Human Toxicity Assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Landfilled Sewage Sludge: Improving LCIA Characterization Factor of PAHs in Landfilled Sewage Sludge

Currently, the development of sustainable landfill has been world-widely challenged. To estimate the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) toxicity of the landfilled sludge before it is reused, the characterization factor of PAHs in the landfilled sewage sludge was quantified. Results showed the emissions of benzo[a]pyrene, benzo[a]anthracene, and dibenz(ah)anthracene were the dominant substances contributing to the PAHs potential human toxicity impact. There is an increasing tendency of PAHs toxicity with an increase in sewage sludge landfill time. However, a parabola opening down tendency was observed between the PAHs potential human toxicity impact in sludge and landfill time, due to the decrease of PAHs emission with an increase in sewage sludge landfill time.