Productos de cuidado personal en el medio ambiente: presencia, destino y efectos
- Autores: Daniel Molins Delgado
- Directores de la Tesis: M. Silvia Díaz-Cruz (dir. tes.), Damià Barceló i Cullerés (codir. tes.), Alejandro Josa García-Tornel (tut. tes.)
- Lectura: En la Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) ( España ) en 2017
- Idioma: español
- Tribunal Calificador de la Tesis: Jesús Carrera Ramírez (presid.), Zoraida Sosa Ferrera (secret.), Amadeo Rodríguez Fernández-Alba (voc.)
- Programa de doctorado: Programa de Doctorado en Ingeniería Ambiental por la Universidad Politécnica de Catalunya
- Materias:
- Enlaces
- Tesis en acceso abierto en: TDX
- Resumen
In this PhD. Thesis the results of eleven studies about the presence, distribution, and effects of personal care products (PCPs) in the environment are presented with the intention of giving a consolidated vision and to expand the knowledge about the subject. Through this document, the results and conclusions derived from the analysis of surface waters and wastewaters, sediments, and biota are presented.
The effects of human activities and population density as the pollution source are discused. Wastewater emissions to the environment constitute the main pathway for these compounds to enter the natural environment, given that the results reported demonstrate the incomplete removal of PCPs in wastewaters treatment plants (WWTPs). Due to the substances¿ physico-chemical properties, a large number of PCPs can be retained in the sludge of the WWTPs. The treatment of these polluted sludges with the fungus Trametes versicolor is discussed as an alternative low-cost treatment respectful with the environment.
The bioaccumulation, or presence, of PCPs in biological tissues is analysed in fish, bird eggs and samples of human origin. The results from the included studies suggest that these pollutants are metabolised in the liver, and the newly formed metabolites are partially excreted and partially retained in the different living tissues of the organisms. The potential PCPs¿ biomaginifaction through the food web, and mother ¿ foetus and mother ¿ newborn transfer of these pollutants are shown through the discussed studies.
Additionaly to the occurrence and fate of PCPs, a special focus is placed upon the potential risk that these compounds might pose to the aquatic ecosystems. In order to investigate this subject, an ecotoxicity study through standardised bioassays for aquatic organisms consisting of single and binary substance mixtures has been included. From the obtained results, it is safe to conclude that the observed PCPs¿ concentrations in the discussed studies included within this PhD Thesis framework do not pose a major risk to the environment in most cases.
