Bioassay directed identification of toxicants in sludge and related reused materials from industrial wastewater treatment plants in the Yangtze River Delta
Reused approaches resulted in reduced concentrations of metals in leachates. TUs of sludge leachates are still greater than 1.0 after being reused. Cr and Ni contributed most to the total toxicity followed by Zn and Cu. Making sludge into bricks reduced more toxicity than landfills. Combining bioassays and instrumental analysis make better evaluation of sludge.