Material Flow Analysis and Risk Assessment of Wastewater and Sludge Treatment in Bangkok, Thailand

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Published: Aug 2, 2021
Keywords:
Material flow analysis Human health risk assessment Wastewater treatment plant Removal efficiencies Carcinogenic risk Non-carcinogenic risk

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Hideaki Anazawa
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
Suwin Apichartpattanasiri
Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University, Nakorn Pathom, Thailand
Kazuyuki Oshita
Department of Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
Masaki Takaoka
Department of Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6088-8326
Trakarn Prapaspongsa
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9413-0305

Abstract

This research evaluated the wastewater and sludge characteristics, and material flows in Nongkhaem Water Environment Control Plant. The constituent removal efficiencies of the wastewater treatment plant and human health risks (for children and adults) caused by sludge utilization were determined. The results from the Material Flow Analysis showed that the wastewater treatment process can remove nutrients efficiently. The removal rate of TOC, T-N, and T-P were 72%, 62%, 72% respectively. In case of heavy metal, the removal rate of heavy metals was between 62-87%. This means that it can reduce human health risks from heavy metals in treated water. Heavy metals content in sewage sludge can be ranked according to mean concentrations in the following order: Zn > Cu > Cr > Ni > Pb > As > Mo > Se > Hg > Cd. Cu, Zn and Cr were the top three highest heavy metals that caused non-carcinogen health risks for both children and adults. Heavy metals in dry-based sewage sludge would be toxic for children’s health (non-carcinogen health risks) but not for adults. The carcinogenic risks from sludge utilization were under the safe limit for both children and adults.

Article Details

Issue
Vol. 35 No. 2 (2021): May-August
Section
Research Articles
Author Biographies

Hideaki Anazawa, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand

Suwin Apichartpattanasiri, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University, Nakorn Pathom, Thailand

Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University, Nakorn Pathom, Thailand

Kazuyuki Oshita, Department of Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan

Department of Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan

Masaki Takaoka, Department of Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan

Department of Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan

Trakarn Prapaspongsa, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand (Corresponding author)

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