Heavy metal content in sewage sludgea management strategy for an ocean island
- Cintia Hernández Sánchez 1
- Ángel Gutiérrez 1
- Juan Manuel Galindo 1
- Dailos González-Weller 1
- Carmen Rubio 1
- Consuelo Revert 1
- Antonio Burgos 1
- Arturo Hardisson 1
- 1 Universidad de La Laguna, España
ISSN: 1697-2791
Year of publication: 2017
Issue Title: Cambio Climático
Volume: 17
Issue: 1
Pages: 3-9
Type: Article
More publications in: Revista de Salud Ambiental
Abstract
In recent years, the generation of sewage sludge has increased worldwide. Correct processing and management of this waste concerns all countries. This work presents a study of metal contents, i.e. of Cd, Pb, Zn, Cr, Cu, and Ni, in sewage sludge from a wastewater treatment plant in the northeastern region of the island of Tenerife. The study aimed at examining the sludge for potential suitability as a farmland fertilizer. Detected metal levels for Pb, Zn, Cr, Cu, and Ni were extremely low (26.44, 544.01, 24.10, 37.05, and 8.04 mg/kg dw [dry weight], respectively). Cadmium levels were under quantification limit. Season-dependent, statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in metal concentrations in sewage sludge were observed for Cu, Ni, Cr, and Pb. Consequently, the application of sewage sludge to fertilize nutrient-deficient agricultural soils and soils degraded by human activity represents a fast and straightforward solution to the lack of such resources, particularly in an oceanic island.