Novel and legacy per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances in major wastewater treatment plants within the Lake Victoria basin, East Africa.

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dc.contributor.authorMiiro, Ashirafu
dc.contributor.authorMubiru, Edward
dc.contributor.authorOdume, Oghenekaro Nelson
dc.contributor.authorOdongo, Silver
dc.contributor.authorNyakairu, George William
dc.contributor.authorMatovu, Henry
dc.contributor.authorKato, Charles Drago
dc.contributor.authorSpanik, Ivan
dc.contributor.authorSillanpää, Mika
dc.contributor.authorSifuna, Douglas
dc.contributor.authorKhvalbota, Liudmyla
dc.contributor.authorSsebugere, Patrick
dc.date.accessioned2026-07-24T08:29:54Z
dc.date.available2026-07-24T08:29:54Z
dc.date.issued2025
dc.descriptionJournal article
dc.description.abstractOver the past two decades, rapid urbanization and industrialization in Uganda have generated wastewater containing emerging contaminants including per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). This study assessed PFASs contamination of wastewater from Bugolobi (Kampala) and Kirinya (Jinja) wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) by analyzing 80 influent and effluent samples for 15 PFASs using LC-MS/MS. We quantified 10 PFASs, with levels ranging from non-detectable (n.d) up to 372.4 ng/L (mean: 20.94 ± 0.42 ng/L). At Bugolobi WWTP, influent levels ranged from n.d to 190.01 ng/L (60.85 ± 1.03 ng/L) while effluents varied from n.d to 372.4 ng/L (237.91 ± 7.06 ng/L). At Kirinya WWTP, influent levels ranged from n.d to 29.37 ng/L (17.58 ± 3.54 ng/L) and effluents up to 30.21 ng/L (7.79 ± 0.85 ng/L). Short-chain PFASs (PFBS, PFBA) were more predominant, suggesting their possible use or degradation of the long-chain PFASs. Total mass loadings were higher at Bugolobi WWTP (5353.56 mg/day), serving the more densely populated Kampala, than at Kirinya WWTP (93.62 mg/day). PFSAs exhibited higher removal (72.45 % Bugolobi; 36.45 % Kirinya) than PFCAs (− 127.38 % Bugolobi; − 20.50 % Kirinya), which could be attributed to their stronger hydrophobic adsorption and partial biodegradation. Bugolobi, with ⁓82.59 % total removal, outperformed Kirinya (~25.19 %) due to its advanced conventional treatment. Ecological risk assessment revealed higher risks at lower trophic levels at Bugolobi compared to Kirinya, likely due to lower influx and partial mitigation by its pond-based system. These findings highlight the role of WWTPs as critical point sources of PFASs, posing ecological risks to aquatic ecosystems. Keywords: Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, Wastewater treatment plants, Mass loadings, Ecological risks, Lake victoria
dc.description.sponsorshipThe Makerere University Research and Innovation Fund (Grant No. RIF/080/22, MAKRIF/CH/01/21, MAKRIF/CH/02/21) ; Busitema University.
dc.identifier.citationMiiro, A., Mubiru, E., Odume, O. N., Odongo, S., Nyakairu, G. W., Matovu, H., Kato, C. D., Špánik, I., Sillanpää, M., Sifuna, D., Khvalbota, L., & Ssebugere, P. (2025). Novel and legacy per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances in major wastewater treatment plants within the Lake Victoria basin, East Africa. Emerging Contaminants, 11(4), 100580. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100580
dc.identifier.urihttps://bdears.busitema.ac.ug/handle/123456789/8296
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherElsevier B.V.
dc.relation.ispartofseriesEmerging Contaminants ; 11(2025) 100580
dc.titleNovel and legacy per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances in major wastewater treatment plants within the Lake Victoria basin, East Africa.
dc.typeArticle
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