Command of hospital aqueous waste (oncological): toxicity analysis and eco-combination of treatment processes; in situ validation – PANACEE

In the hospitals and pharmaceutical industry effluents, as well as in wastewater-treatment plants and more generally in wastewaters, diverse pollutants were able to be identified, genotoxics (hydrocarbons), endocrine disruptors (personal care products) or plastics (Bisphenol A )) The anticancerous molecules, although in lesser quantity represent an increasing danger. Anticancerous substances administered to the patients in great quantities are rejected trough urines, and are only partially degraded and eliminated by wastewater treatment plants. Considerable contents of these metabolites can be found in rivers and possibly in irrigation water, even in drinking water. The known consequences of their occurrence in the environment go from allergy to cancer by way of fertility losses even teratogenics effects.

Within the project “Toxeaubam” (2005, ANR “blanc”) we demonstrated the feasibility of a laboratory scale membrane bioreactor, we have also adapted ecotoxicity tests on a model molecule (the cyclophosphamide) and its main metabolites, added in a domestic wastewater. The effect of these molecules on the biodegradation and the filterability of biological sludge is also quantified, leading to propositions of operating conditions

The aims of this project, PANACEE, bring an opening to the previous one. They are split into 3 interdependent objectives: 1) the evaluation of the occurrence of molecules, used in the treatments of cancers, in the effluents of the corresponding services (and associated molecules within the therapies, typically disinfection ones); 2) The measure and quantification of the toxic effects, (geno / cytotoxic and endocrine disruptors) of these effluents and the contribution of the molecules and their metabolites, as well as products of disinfection in these effects; 3) the development of an hybrid process constituted by a combination of biological and physical-chemical treatments (coupling of a membrane bioreactor with adsorption / oxidation processes or nanofiltration). The efficiency of the treatment will be quantified within the framework of a technical-economic balance assessment by the evaluation of the disappearance of the global toxic effects (finalized in task 2)), the analysis of the life cycle of molecules and the energy performances of the process.

This project with vocation of industrial research, and anticipation on the eco-responsible needs of decontamination bound to discharges legislations under elaboration.