Phthalates in wastewater: a growing problem and new solutions

Phthalates in wastewater: a growing problem and new solutions

Phthalates are microscopic compounds that are invisible to the naked eye, but cause serious environmental and health problems. Recently, phthalates, phenols and other hard-to-degrade chemicals in wastewater have been steadily increasing, and wastewater treatment companies are already sounding the alarm bells. Unless this problem receives increasing attention, both in terms of innovative technological solutions and in terms of our daily choices, we could face serious environmental and health crises that will affect both our environment and future generations.

How do phthalates reach our daily lives?

Phthalates, plasticisers widely used in the manufacture of plastics, cosmetics, household chemicals, toys and medical equipment, give products flexibility and durability. But they also have a dangerous side: phthalates are easily released into the environment and do not break down quickly, accumulating in the environment around us, in water, soil and living organisms.

Phthalates can enter the human body through contaminated air, skin or simply by eating and drinking. They enter wastewater systems through synthetic textiles, detergents and cosmetics, and industries such as plastics, printing and textiles contribute significantly to the increase in concentrations. Phthalates from landfills can also leach into groundwater and further contaminate the environment.

What do phthalates mean for the environment and human health?

Phthalates are hepatotoxic, teratogenic and carcinogenic. They are also known as endocrine disruptors. These chemicals can disrupt hormones, adversely affect fertility and development, and increase the risk of certain diseases such as cancer. They are particularly dangerous for children, as they can cause long-term health problems during their development.

In the environment, phthalates harm aquatic organisms, reduce biodiversity and disturb the balance of ecosystems. Even if their concentrations in wastewater are not high, phthalates can reach humans through drinking water and the food chain. Long-term exposure to phthalates can be more serious than at first sight and can have negative effects on both human health and environmental quality.

Why are phthalates difficult to degrade?

Phthalate molecules have high chemical stability, making them resistant to natural biodegradation. Due to this property, phthalates are not easily broken down under normal conditions, allowing them to persist in the environment for a long time. For example, dimethyl phthalate (DMP) takes about three years to degrade in water, while diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) can take up to 2000 years.

Because of this persistence, phthalates often pass through conventional biological wastewater treatment processes only partially degraded or completely undegraded. This leads to their accumulation in the environment and in living organisms, and can eventually lead to serious ecological and health problems.

Why is this important?

This process essentially means that phthalates persist in nature for a long time and can reach the human body through water and food, accumulating in organisms and having a negative impact on ecosystems.

What is being done now to reduce the use of dangerous phthalates?

There are two main ways of tackling phthalate contaminants in the environment - preventing them from entering wastewater and effectively cleaning them up from already contaminated water. Although phthalates are harmful to everyone, wastewater treatment companies are particularly affected. Following inspections by the Ministry of the Environment, several sewage treatment plants in major cities have been heavily fined. As a result, these companies are intensively looking for ways to tackle the problem.

Global policies to restrict the use of phthalates are not yet fully in place, but measures have already been taken. Phthalates are restricted in food contact products as well as in products intended for children to reduce direct human contact with these dangerous chemicals. However, control of phthalates in wastewater systems remains a challenge.

The European Union has already listed phthalates as a priority pollutant and has set a target of zero phthalate and phenol pollution in all EU Member States by 2033. This shows that solutions are moving towards reducing the use of these substances, but innovative technologies and greater political commitment are needed to ensure effective control and protection against their effects.

Can we do better?

Advanced non-biological wastewater treatment methods such as adsorption, photocatalysis, membrane technology, hydrolysis, activated carbon filtration and ozonation are currently in use, but they are only able to partially remove phthalates. In order to achieve greater efficiency and complete removal of contaminants, it is necessary to introduce new technologies that not only remove but also degrade these complex molecules.

Biotechnology, in particular microbial degradation solutions, has made significant progress in recent years. Numerous studies have shown that aerobic, anoxic and anaerobic bacteria and fungi can effectively degrade phthalates in wastewater, providing faster and environmentally friendly treatment.

One such innovative solution is the BioCleaner technology based on the Chem5 microbial consortium. This solution not only removes but also actively degrades phthalates, ensuring long-lasting and effective wastewater treatment. This is a truly promising solution that can significantly improve the efficiency of wastewater treatment and help achieve environmental goals.

New technology: the Biocleaner innovation in biological treatment

The „Chem5 microbial consortium" is a cutting-edge biological treatment technology that not only destroys odours and reduces sludge, but also helps to break down phthalates under both anaerobic and aerobic conditions. This microbial "teamwork" ensures faster and more efficient degradation of phthalates, helping to achieve cleaner effluents and reduce ecological risks.

Operating principle:

• Anaerobic conditions: phthalate molecules are hydrolysed into simpler acids, methane and carbon dioxide.

• Aerobic conditions: remaining organic compounds are oxidised to water and CO₂.

• Increased microbial density and improved oxygen transfer make decomposition much faster and more efficient.

Why is this important?
This advanced technology not only speeds up the phthalate degradation process, but is also easy to integrate into existing plants without significant investment. It is cost-effective with low electricity consumption and is widely applicable not only to urban wastewater treatment plants, but also to industries such as dairy, meat processing, fisheries and livestock farms, which are confronted with complex organic waste treatment tasks.

End

Phthalates are invisible but constant and unwanted companions in our lives and sources of pollution.
Although they cannot be eliminated immediately, as these plasticisers are widely used in everyday products, this is no mere coincidence. We ourselves have chosen to use plastics and other products that contain phthalates, and this problem has become part of our daily lives.
Treatment of industrial and municipal wastewater is one of the key ways to reduce or completely prevent phthalates from entering our environment: surface water and groundwater.
Removing phthalates from wastewater is not only necessary due to European Union regulations, but also for our own health and environmental safety. However, we will only be able to solve this problem if everyone - both government bodies and industry - provides the right solutions and invests in innovative technologies. Today, we already have advanced technologies that can effectively reduce phthalates in wastewater, but this requires a strong will and willingness to invest in our environment.
Let's go beyond rules and norms - it takes all of us to tackle this problem. Without active and coordinated help from the government, the Ministry of the Environment and the companies that produce products with phthalates, wastewater treatment companies alone will not be able to tackle this problem that affects everyone.

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