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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

Start Date

06/03/2008

Initial Projected Completion Date

06/03/2009