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The effect of reformulation of household powder laundry detergents on their contribution to heavy metals levels in wastewater
Author(s) -
Jenkins David
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
water environment research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.356
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1554-7531
pISSN - 1061-4303
DOI - 10.2175/106143098x123309
Subject(s) - laundry , effluent , cadmium , wastewater , mercury (programming language) , heavy metals , environmental science , waste management , arsenic , environmental chemistry , chemistry , environmental engineering , engineering , organic chemistry , computer science , programming language
Studies have demonstrated that numerous sources contribute to the levels of heavy metals found in municipal wastewater, including the water supply, industry, and residential activities. An earlier study identified the heavy metals contribution of household washing products compared to other sources. Since that time, a major nationwide reformulation of powder laundry detergents has taken place, warranting a reexamination of their heavy metals contributions. In addition, the wastewater systems that were the subject of the previous study have instituted industrial source controls that have reduced heavy metals from them. As in the previous study, heavy metals analyses of current household powder laundry detergent and product usage rates were used to determine the contributions of household washing products to levels of heavy metals in influent and effluent wastewaters. The heavy metals contributions from household washing products to current and future effluent limits were determined to be 0.5% or less for cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, silver, and zinc. The highest heavy metal contribution from household washing products was for arsenic, which accounts for 2% and 1% of current and future permit levels, respectively.