Abstract
The treatment of hospital effluents (HE) is a major concern, as they are suspected of disseminating drugs and antibiotic resistance determinants in the environment. In order to assess HE influence on wastewater treatment plant biomass, lab-scale conventional activated sludge systems (CAS) were continuously fed with real HE or urban effluent as a control. To gain insights into the main hurdles linked to HE treatment, we conducted a multiparameter study using classical physicochemical characterization, phase contrast and confocal laser scaning microscopy, and molecular biology (i.e. pyrosequencing) tools. HE caused erosion of floc structure and the production of extracellular polymeric substances attributed to the development of floc-forming bacteria.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 7909–7917 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Environmental Science and Technology |
Volume | 47 |
Issue number | 14 |
Early online date | 21 Jun 2013 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2013 |
Keywords
- hospital effluents
- antibiotic resistance
- bacterial diversity