Title: Persistent water pollutants: case of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid in the Czech Republic

Authors: Jan Prášek; Petr Šauer; Karolína Keprtová

Addresses: Czech Environmental Information Agency (CENIA), Vrsovicka 1442/65, 100 10 Prague 10, Czech Republic ' Institute for Sustainable Business, University of Economics, Prague, W. Churchilla 4, 130 67 Prague 3, Czech Republic ' Czech Environmental Information Agency (CENIA), Vrsovicka 1442/65, 100 10 Prague 10, Czech Republic

Abstract: Reuse and recycling of products composed of natural matter is relatively without significant environmental problems. However, recycling of products produced using modern synthetic technologies often brings new challenges. Our analysis has shown that substitution of citric acid with artificial substance of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid causes important environmental problems. The case study carried out in the Elbe river basin shows that the ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid concentration standard has been exceeded, particularly from confluence of the Vltava and Elbe rivers. Open questions and tasks for future technological development and environmental policies are formulated, particularly the idea to replace artificial substances with nature-based ones. This would enable better introduction of circular economy ideas in the use of resources.

Keywords: ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; EDTA; circular economy; environmental policy; wastewater management; organic pollutants; substitutes; Czech Republic.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGENVI.2020.114884

International Journal of Global Environmental Issues, 2020 Vol.19 No.1/2/3, pp.265 - 272

Accepted: 10 Jan 2021
Published online: 10 May 2021 *

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