Recent studies have highlighted the widespread presence of chemicals in the environment, many of which are linked to serious health concerns. Among these, Bisphenol A (BPA) is one of the most prevalent synthetic xenoestrogens. Found in everyday products like plastics, personal care items, and pesticides, BPA is known for its ability to disrupt the endocrine system. Once these chemicals enter the environment, they often find their way into sewage systems and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), raising concerns about their impact on aquatic ecosystems and human health. To address this issue, effective wastewater treatment systems are crucial for removing endocrine disruptors before the water is discharged back into the environment.
In this context, the present study assesses the effectiveness of the wastewater clarification processes at the Guelma City treatment plant in Algeria. The assessment was conducted using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) in reverse-phase to analyze wastewater samples. The results are concerning: the biological treatment process, specifically the activated sludge basins, demonstrates only a 23% removal efficiency of BPA, leaving 77% of the contaminant in the treated water. Although the removal efficiency slightly increases to 31% by the end of the treatment chain, these figures remain insufficient to mitigate the risks associated with BPA contamination.
These findings underscore the urgent need for improvements in the wastewater treatment processes at the Guelma plant and other similar facilities. Enhancing the efficiency of existing treatments or introducing alternative technologies is necessary to better address the removal of BPA and other endocrine disruptors. Solutions could include modifying current processes, incorporating additional treatment steps, or exploring innovative wastewater treatment technologies to ensure the protection of both aquatic ecosystems and human health.