LINEAR ALKYLBENZENE SULFONATE (LAS) - UNEP Chemicals

OECD SIDS LINEAR ALKYLBENZENE SULFONATE (LAS)
5 Arakawa Chisui-bashi B Midstream
Downstream. Just below municipal
4.6/5.5
6 Arakawa Sasame-bashi C wastewater treatment plant effluent
discharge
2.5/3.1
7 Yodogawa Hirakata-oohashi B Midstream. Drinking water intake site 1.6/1.9
Grab samples were collected four times a year (summer, autumn, winter, and
spring) at each sampling location. River water was characterized at each
sampling occasion for BOD, TOC, SS, pH, Cl, NH4 and MBAS. LAS was
complexed with MBAS, extracted, passed through a cation-exchange
column, and the concentration of C10-13 LAS measured using HPLC.
Populations in the catchments of the four rivers are relatively dense and
municipal wastewater treatment coverage rates are middle to high (i.e., from
60-70% to over 90% coverage). The seven sites cover upstream (Site 1),
midstream (2, 3, 5, 7), and downstream (4, 6), and water area categories
ranging from A to C. Two of the sites (2, 6) are just below municipal
wastewater treatment plant effluent discharges. Three sites (1, 4, 7) are near
drinking water intake sites.
Reference: Nishiyama, N., Yamamoto, A., and Takei, T. 2003. 37 th Annual meeting of
the Japan Society of Water Environment, Kumamoto, Japan.
Japan Soap and Detergent Association (JSDA). Annual reports of
environmental issues (Years 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002).
Reliability: 2 Valid with restrictions
(n)
Type of Measurement: Background [ ]; At contaminated site [ ]; Other [X] Europe STP sludge
Medium: Anaerobic sludge
Results: Typical values are between 3.4 and 9.4 g/kg dry matter, with a mean of 5.6
g/kg.
Remarks: Mean based on a total of 16 records. The LAS homologue distribution in
sludge is approximately in the mole ratio C10:C11:C12:C13 = 7:24:39:30, with
an average carbon number of 11.9, as a consequence of a preferential
adsorption of higher homologues. The possible differences of LAS
concentration is wet sludge, freshly produced at a STP from that of dry
sludge, aged and dried before its use in agriculture, should be taken into
account. It was found (Carlsen et al. 2002) that the LAS concentration in the
bulk dry sludge could drop up to 74% compared to that of the wet sludge.
Carlsen et al. (2002) also found that the average LAS concentration in soil
core samples taken in a cultivated field spread with medium amounts of
sludge was 1.12 mg/kg in the 0-10 cm depth. Lower LAS concentrations
were recorded at depths from 10-50 cm.
Reference: 1) Carlsen, L., Metzon, M.B. and Kjelsmark, J. 2002. Linear alkylbenzene
sulfonates (LAS) in the terrestrial environment. The Science of the Total
Environment. 290:225-230.
2) Feijtel, T.C.J., Matthijs, E., Rottiers, A., Rijs, G.B.J., Kiewiet, A. and de
Nijs, A. 1995. AIS/CESIO environmental surfactant monitoring program.
Part 1: LAS monitoring study in “de Meer” STP and receiving river
“Leidsche Rijn”. Chemosphere. 30:1053-1066.
3) Holt, M.S., Water, J., Comber, M.H.I., Armitage, R., Morris, G. and
Nebery, C. 1995. AIS/CESIO environmental surfactant monitoring
programme. SDIA sewage treatment pilot study on LAS. Wat. Res.
29:2063-2070.
4) Sanchez Leal, J., Garcia, M.T., Tomas, R., de Ferrer, J. and Bengoechea,
C. 1994. Linear alkylbenzene sulfonate removal. Tenside Surf. Det.
31:253-256.
Reliability: 2 Valid with restrictions
UNEP PUBLICATIONS 142