Distribution of PCDD/Fs and organometallic compounds in sewage sludge of wastewater treatment plants in China.

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), organotin and organolead compounds were measured in sewage sludge samples collected from 24 wastewater treatment plants from 18 cities of 13 provinces in China. Total international toxicity equivalent (I-TEQ) values were evaluated for PCDD/Fs. The total concentration of PCDD/Fs ranged from 104.0 to 1661 pg/g dry weight (d.w.) and 2.51-75.21 pg I-TEQ/g d.w., indicating that all I-TEQs were below Chinese legislation limit value regulated for land application. The concentrations ranged from 258 to 3886, 126 to 1129, and 84-2133 ng/g as Sn d.w., for tributyltin (TBT), dibutyltin (DBT), and diphenyltin (DPhT), respectively. On the other side, organolead concentrations ranged from 85 to 668 with an average of 279 ng/g as lead. High concentrations of organolead compounds in sewage sludge indicated that the environmental impact of organolead compounds remains in China.