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Nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) environmental monitoring program in Indiana: 1979 to 1983
Author(s) -
Wendt R. H.,
Payne A. G.,
Hopping W. D.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1002/etc.5620070404
Subject(s) - nitrilotriacetic acid , wastewater , effluent , laundry , environmental science , environmental chemistry , sewage treatment , outfall , surface water , trickling filter , chemistry , environmental engineering , waste management , chelation , organic chemistry , engineering
The environmental concentrations of nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) resulting from its use in laundry detergents were monitored during a four‐year study conducted in central Indiana. The purpose of the study was to measure NTA concentrations in municipal wastewater, in surface waters that receive wastewater effluent and in finished drinking water from surface waters downstream from the outfalls of wastewater treatment plants. The 25 sampling sites were interdependent locations in and around Indianapolis, Indiana, an area that received laundry detergents containing Na 3 NTA at a level equivalent to 3.6% NTA in all detergents (w/w) during the last two years of the program. NTA removal during wastewater treatment averaged 91% (w/w) at activated sludge treatment plants and 65% at trickling filter plants. NTA concentrations averaged 0.008 μg/ml in river waters and 0.004 μg/ml in drinking waters when NTA‐containing detergents were in use. NTA concentrations in wastewaters, river waters and drinking waters were similar to or lower than concentrations predicted from usage levels and agreed, within a factor of 3, with the predicted values. Concentrations of six metals (Cu, Ni, Cd, Pb, Cr and Zn) were also measured in samples collected throughout the program. Concentrations of the metals in influent wastewater, their removal by wastewater treatment and their concentrations in river and finished drinking waters were comparable with values typical in the United States. Use of NTA in laundry detergents did not affect metals removal by wastewater treatment or metals concentrations in river and drinking waters.