Page 28 - Materials Chemistry, Second Edition

Environmental and Health Effects Due to the Usage of Wastewater 9

with nutrient overdose and harmful pesticides and chemicals contaminates fresh
water and causes toxic ill effects to the human habitat (Fawell and Nieuwenhuijsen,
2003; Moss, 2008).

1.3.5 enDocrine DisrupTing coMpounDs
Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDC) are a group of harmful chemical compounds
present in industrial wastewater that are capable of disturbing the human endocrine
system. The EDC are troublesome to assimilate and interpret because of their com-
plex nature, and they incorporate organic and instrumental strategies. These com-
pounds have diverse structures and workings. The WHO, the EU, and USEPA have
catalogued the various types of endocrine disrupting compounds present in the envi-
ronment and have also set certain allowable limits for EDC. As understanding about
the wastewater and the contaminants increases, it is clearly seen that many chemical
compounds possess these noxious endocrine disrupting properties, and this creates a
need for the removal of EDC from wastewater (Bolong et al., 2009).

1.4 WASTEWATER CHARACTERISTICS
The understanding and study of the characteristics of wastewater is essential for
building the administration of ecological quality. Wastewater treatment involves
skilled people from various domains. Scientific experts have worked hard to improve
the testing strategies for studying substantial and synthetic changes (Muttamara,
1996). The physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of wastewater are
explained in detail in this section.

1.4.1 pHysical cHaracTerisTics
The vital physical qualities of wastewater are pH, temperature, color, and total solid
content of the water. These physical characteristics are explained in detail in this
sub-section.
1.4.1.1 Color
Color is one of the important parameters that are used to evaluate the nature of
wastewater. The color of the wastewater usually varies depending on the source from
which it is discharged. The important sources of wastewater are the municipal sec-
tor, the industrial sector, and the decomposition of biological compounds. Table 1.1
clearly explains the various colors of wastewater and their characteristics.

1.4.1.2 Odor
Fresh wastewater released from industry is usually odorless. Scents have been evalu-
ated as the principal worry of the general population with respect to the running of
wastewater treatment systems. In numerous areas, many wastewater treatment proj-
ects have been rejected as a result of the dread of potential smells. Fresh wastewater
does not smell obnoxious, but due to the discharge of an assortment of musty mixes,
a bad odor arises. The odors of industrial wastewater are no worse than those of