State performs a specific transposition of the Water Framework Directive 2000/60. The member states introduce different sanitation fees to correct water pollution. In this paper, the case of the European wine industry is analyzed. It studies the sanitation fees of the five major wine producing countries: France, Italy, Spain, Germany and Portugal. Results show significant differences among the wastewater fees and the study reveals how such heterogeneity leads to relevant market distortions. The research concludes that more homogeneous environmental regulation would promote more sustainable wine production processes with more efficient water management and purification systems, as well as the introduction of cutting edge technologies.

Análise e discussão dos conceitos e legislação sobre reuso de águas residuárias / Analysis and argument of the concepts and legislation about reuso of waters residuárias

Apesar da água ser considerada um recurso natural renovável, a mudança dos ecossistemas, a dinâmica das cidades, a demanda aumentada e diversificada desse recurso mineral nos alerta para sua eminente escassez como fonte de manutenção da vida, seja nas atividades produtivas, agropastoris e até mesmo para o abastecimento público. No Brasil, antes de abordarmos a questão do reuso de água, é importante nos darmos conta do enorme déficit de cobertura de sistemas de esgotos sanitários, com o devido tratamento, adequado aos corpos receptores. Esse déficit além contribuir para a deterioração dos nossos corpos hídricos, interferir na saúde pública, vem cada vez mais, devido ao alto custo no tratamento da água para abastecimento, se transformando em um fator econômico de extrema relevância. Essa demanda por água tem levado os diversos países a se preocupar além da proteção dos seus mananciais a aprofundar estudos sobre reuso das águas servidas. Em todo o mundo, atualmente, estão sendo desenvolvidos vários estudos e revisando várias normas, diretrizes e legislações referentes a reuso de águas residuárias.Pretende-se com esse trabalho, discutir o conceito do reuso de águas, apresentar algumas experiências exitosas pelo mundo e levantar normas e legislações existentes no Brasil e em vários países, a fim de contribuir na construção de um pensar integrado sobre o reuso, que por fim vá ao encontro dos esforços existentes para construção de uma legislação específica sobre o reuso de águas residuárias.