Ecological risk assessment of domestic sewage sludge: a case study

ABSTRACT This study aims to evaluate potential ecological risks and heavy metal pollution in sewage sludge. For these purposes, domestic sludge samples were collected for a period of one year from wastewater treatment plant Bursa, Turkey analyzed metals. The average content the was wherein decreasing order Zn>Cu>Ni>Cr>Pb>As>Se>Cd. As whole, concentration metals below limit values indicated within agricultural land application legal standards. Correlation analysis showed very strong correlation observed between Ni Cr. Determining degree risks, some indices such as Enrichment factor (EF), Single-factor index (PI), Geoaccumulation (Igeo), Nemerow synthetic (PN), Contamination (Cf), Integrated (Cd), Pollution Load Index (PLI), Monominal risk (ER), Potential (RI), Probability toxicity (mERM-Q) used this study. Based on calculations, Zn Se posed highest contamination while Cd lowest contamination. mERM-Q that probability varied 21 49%, ER (2.0–23.7) RI (67.3–106.2) lower than threshold value all samples.