Emerging contaminants in ecosystems : new challenges for water reuse implementation and mechanisms of perfluorochemical bioaccumulation
Abstract/Contents
- Abstract
- Technological innovations developed in response to pressing water supply needs in populated arid regions have led to the recovery of municipal wastewater for beneficial reuse worldwide. Yet even as rapid urbanization and severe droughts motivate wastewater reuse, new engineering and policy hurdles arise over public concerns and management challenges regarding the persistence of residual and byproduct pharmaceutical and industrial chemicals in treated municipal effluent. Bioaccumulation of synthetic organic chemicals in environments downstream of wastewater effluent discharge and recycled water use poses an ecological risk and introduces a potential pathway of human exposure to these contaminants. This dissertation assesses management challenges for water reuse implementation in Northern California; identifies opportunities of water reuse for ecosystem enhancement; explores the bioaccumulation of one class of persistent and toxic unregulated chemical contaminants, perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs); and evaluates mechanisms of bioaccumulation via an in-depth study of PFAA interactions with a model serum protein. This study provides context for issues surrounding chemicals of emerging concern (CECs) in recycled water. However, uncertainty regarding bioaccumulation of CECs from recycled water used for ecological enhancement or habitat creation remains a concern. Investigation of mechanisms influencing PFAA bioaccumulation provides insight into one class of CECs now detected in sensitive aquatic ecosystems and contributes to ongoing efforts to characterize the physiochemical properties of compounds used to replace long-chain perfluorinated chemicals.
Description
| Type of resource | text |
|---|---|
| Form | electronic; electronic resource; remote |
| Extent | 1 online resource. |
| Publication date | 2011 |
| Issuance | monographic |
| Language | English |
Creators/Contributors
| Associated with | Bischel, Heather Nicole |
|---|---|
| Associated with | Stanford University, Civil & Environmental Engineering Department |
| Primary advisor | Luthy, Richard G |
| Thesis advisor | Luthy, Richard G |
| Thesis advisor | MacManus-Spencer, Laura (Laura Ann) |
| Thesis advisor | Reinhard, Martin |
| Advisor | MacManus-Spencer, Laura (Laura Ann) |
| Advisor | Reinhard, Martin |
Subjects
| Genre | Theses |
|---|
Bibliographic information
| Statement of responsibility | Heather Nicole Bischel. |
|---|---|
| Note | Submitted to the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. |
| Thesis | Thesis (Ph.D.)--Stanford University, 2011. |
| Location | electronic resource |
Access conditions
- Copyright
- © 2011 by Heather Nicole Bischel
- License
- This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial 3.0 Unported license (CC BY-NC).
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