Abstract
Thirty-four metals were analyzed by ICP-MS. Among these elements, anthropogenic silver, gadolinium and platinum, were representative markers of medical activities in hospital and urban wastewater. On working days, median hospital wastewater concentrations for anthropogenic silver, gadolinium, and platinum were approximately three, 13 and 27 times higher respectively than the Municipal wastewater. A drastic reduction of their emission was observed during non-working days (minus 94 % for gadolinium and 87 % for platinum). A large percentage of these metals are not trapped in the Treatment Plant, i.e. 88 % for gadolinium and 69 % for platinum. More than 4 kg and 350 g for gadolinium and platinum are respectively discharged per year in the River Seine. Therefore, it is imperative to eliminate these elements in the Plant.
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Acknowledgements
This research was supported by grants from the Groupement Régional de Santé Publique de Haute-Normandie, Préfecture de Haute-Normandie, Rouen, France. This study was directed by the Union Régionale des Médecins Libéraux de Haute-Normandie, Rouen, France. The authors are most grateful to Richard Medeiros, Rouen University Hospital Medical Editor, for his valuable editing of the manuscript.
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Goullé, JP., Saussereau, E., Mahieu, L. et al. Importance of Anthropogenic Metals in Hospital and Urban Wastewater: Its Significance for the Environment. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 89, 1220–1224 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-012-0829-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-012-0829-y