Tracking heavy metal point sources in gravity sewers using biofilm carriers

Abstract

It has been reported that biofilms have the ability to accumulate different pollutants, including heavy metals. Hence, biofilms can be used as a bioindicator to detect heavy metal pollution. The aim of this master’s thesis was to test a biofilm carrier-based wastewater sampling method to detect illegal heavy metal discharges into the public sewer. For that, experiments were done in laboratory settings and in the public sewer. The results showed that biofilms are able to accumulate heavy metals from wastewater in both laboratory setting and sewer system, making it possible to track the major sources of upstream heavy metal pollution.