The fate and persistence of the antimicrobial compound triclosan and its influence on water quality

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2013

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Qiu, T.
Saint, C.P.
Barton, M.D.

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Wang, Y.G.

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Book chapter

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Source details - Title: Water Quality: Indicators, Human Impact and Environmental Health, 2013 / Wang, Y.G. (ed./s), Ch.8, pp.209-238

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Abstract

The Earth's water resources are coming under increased stress from the combined pressures of quality and quantity and wastewater has an increasingly important impact on these issues. The quality of treated wastewater entering both the marine and freshwater environments can greatly influence the health of natural ecosystems. In addition, a shortage of freshwater supply in drought affected countries has led to an escalation in the use of treated wastewater ("reclaimed water") for the purpose of water supply augmentation for agricultural, industrial and even potable uses. The fate and persistence of chemical contaminants in wastewater is of considerable concern when considering the potential environmental and health impacts of discharges, be they to the open environment or captured for reuse. Of the many types of anthropogenic compounds found in wastewater, pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) make up a significant portion of encountered pollutants. Of these, triclosan is one of the prevalent compounds known to be recalcitrant to removal or inactivation in wastewater treatment processes. This chapter deals with the significance of triclosan in the wastewater cycle, its persistence and fate, and examines the microbiological processes involved in the removal of this compound. The significance of microbial resistance to triclosan is also considered and how this relates to other types of microbial resistance to antibiotics, and we discuss the potential role of wastewater as a source for the creation of new antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria.

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Copyright 2013 Nova Science Publishers

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