What happens to triclosan in Waste Water Treatment Plants (WWTP)?
Typically 90-98% of triclosan in waste water is removed as a result of biodegradation and sorption in waste water treatment plants. Research shows that only small traces are detectable in the effluent water that reaches rivers. The little amount that does leave with effluent is degraded to almost a non-existent state by either biological or photolytic processes. For additional information on WWTP degradation refer to: Heidler J and Halden R (2007) Mass balance assessment of triclosan removal during conventional sewage treatment Chemosphere Vol 66 (2): 362-369 Waltman E, Venables B, and Waller W. (2006) Triclosan in a North Texas wastewater treatment plant and the influent and effluent of an experimental constructed wetland Environ. Toxicology & Chemistry Vol. 25(2), 367-372. Bester, K. (2005). Fate of Triclosan and Triclosan-Methyl in Sewage TreatmentPlants and Surface Waters Environ Contam Toxicol. July Vol. 49(1):9-17 Thompson A, Griffin P, Stuetz R, and Cartmell, E. (2005) The Fate
