Organic contaminants in the effluent of Chinese wastewater treatment plants

The effluents of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are the important sources for pollutants. These pollutants may entry into surface water, groundwater, and soil by recharging and irrigation then pose risk to human beings. Using reports from the past 20 years (n = 58), we conducted this review of organic contaminants (OCs) in the effluent of Chinese WWTPs. All the studies were during 2005 to 2017 and more than two papers were conducted in every year. Nineteen provinces (20 cities) were covered and most of the studies were located in the eastern part of China, especially the most developed and highest density of population areas. Two hundred eighty-four OCs were contained. E antibiotics, endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), and pharmaceuticals were the most commonly studied groups of OCs, and ofloxacin, norfloxacin, and sulfamethoxazole were the three most commonly reported OCs. The highest concentration appeared for bisphenol A (BPA). The relative standard deviations (RSDs) of concentrations of the most commonly studied compounds were high. In the future, more studies should pay attention on national analysis and more pollutants.