Residues of unknown toxic and persistent substances from various sources enter water bodies via wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Some of these substances originate from industrial or commercial operations and can have a toxic effect on the biology of the WWTP or on the aquatic environment. The extent of the toxicity of industrial and commercial wastewater is not yet fully known and the effects on WWTPs and water bodies are difficult to assess.
Although chemical analyses can be used to specifically detect individual substances, they do not cover substances that have not been investigated or the combined effects of mixtures of substances. In addition, chemical analyses are often time-consuming and expensive. It can therefore make sense to supplement chemical analysis with bioassays. In Germany, biotests have been used for some time to assess direct discharging industrial plants within the framework of the Wastewater Ordinance1. In addition to a holistic assessment of the toxicity of wastewater, these biological test methods also make it possible to estimate a negative impact on the biology in the wastewater treatment plant.
Biotests are already being used specifically in some Swiss companies to assess the toxicity of industrial wastewater. It is therefore desirable if this experience can also be made available to other companies. This is the focus of the project presented below.
Project description
The Institute for Ecopreneurship at the FHNW is carrying out the "Biotests and Industry" project in collaboration with the VSA platform Process Engineering Micropollutants and on behalf of the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN).
The aim of the project is to collect national and international knowledge and existing experience on the use of biotests for the assessment of industrial and commercial wastewater and to compile it in an overview study.
The overview study should incorporate both the experience and needs of the private sector and findings from research. The overview study will be based on interviews with selected companies from different sectors and an extensive literature review. Based on the findings, recommendations for practical implementation will also be made.
Objective of the "Biotests and industry" project
- Systematically analyze and compile existing knowledge on the use of bioassays for the assessment of industrial and commercial wastewater
- Obtain experience and needs from the companies
- Develop joint procedural recommendations in cooperation with the companies
- Develop an application-oriented investigation concept
Questions for company visits/discussions
- What experience do the companies have with the use of biotests for industrial and commercial wastewater?
- What are the expectations and needs of industry and commerce? What hurdles and obstacles are to be expected?
- How can research support the private sector? What tools need to be developed?
Project steps
- Literature study
- Company visits and interviews
- Analysis of the findings from the literature and company interviews
- Preparation of a final report
- Proposal for research concept
Support from the association
For an optimal flow of information, we are dependent on the support of the associations, particularly in the following areas.
- Building trust with the companies
- Help with the selection of suitable companies
- Support in building up sector-specific knowledge
Confidentiality
The data collected is only used to clarify the existing experience and knowledge of companies in Switzerland from various sectors. All company information is treated confidentially and anonymously in the evaluation for the overview study!
1 Bioassays are "analytical methods that use living cells, organisms or communities in defined species and numbers to measure their response to exposure" (definition according to K. Fent; Ökotoxikologie: Umweltchemie - Toxikologie - Ökologie; Thieme Verlag, 4th edition; 2013)
