Feasible policy development and implementation for the destruction of endocrine disruptors in wastewater

Endocrine disruptors when introduced to waterways have many adverse health effects on wildlife and humans. These health effects vary from neurological, immune, carcinogenic and reproductive disorders. Currently, there are few wastewater treatment facilities that are purposefully treating endocrine disruptors as part of the normal wastewater treatment process. Current literature has shown that endocrine disruptors can be treated using conventional methods. These conventional methods are centered around the denitrification process, which is rarely adopted in Canada. This paper investigates the current wastewater effluent regulations and guidelines in Canada, Ontario and the European Union. The research identifies a policy strategy that would include denitrification in the wastewater treatment process to help eliminate endocrine disruptors and acutely toxic nitrogen based compounds. Our emphasis here is on action possible in the Province of Ontario Canada, give the context of the Great Lakes basin and the potential for early action to stimulate other jurisdictions to follow. Our recommendations while aimed at one jurisdiction, have broad application globally.