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Adhikari S, Lee HH, Kim DH. 'Primary' antibiotics in wastewater treatment plants. iScience 2024; 27:110789. [PMID: 39286505 PMCID: PMC11403462 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.110789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/19/2024] Open
Abstract
There are anywhere from 5 to 8 priority antibiotics in typical wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) whose concentrations exceed the maximum allowed, out of 12 priority antibiotics designated by the World Health Organization as the species to pose severe health hazard than others. If the priority antibiotics to deal with could be reduced to just one or two, such reduction would greatly simplify the construction and operation of the treatment plants. Introduced here is a concept of 'primary' antibiotic, the abatement of which ensures mitigation of all the other priority antibiotics in the wastewater. A criterion for determining primary antibiotic is developed. For a demonstration of the approach, the wastewater systems treated with solar-based photocatalysts are considered. The criterion reveals that the primary antibiotic in the typical European WWTP as well as in the typical municipal and hospital wastewater is ciprofloxacin, whereas the typical industrial wastewater contains ciprofloxacin and oxytetracycline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sangeeta Adhikari
- School of Chemical Engineering, Chonnam National University, 77 Yongbong-ro, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Hong H Lee
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, Gwanak-ro, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Do-Heyoung Kim
- School of Chemical Engineering, Chonnam National University, 77 Yongbong-ro, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
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2
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Welch SA, Grung M, Madsen AL, Jannicke Moe S. Development of a probabilistic risk model for pharmaceuticals in the environment under population and wastewater treatment scenarios. INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT 2024; 20:1715-1735. [PMID: 38771172 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Preparing for future environmental pressures requires projections of how relevant risks will change over time. Current regulatory models of environmental risk assessment (ERA) of pollutants such as pharmaceuticals could be improved by considering the influence of global change factors (e.g., population growth) and by presenting uncertainty more transparently. In this article, we present the development of a prototype object-oriented Bayesian network (BN) for the prediction of environmental risk for six high-priority pharmaceuticals across 36 scenarios: current and three future population scenarios, combined with infrastructure scenarios, in three Norwegian counties. We compare the risk, characterized by probability distributions of risk quotients (RQs), across scenarios and pharmaceuticals. Our results suggest that RQs would be greatest in rural counties, due to the lower development of current wastewater treatment facilities, but that these areas consequently have the most potential for risk mitigation. This pattern intensifies under higher population growth scenarios. With this prototype, we developed a hierarchical probabilistic model and demonstrated its potential in forecasting the environmental risk of chemical stressors under plausible demographic and management scenarios, contributing to the further development of BNs for ERA. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:1715-1735. © 2024 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel A Welch
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Oslo, Norway
| | - Merete Grung
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Oslo, Norway
| | | | - S Jannicke Moe
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Oslo, Norway
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Polianciuc SI, Ciorîță A, Soran ML, Lung I, Kiss B, Ștefan MG, Leucuța DC, Gurzău AE, Carpa R, Colobațiu LM, Loghin F. Antibiotic Residues and Resistance in Three Wastewater Treatment Plants in Romania. Antibiotics (Basel) 2024; 13:780. [PMID: 39200080 PMCID: PMC11350919 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics13080780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2024] [Revised: 08/14/2024] [Accepted: 08/15/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024] Open
Abstract
This study evaluates antibiotic residues and bacterial loads in influent and effluent samples from three wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Romania, across four seasons from 2021 to 2022. Analytical methods included solid-phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to quantify antibiotic concentrations, while microbiological assays estimated bacterial loads and assessed antibiotic resistance patterns. Statistical analyses explored the impact of environmental factors such as temperature and rainfall on antibiotic levels. The results showed significant seasonal variations, with higher antibiotic concentrations in warmer seasons. Antibiotic removal efficiency varied among WWTPs, with some antibiotics being effectively removed and others persisting in the effluent, posing high environmental risks and potential for antibiotic resistance development. Bacterial loads were higher in spring and summer, correlating with increased temperatures. Eight bacterial strains were isolated, with higher resistance during warmer seasons, particularly to amoxicillin and clarithromycin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svetlana Iuliana Polianciuc
- Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Alexandra Ciorîță
- Electon Microscopy Centre, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babeș-Bolyai University, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Integrated Electron Microscopy Laboratory, National Institute for Research and Development of Isotopic and Molecular Technologies, 400293 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Maria Loredana Soran
- Department of Physics of Nanostructured Systems, National Institute for Research and Development of Isotopic and Molecular Technologies, 400293 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Ildiko Lung
- Department of Physics of Nanostructured Systems, National Institute for Research and Development of Isotopic and Molecular Technologies, 400293 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Béla Kiss
- Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Maria Georgia Ștefan
- Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Daniel Corneliu Leucuța
- Department of Medical Informatics and Biostatistics, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Anca Elena Gurzău
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Political, Administrative and Communication Sciences, Babeș-Bolyai University, 400095 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Rahela Carpa
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babeș-Bolyai University, 400015 Cluj Napoca, Romania
| | - Liora Mihaela Colobațiu
- Department of Medical Devices, Faculty of Pharmacy, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Felicia Loghin
- Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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Jureczko M, Przystaś W. Toxicity toward freshwater and marine water organisms of the cytostatic drugs bleomycin and vincristine and their binary mixture. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 933:173175. [PMID: 38750736 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
Antineoplastic drugs are not effectively removed by wastewater treatment plants, ending up in surface waters. Since these drugs can interfere with the structure and functions of DNA, they pose a potential threat to aquatic biota. Unfortunately, many chemotherapeutic agents have not been studied in an environmental context. Additionally, there is a significant lack of information about the impact of anticancer drugs on marine organisms compared to freshwater species, and most studies only focus on the toxicity of single compounds rather than considering their occurrence as complex mixtures in the environment. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the ecotoxicity of two commonly used cytostatics, bleomycin and vincristine, toward six biomodels: Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Brachionus plicatilis, Brachionus calyciflorus, Thamnocephalus platyurus, and Artemia franciscana. These selected aquatic organisms are representatives of both freshwater and marine environments and belong to different trophic levels. The pharmaceuticals were investigated both individually and in combination. Binary mixture toxicity predictions were performed according to the Response Additivity and Independent Action models. Additionally, the toxicity data obtained from these experiments were utilized for risk assessment in the context of the drugs' environmental occurrence. The results indicated that freshwater species were generally more sensitive to both tested compounds than marine organisms, with T. platyurus being the most sensitive. Based on the tests performed on this biomodel, bleomycin was categorized as extremely toxic, while vincristine was considered moderately toxic. Neither of the applied models suitably predicted binary mixture toxicity, as the combination of drugs showed additive, synergistic, and antagonistic effects, suggesting that single compound toxicity data are insufficient for predicting the aquatic toxicities of cytostatics mixtures. The environmental risk of vincristine ranged from low to high, and for bleomycin varied from moderate to high, depending on the matrices examined. Therefore, further research on drug removal is recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelina Jureczko
- Biotechnology Centre, Silesian University of Technology, Krzywoustego 8 Str., 44-100 Gliwice, Poland.
| | - Wioletta Przystaś
- Department of Air Protection, Faculty of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, Konarskiego 22B Str., 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
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Couñago-Fernández M, Otero P, Samartín-Ucha M, Paradela-Carreiro A, Muniategui-Lorenzo S, Martínez-López de Castro N. Predicted concentrations of antineoplastic drugs in the aquatic environment: The case of Ría de Vigo (NW, Spain). MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 203:116399. [PMID: 38703630 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) mandates Environmental Risk Assessments (ERAs) since 2006 to determine potential risks of new marketed medicines. Drugs with a Predicted Environmental Concentration (PEC) in inland surface waters exceeding 0.01 μg L-1 require further environmental risk assessment. PEC may be refined based on prevalence data and/or based on the treatment regimen. In this study, based on EMA regulations, refined PEC of 108 antineoplastic drugs in coastal waters were determined based on the consumption in a coastal health area during 2021, identifying six drugs with potential environmental risk in surface waters (hydroxyurea, capecitabine, abiraterone, ibrutinib, imatinib and 5-fluorouracil) and two in marine ecosystem (hydroxyurea and capecitabine). Comparison of these refined PECs with data from marketing laboratories revealed significant disparities, suggesting the need for regular updates, especially with changes in drug indications or financing. Notably, the identified drugs are not yet on the main reference lists of emerging contaminants.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pablo Otero
- Centro Oceanográfico de Vigo, Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO, CSIC), Subida a Radio Faro 50, Vigo 36390, Spain
| | - Marisol Samartín-Ucha
- Pharmacy Service, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo, Área Sanitaria de Vigo, Spain; Innovation in Clinical Pharmacy Research Group (i-FARMA-Vigo), Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur) SERGAS-UVIGO, Vigo, Spain
| | - Adolfo Paradela-Carreiro
- Pharmacy Service, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo, Área Sanitaria de Vigo, Spain; Innovation in Clinical Pharmacy Research Group (i-FARMA-Vigo), Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur) SERGAS-UVIGO, Vigo, Spain
| | - Soledad Muniategui-Lorenzo
- University of A Coruña, Group of Applied Analytical Chemistry, University Institute of Environment (IUMA), A Coruña 15071, Spain
| | - Noemí Martínez-López de Castro
- Pharmacy Service, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo, Área Sanitaria de Vigo, Spain; Innovation in Clinical Pharmacy Research Group (i-FARMA-Vigo), Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur) SERGAS-UVIGO, Vigo, Spain
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Mthiyane ZL, Makhubela N, Nyoni H, Madikizela LM, Maseko BR, Ncube S. Determination of antibiotics during treatment of hospital wastewater using automated solid-phase extraction followed by UHPLC-MS: occurrence, removal and environmental risks. ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY 2024; 45:3118-3128. [PMID: 37129286 DOI: 10.1080/09593330.2023.2209741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The extent of removal of pharmaceuticals by African-based wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) is relatively unknown with various studies observing high concentrations in effluents. This is mainly due to WWTPs still utilising the traditional treatment methods which are known to be less effective. In this study, 15 selected antibiotics (amoxicillin, ampicillin, azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, doxycycline, erythromycin, gentamicin, metronidazole, norfloxacin, ofloxacin, penicillin, sulfamethoxazole, sulfapyridine, tetracycline and trimethoprim) were monitored in wastewater as it goes through sedimentation (primary and secondary), aeration and chlorination stages of a WWTP. Analytical method involved solid-phase extraction followed by liquid chromatographic determination. Removal efficiencies during sedimentation were generally positive with doxycycline achieving 80-95.8%, while negative removal efficiencies were observed for penicillin V (-46.4 to -17.1%) and trimethoprim (-26.2 to -18.9%). The aeration and agitation stage resulted in concentration enhancement for several antibiotics with seven of them ranging between -273 and -15.5%. This stage was responsible for the relatively low overall removal efficiencies in which only 4 antibiotics (doxycycline, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, and erythromycin) experienced overall removal efficiencies above 50%. The recorded effluent concentrations ranging between 0.0130 and 0.383 ng/mL were translated to low potential for development of antibiotic resistance genes in the receiving environments while ecotoxicity risk was high for only amoxicillin, ampicillin and sulfapyridine. The study has provided an overview of the performance of common wastewater treatment processes in South Africa and hopes that more monitoring and environmental risk data can be made available towards drafting of antibiotic priority lists that cater for Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nkosinathi Makhubela
- Department of Chemistry, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Medunsa, South Africa
| | - Hlengilizwe Nyoni
- Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability, College of Science, Engineering and Technology, University of South Africa, Florida Science Campus, Roodepoort, South Africa
| | - Lawrence Mzukisi Madikizela
- Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability, College of Science, Engineering and Technology, University of South Africa, Florida Science Campus, Roodepoort, South Africa
| | | | - Somandla Ncube
- Department of Chemistry, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa
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Prada-Vásquez MA, Simarro-Gimeno C, Vidal-Barreiro I, Cardona-Gallo SA, Pitarch E, Hernández F, Torres-Palma RA, Chica A, Navarro-Laboulais J. Application of catalytic ozonation using Y zeolite in the elimination of pharmaceuticals in effluents from municipal wastewater treatment plants. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 925:171625. [PMID: 38467258 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Catalytic ozonation using faujasite-type Y zeolite with two different SiO2/Al2O3 molar ratios (60 and 12) was evaluated for the first time in the removal of 25 pharmaceutical compounds (PhCs) present in real effluents from two municipal wastewater treatment plants both located in the Mediterranean coast of Spain. Additionally, control experiments including adsorption and direct ozonation, were conducted to better understand the fundamental aspects of the different individual systems in wastewater samples. Commercial zeolites were used in sodium form (NaY). The results showed that the simultaneous use of ozone and NaY zeolites significantly improved the micropollutants degradation rate, able to degrade 95 % of the total mixture of PhCs within the early 9 min using the zeolite NaY-12 (24.4 mg O3 L-1 consumed), while 12 min of reaction with the zeolite NaY-60 (31 mg O3 L-1 consumed). In the case of individual experiments, ozonation removed 95 % of the total mixture of PhCs after 25 min (46.2 mg O3 L-1 consumed), while the direct adsorption, after 60 min of contact time, eliminated 30 % and 44 % using the NaY-12 and NaY-60 zeolites, respectively. Results showed that the Brønsted acid sites seemed to play an important role in the effectiveness of the treatment with ozone. Finally, the environmental assessment showed that the total risk quotients of pharmaceuticals were reduced between 87 %-99 % after ozonation in the presence of NaY-60 and NaY-12 zeolites. The results of this study demonstrate that catalytic ozonation using NaY zeolites as catalysts is a promising alternative for micropollutant elimination in real-world wastewater matrices.
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Affiliation(s)
- María A Prada-Vásquez
- Grupo de Investigación en Remediación Ambiental y Biocatálisis (GIRAB), Instituto de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Antioquia UdeA, Calle 70 No. 52-21, Medellín, Colombia.; Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Medellín, Facultad de Minas, Departamento de Geociencias y Medioambiente, Colombia
| | - Claudia Simarro-Gimeno
- Environmental and Public Health Analytical Chemistry, Research Institute for Pesticides and Water, University Jaume I, Castelló, Spain
| | - Isabel Vidal-Barreiro
- Instituto de Tecnología Química, Universitat Politècnica de València - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Avenida de los Naranjos s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain
| | - Santiago A Cardona-Gallo
- Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Medellín, Facultad de Minas, Departamento de Geociencias y Medioambiente, Colombia
| | - Elena Pitarch
- Environmental and Public Health Analytical Chemistry, Research Institute for Pesticides and Water, University Jaume I, Castelló, Spain
| | - Félix Hernández
- Environmental and Public Health Analytical Chemistry, Research Institute for Pesticides and Water, University Jaume I, Castelló, Spain
| | - Ricardo A Torres-Palma
- Grupo de Investigación en Remediación Ambiental y Biocatálisis (GIRAB), Instituto de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Antioquia UdeA, Calle 70 No. 52-21, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Antonio Chica
- Instituto de Tecnología Química, Universitat Politècnica de València - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Avenida de los Naranjos s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain
| | - J Navarro-Laboulais
- Department of Chemical and Nuclear Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022, Valencia, Spain.
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Cangola J, Abagale FK, Cobbina SJ. A systematic review of pharmaceutical and personal care products as emerging contaminants in waters: The panorama of West Africa. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 911:168633. [PMID: 37981152 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) are widely used to prevent or treat human and animal diseases, thereby improving the quality of daily life. Poor management of post-consumer products is recognized worldwide, as they negatively affect the ecosystems where they are discharged. The first action to prevent negative impacts is the state of knowledge regarding their occurrence. This paper critically reports the panorama of West Africa in terms of PPCPs occurrence in different water sources. To achieve this objective, a systematic review was conducted on PPCPs in West Africa following the PRISMA guidelines. Databases, including African Journals Online, PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Dimensions, were used for this search. Thirty-five articles, representing 58 % of West African countries, were selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Of these articles, one included data from multiple West African countries, while the remaining 34 exclusively focused on Benin, Cameroon, Ghana, and Nigeria. The results revealed a variety of PPCPs investigated, about 27 groups and 112 compounds, with greater emphasis on antibiotics, analgesics and PSHXEs. HPLC was the predominant analytical method used, resulting in total concentrations of PPCPs in the range of 200,000 to 3,200,000 ng/L in drinking water, 12 to 700,000 ng/L in groundwater, 0.42 to 107,800,000 ng/L in surface water, 8.5 to 121,310,000 ng/L in wastewater, and 440 to 421,700 ng/L in tap water. Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon reported the highest number of PPCPs investigated and consequently the highest concentration of cases. These compounds present a high potential ecological risk, with >50 % exceeding the risk quotient limit. Therefore, West Africa as a community needs integrated approaches and strategies to monitor water, especially transboundary resources. This review is timely and provides pertinent information to policymakers and researchers on PPCPs in water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenita Cangola
- West African Centre for Water, Irrigation and Sustainable Agriculture (WACWISA), University for Development Studies, P. O. Box TL 1882, Tamale, Ghana; Department of Environment and Sustainability Sciences, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana.
| | - Felix K Abagale
- West African Centre for Water, Irrigation and Sustainable Agriculture (WACWISA), University for Development Studies, P. O. Box TL 1882, Tamale, Ghana; Department of Agricultural Engineering, University for Development Studies, P. O. Box TL 1882, Tamale, Ghana
| | - Samuel J Cobbina
- West African Centre for Water, Irrigation and Sustainable Agriculture (WACWISA), University for Development Studies, P. O. Box TL 1882, Tamale, Ghana; Department of Environment and Sustainability Sciences, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana
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Robison-Smith C, Masud N, Tarring EC, Ward BD, Cable J. A class of their own? Water-soluble polymer pollution impacting a freshwater host-pathogen system. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 907:168086. [PMID: 37890633 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
While the inclusion of synthetic polymers such as primary microplastics within personal care products have been widely restricted under EU/UK Law, water-soluble polymers (WSPs) have so far slipped the net of global chemical regulation despite evidence that these could be polluting wastewater effluents at concentrations greatly exceeding those of microplastics. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) represent WSPs with common industry and household uses, down-the-drain disposal and a direct route to wastewater treatment plants, conveying high risk of environmental leaching into freshwater ecosystems. The current study is the first investigating the impacts of predicted environmental concentrations of these WSPs on life-history traits of two freshwater species also constituting a disease model (fish - Poecilia reticulata and parasite - Gyrodactylus turnbulli). Single effects of WSPs on fish as well as their interactive effects with infection of the ectoparasite were determined over a 45-day exposure. Generally, WSPs reduced fish growth and increased routine metabolic rate of fish implying a depleted energetic budget, however these effects were dose, exposure time and polymer dependent. Parasitic infection alone caused a significant reduction in fish growth and enhanced fish routine metabolic rate. In contrast, a non-additive effect on metabolic rate was evident in fish experiencing simultaneous infection and WSP exposure, suggesting a protective effect of the two WSPs for fish also exposed to a metazoan ectoparasite. Off-host parasite survival was significantly lowered by both WSPs; however, parasite counts of infected fish also exposed to WSP were not significantly different from the control, implying more complex mechanisms may underpin this stressor interaction. Distinct detrimental impacts were inflicted on both organisms implying environmental leaching of WSPs may be causing significant disruption to interspecies interactions within freshwater ecosystems. Additionally, these results could contribute to sustainable development in industry, as we conclude PVA represents a less harmful alternative to PVP.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Numair Masud
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Eve C Tarring
- School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, CF10 3AT, UK
| | | | - Jo Cable
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, CF10 3AX, UK
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10
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Ramírez-Morales D, Masís-Mora M, Montiel-Mora JR, Méndez-Rivera M, Gutiérrez-Quirós JA, Brenes-Alfaro L, Rodríguez-Rodríguez CE. Pharmaceuticals, hazard and ecotoxicity in surface and wastewater in a tropical dairy production area in Latin America. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 346:140443. [PMID: 38303394 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Pharmaceuticals comprise a complex group of emerging pollutants. Despite the significant number of pharmaceuticals used in veterinary medicine, the input of these compounds into the environment due to livestock activities has been scarcely described. This work assays for the first time in Central America the occurrence of pharmaceuticals in farm wastewater in an area devoted to dairy production, and in the surrounding surface waters. Among 69 monitored pharmaceuticals, a total of eight compounds were detected in wastewater samples collected from seven dairy farms after three sampling campaigns. Six pharmaceuticals were considered either of high (albendazole, lovastatin and caffeine) or intermediate estimated hazard (ciprofloxacin, acetaminophen and ketoprofen) based on the HQ approach, while 26% of the samples were considered of high estimated hazard according to the cumulative ∑HQ approach. Similarly, when ecotoxicological tests were applied, all the samples showed some level of toxicity towards Daphnia magna, and most samples towards Vibrio fischeri and Lactuca sativa. Fourteen pharmaceuticals were detected in surface water samples collected in the surroundings of the dairy production farms, including rural and urban areas. Seven out of these compounds showed high estimated risk (risperidone, diphenhydramine, trimethoprim, fluoxetine, ofloxacin, caffeine and ibuprofen), while three (gemfibrozil, ciprofloxacin and cephalexin) exhibited intermediate estimated risk. In a similar worrisome way, 27% of these samples were estimated to pose high environmental risk according to the pharmaceutical content. Despite being nontoxic for D. magna or V. fischeri, frequent inhibition (>20%) of GI in L. sativa was determined in 34% of surface water samples; such findings raise concern on the apparent inceptive environmental pollution and risk within the area. According to the pharmaceutical content patterns in both kinds of studied matrices, no clear evidence of significant contamination in surface water due to livestock activities could be retrieved, suggesting a main role of urban influence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Didier Ramírez-Morales
- Centro de Investigación en Contaminación Ambiental (CICA), Universidad de Costa Rica, 2060 San José, Costa Rica
| | - Mario Masís-Mora
- Centro de Investigación en Contaminación Ambiental (CICA), Universidad de Costa Rica, 2060 San José, Costa Rica
| | - José R Montiel-Mora
- Centro de Investigación en Contaminación Ambiental (CICA), Universidad de Costa Rica, 2060 San José, Costa Rica
| | - Michael Méndez-Rivera
- Centro de Investigación en Contaminación Ambiental (CICA), Universidad de Costa Rica, 2060 San José, Costa Rica
| | | | - Laura Brenes-Alfaro
- Centro de Investigación en Contaminación Ambiental (CICA), Universidad de Costa Rica, 2060 San José, Costa Rica
| | - Carlos E Rodríguez-Rodríguez
- Centro de Investigación en Contaminación Ambiental (CICA), Universidad de Costa Rica, 2060 San José, Costa Rica.
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Qu Y, Keller V, Bachiller-Jareno N, Eastman M, Edwards F, Jürgens MD, Sumpter JP, Johnson AC. Significant improvement in freshwater invertebrate biodiversity in all types of English rivers over the past 30 years. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 905:167144. [PMID: 37730070 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
There remains a persistent concern that freshwater biodiversity is in decline and being threatened by pollution. As the UK, and particularly England, is a densely populated nation with rivers of modest dilution capacity, this location is very suitable to examine how freshwater biodiversity has responded to human pressures over the past 30 years. A long-term dataset of 223,325 freshwater macroinvertebrate records from 1989 to 2018 for England was retrieved and examined. A sub-set of approximately 200 sites per English Region (1515 sites in total with 62,514 samples), with the longest and most consistent records were matched with predicted wastewater exposure, upstream land cover and terrain characteristics (latitude, altitude, slope gradient and flow discharge). To understand changes in macroinvertebrate diversity and sensitivity with respect to these parameters, the biotic indices of (i) overall family richness, (ii) Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera (EPT) family richness, and (iii) the Biological Monitoring Working Party (BMWP) scores of NTAXA (number of scoring taxa) and (iv) ASPT (average score per taxon) were selected. A review of how close the BMWP scores come to those expected at minimally impacted reference sites was included. For all latitudes, altitudes, channel slope, river size, wastewater exposure levels, and differing proportions of upstream woodland, seminatural, arable and urban land cover, all diversity or sensitivity indices examined improved over this period, although this improvement has slowed in some cases post 2003. Mean overall family richness has increased from 15 to 25 family groups, a 66 % improvement. The improvement in mean EPT family richness (3 to 10 families, >300 % improvement), which are considered to be particularly sensitive to pollution, implies macroinvertebrate diversity has benefited from a national improvement in critical components of water quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yueming Qu
- UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford OX10 8BB, UK
| | - Virginie Keller
- UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford OX10 8BB, UK
| | - Nuria Bachiller-Jareno
- UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford OX10 8BB, UK; University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth PO1 2UP, UK
| | - Michael Eastman
- UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford OX10 8BB, UK; Met Office, Exeter, EX1 3PB, UK
| | - Francois Edwards
- UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford OX10 8BB, UK; APEM Ltd, Chester CH4 0GZ, UK
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12
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Glassmeyer ST, Burns EE, Focazio MJ, Furlong ET, Gribble MO, Jahne MA, Keely SP, Kennicutt AR, Kolpin DW, Medlock Kakaley EK, Pfaller SL. Water, Water Everywhere, but Every Drop Unique: Challenges in the Science to Understand the Role of Contaminants of Emerging Concern in the Management of Drinking Water Supplies. GEOHEALTH 2023; 7:e2022GH000716. [PMID: 38155731 PMCID: PMC10753268 DOI: 10.1029/2022gh000716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
The protection and management of water resources continues to be challenged by multiple and ongoing factors such as shifts in demographic, social, economic, and public health requirements. Physical limitations placed on access to potable supplies include natural and human-caused factors such as aquifer depletion, aging infrastructure, saltwater intrusion, floods, and drought. These factors, although varying in magnitude, spatial extent, and timing, can exacerbate the potential for contaminants of concern (CECs) to be present in sources of drinking water, infrastructure, premise plumbing and associated tap water. This monograph examines how current and emerging scientific efforts and technologies increase our understanding of the range of CECs and drinking water issues facing current and future populations. It is not intended to be read in one sitting, but is instead a starting point for scientists wanting to learn more about the issues surrounding CECs. This text discusses the topical evolution CECs over time (Section 1), improvements in measuring chemical and microbial CECs, through both analysis of concentration and toxicity (Section 2) and modeling CEC exposure and fate (Section 3), forms of treatment effective at removing chemical and microbial CECs (Section 4), and potential for human health impacts from exposure to CECs (Section 5). The paper concludes with how changes to water quantity, both scarcity and surpluses, could affect water quality (Section 6). Taken together, these sections document the past 25 years of CEC research and the regulatory response to these contaminants, the current work to identify and monitor CECs and mitigate exposure, and the challenges facing the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan T. Glassmeyer
- U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyOffice of Research and DevelopmentCincinnatiOHUSA
| | | | - Michael J. Focazio
- Retired, Environmental Health ProgramEcosystems Mission AreaU.S. Geological SurveyRestonVAUSA
| | - Edward T. Furlong
- Emeritus, Strategic Laboratory Sciences BranchLaboratory & Analytical Services DivisionU.S. Geological SurveyDenverCOUSA
| | - Matthew O. Gribble
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental HealthRollins School of Public HealthEmory UniversityAtlantaGAUSA
| | - Michael A. Jahne
- U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyOffice of Research and DevelopmentCincinnatiOHUSA
| | - Scott P. Keely
- U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyOffice of Research and DevelopmentCincinnatiOHUSA
| | - Alison R. Kennicutt
- Department of Civil and Mechanical EngineeringYork College of PennsylvaniaYorkPAUSA
| | - Dana W. Kolpin
- U.S. Geological SurveyCentral Midwest Water Science CenterIowa CityIAUSA
| | | | - Stacy L. Pfaller
- U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyOffice of Research and DevelopmentCincinnatiOHUSA
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13
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Oharisi OOL, Ncube S, Nyoni H, Madikizela ML, Olowoyo OJ, Maseko BR. Occurrence and prevalence of antibiotics in wastewater treatment plants and effluent receiving rivers in South Africa using UHPLC-MS determination. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 345:118621. [PMID: 37480667 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/24/2023]
Abstract
The increased usage of antibiotics over the recent years has led to an increased interest in monitoring their presence in wastewater all over the world. In this study the occurrence of sixteen (16) selected antibiotics (amoxicillin, ampicillin, azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, doxycycline, erythromycin, gentamicin, metronidazole, norfloxacin, ofloxacin, penicillin, sulfamethoxazole, sulfapyridine, sulfamethizole, tetracycline and trimethoprim) were determined in two wastewater treatment plants and two effluent receiving rivers in Northern part of Pretoria, South Africa. Targeted screening and identification of antibiotics was done using ultra high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry after sample clean-up and pre-concentration using solid phase extraction. The concentrations of the targeted antibiotics detected in influent samples ranged between 0.78 and 96.8 ng mL-1 and those in effluent were between 0.12 and 9.89 ng mL-1. The highest recorded concentrations in all samples were those of doxycycline (30.9-120 ng mL-1) and sulfamethoxazole (2.52-96.8 ng mL-1) in effluent and influent samples, respectively. The concentrations of antibiotics in the rivers receiving effluents were between 0.03 and 72.8 ng mL-1 in upstream samples and 0.008-76.8 ng mL-1 in downstream samples, indicating that there is other source of contaminate to these rivers other than the treatment plants. Risk assessment using the hazard quotients ranged between 0.24 and 889 indicating that the presence of these antibiotics and antibiotic mixtures posed higher ecological risks to aquatic organisms. From the study, it could be concluded that wastewater treatment plants were releasing antibiotics to the environment and posing a risk to the aquatic ecosystem and public health. Therefore, there is a need to research into developing more efficient conventional wastewater treatment technologies that can completely remove antibiotics from wastewater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omuferen-Oke Loveth Oharisi
- Department of Chemistry, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, P.O Box 60, Medunsa, 0204, South Africa
| | - Somandla Ncube
- Department of Chemistry, Durban University of Technology, P O Box 1334, Durban, 4000, South Africa
| | - Hlengilizwe Nyoni
- Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability, College of Science, Engineering and Technology, University of South Africa, Florida Science Campus, 1710, South Africa
| | - Mzukisi Lawrence Madikizela
- Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability, College of Science, Engineering and Technology, University of South Africa, Florida Science Campus, 1710, South Africa
| | - Oluwole Joshua Olowoyo
- Department of Health Science and the Water School, Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, FL, USA
| | - Bethusile Rejoice Maseko
- Department of Chemistry, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, P.O Box 60, Medunsa, 0204, South Africa.
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14
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Drummond JD, Gonçalves J, Aquino T, Bernal S, Gacia E, Gutierrez-Aguirre I, Turk V, Ravnikar M, Krause S, Martí E. Benthic sediment as stores and sources of bacteria and viruses in streams: A comparison of baseflow vs. stormflow longitudinal transport and residence times. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 245:120637. [PMID: 37776590 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023]
Abstract
The presence of bacteria and viruses in freshwater represents a global health risk. The substantial spatial and temporal variability of microbes leads to difficulties in quantifying the risks associated with their presence in freshwater. Fine particles, including bacteria and viruses are transported and accumulated into shallow streambed (i.e., benthic) sediment, delaying the downstream transmission during baseflow conditions but contributing to their resuspension and transport downstream during stormflow events. Direct measurements of pathogen accumulation in benthic sediments are rare. Until now, the dynamic role of benthic sediment as both a store and source of microbes, has not been quantified. In this study, we analyze microbial abundance in benthic sediment along a 1 km reach of an intermittent Mediterranean stream receiving inputs from the effluent of a wastewater treatment plant, a known point source of microbes in streams. We sampled benthic sediment during a summer drought when the wastewater effluent constituted 100 % of the stream flow, and thus, large accumulation and persistence of pathogens along the streambed was expected. We measured the abundance of total bacteria, Escherichia coli (as a fecal indicator), and presence of enteric rotavirus (RoV) and norovirus (NoV). The abundance of E. coli, based on qPCR detection, was high (4.99∙102 gc /cm2) along the first 100 m downstream of the wastewater effluent input and in general decreased with distance from the source, with presence of RoV and NoV along the study reach. A particle tracking model was applied, that uses stream water velocity as an input, and accounts for microbial exchange into, immobilization, degradation, and resuspension out of benthic sediment during baseflow and stormflow. Rates of exchange into benthic sediment were 3 orders of magnitude higher during stormflow, but residence times were proportionately lower, resulting in increased longitudinal connectivity from up to downstream during stormflow. Model simulations demonstrated mechanistically how the rates of exchange into and out of the benthic sediment resulted in benthic sediment to act as a store during baseflow and a source during stormflow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer D Drummond
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston B15 2TT, UK; Integrative Freshwater Ecology Group, Centre for Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB- CSIC), Girona 17300, Spain.
| | - José Gonçalves
- Institute of Sustainable Processes, University of Valladolid, Dr. Mergelina s/n., Valladolid 47011, Spain; Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, University of Valladolid, Dr. Mergelina, Valladolid 47011, Spain
| | - Tomás Aquino
- Université de Rennes, CNRS, Géosciences Rennes, Rennes UMR 6118, France
| | - Susana Bernal
- Integrative Freshwater Ecology Group, Centre for Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB- CSIC), Girona 17300, Spain
| | - Esperança Gacia
- Integrative Freshwater Ecology Group, Centre for Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB- CSIC), Girona 17300, Spain
| | - Ion Gutierrez-Aguirre
- Marine Biology Station and Department of Biotechnology and Systems Biology, National Institute of Biology, Vecna Pot 111, Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia
| | - Valentina Turk
- Marine Biology Station and Department of Biotechnology and Systems Biology, National Institute of Biology, Vecna Pot 111, Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia
| | - Maja Ravnikar
- Marine Biology Station and Department of Biotechnology and Systems Biology, National Institute of Biology, Vecna Pot 111, Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia
| | - Stefan Krause
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston B15 2TT, UK
| | - Eugènia Martí
- Integrative Freshwater Ecology Group, Centre for Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB- CSIC), Girona 17300, Spain
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15
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Welch SA, Moe SJ, Sharikabad MN, Tollefsen KE, Olsen K, Grung M. Predicting Environmental Risks of Pharmaceuticals from Wholesale Data: An Example from Norway. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2023; 42:2253-2270. [PMID: 37341554 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023]
Abstract
Environmental risk assessment (ERA) of pharmaceuticals relies on available measured environmental concentrations, but often such data are sparse. Predicted environmental concentrations (PECs), calculated from sales weights, are an attractive alternative but often cover only prescription sales. We aimed to rank, by environmental risk in Norway, approximately 200 active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) over 2016-2019, based on sales PECs. To assess the added value of wholesale and veterinary data, we compared exposure and risk predictions with and without these additional sources. Finally, we aimed to characterize the persistence, mobility, and bioaccumulation of these APIs. We compared our PECs to available Norwegian measurements, then, using public predicted-no-effect concentrations, we calculated risk quotients (RQs) and appended experimental and predicted persistence and bioaccumulation. Our approach overestimated environmental concentrations compared with measurements for 18 of 20 APIs with comparable predictions and measurements. Seventeen APIs had mean RQs >1, indicating potential risk, while the mean RQ was 2.05 and the median 0.001, driven by sex hormones, antibiotics, the antineoplastic abiraterone, and common painkillers. Some high-risk APIs were also potentially persistent or bioaccumulative (e.g., levonorgestrel [RQ = 220] and ciprofloxacin [RQ = 56]), raising the possibility of impacts beyond their RQs. Exposure and risk were also calculated with and without over-the-counter sales, showing that prescriptions explained 70% of PEC magnitude. Likewise, human sales, compared with veterinary, explained 85%. Sales PECs provide an efficient option for ERA, designed to overestimate compared with analytical techniques and potentially held back by limited data availability and an inability to quantify uncertainty but, nevertheless, an ideal initial approach for identification and ranking of risks. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:2253-2270. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Knut Erik Tollefsen
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Oslo, Norway
- Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| | | | - Merete Grung
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Oslo, Norway
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16
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Bhat VJ, Blaschke D, Müller E, Ehricht R, Schmidt H. A Novel Approach to Monitor the Concentration of Phosphate Buffers in the Range of 1 M to 0.1 M Using a Silicon-Based Impedance Sensor. BIOSENSORS 2023; 13:841. [PMID: 37754075 PMCID: PMC10527345 DOI: 10.3390/bios13090841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
We present a novel and easy approach using a silicon-based impedance chip to determine the concentration of the given aqueous buffer solution. An accurate determination of the post-dilution concentration of the buffers is necessary for ensuring optimal buffer capacity, pH stability, and to assess solution reproducibility. In this study, we focused on phosphate buffer as the test liquid to achieve precise post-dilution concentration determinations. The impedance chip consisting of a top gold ring electrode, where a test volume of 20 μL to 30 μL of phosphate buffer was introduced for impedance measurements within the frequency range of 40 Hz to 1 MHz. For impedance investigation, we used phosphate buffers with three different pH values, and the impedance was measured after diluting the phosphate buffers to a concentration of 1.00 M, 0.75 M, 0.50 M, 0.25 M, 0.10 M, 0.05 M, and 0.01 M. In order to analyze the distinctive changes in the measured impedance, an equivalent circuit was proposed and modeled. From the impedance modeling, we report that the circuit parameter RAu/Si showed exponential dependence on the concentration of phosphate buffer and no dependence on the pH values of the phosphate buffer and on the added volume inside the ring electrode. The proposed silicon-based impedance chip is quick and uses reduced liquid volume for post-dilution concentration measurements of buffers and has perspective applications in the pharmaceutical and biological domains for regulating, monitoring, and quality control of the buffers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinayak J. Bhat
- Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology, Albert-Einstein-Str. 9, 07745 Jena, Germany; (V.J.B.); (D.B.); (R.E.)
- Institute of Solid State Physics, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Helmholtzweg 3, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Daniel Blaschke
- Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology, Albert-Einstein-Str. 9, 07745 Jena, Germany; (V.J.B.); (D.B.); (R.E.)
| | - Elke Müller
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Helmholtzweg 4, 07743 Jena, Germany;
- InfectoGnostics Research Campus, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Ralf Ehricht
- Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology, Albert-Einstein-Str. 9, 07745 Jena, Germany; (V.J.B.); (D.B.); (R.E.)
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Helmholtzweg 4, 07743 Jena, Germany;
- InfectoGnostics Research Campus, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Heidemarie Schmidt
- Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology, Albert-Einstein-Str. 9, 07745 Jena, Germany; (V.J.B.); (D.B.); (R.E.)
- Institute of Solid State Physics, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Helmholtzweg 3, 07743 Jena, Germany
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17
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Hofman‐Caris R, Dingemans M, Reus A, Shaikh SM, Muñoz Sierra J, Karges U, der Beek TA, Nogueiro E, Lythgo C, Parra Morte JM, Bastaki M, Serafimova R, Friel A, Court Marques D, Uphoff A, Bielska L, Putzu C, Ruggeri L, Papadaki P. Guidance document on the impact of water treatment processes on residues of active substances or their metabolites in water abstracted for the production of drinking water. EFSA J 2023; 21:e08194. [PMID: 37644961 PMCID: PMC10461463 DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2023.8194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
This guidance document provides a tiered framework for risk assessors and facilitates risk managers in making decisions concerning the approval of active substances (AS) that are chemicals in plant protection products (PPPs) and biocidal products, and authorisation of the products. Based on the approaches presented in this document, a conclusion can be drawn on the impact of water treatment processes on residues of the AS or its metabolites in surface water and/or groundwater abstracted for the production of drinking water, i.e. the formation of transformation products (TPs). This guidance enables the identification of actual public health concerns from exposure to harmful compounds generated during the processing of water for the production of drinking water, and it focuses on water treatment methods commonly used in the European Union (EU). The tiered framework determines whether residues from PPP use or residues from biocidal product use can be present in water at water abstraction locations. Approaches, including experimental methods, are described that can be used to assess whether harmful TPs may form during water treatment and, if so, how to assess the impact of exposure to these water treatment TPs (tTPs) and other residues including environmental TPs (eTPs) on human and domesticated animal health through the consumption of TPs via drinking water. The types of studies or information that would be required are described while avoiding vertebrate testing as much as possible. The framework integrates the use of weight-of-evidence and, when possible alternative (new approach) methods to avoid as far as possible the need for additional testing.
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18
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Giunchi V, Fusaroli M, Linder E, Villén J, Wettermark B, Nekoro M, Raschi E, Lunghi C, Poluzzi E. The environmental impact of pharmaceuticals in Italy: Integrating healthcare and eco-toxicological data to assess and potentially mitigate their diffusion to water supplies. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2023; 89:2020-2027. [PMID: 37118883 DOI: 10.1111/bcp.15761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Pharmaceuticals can reach the environment at all stages of their lifecycle and accumulate in the ecosystem, potentially reaching toxic levels for animals and plants. In recent years, efforts have been made to map and control this hazard. Assessing country-specific environmental risks could drive regulatory actions towards eco-friendlier drug utilization and disposal practices. By starting from a list of 25 environmentally hazardous pharmaceuticals developed by Region Stockholm, we integrated eco-toxicological and 2019-2021 Italian drug utilization data to estimate the environmental impact of pharmaceuticals in Italy. We calculated the risk as the ratio between the predicted environmental concentration (PEC) and the predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC). We found a high risk for levonorgestrel, ciprofloxacin, amoxicillin, azithromycin, venlafaxine, sertraline and diclofenac and a moderate risk for ethinyloestradiol, oestradiol and clarithromycin. This analysis can be periodically performed to identify the pharmaceuticals with the highest risk for the environment and ascertain if containment measures should be implemented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Giunchi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Michele Fusaroli
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Elkanah Linder
- Department of Pharmacy, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Johanna Villén
- Department of Pharmacy, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - Marmar Nekoro
- Department of Pharmacy, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Emanuel Raschi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Carlotta Lunghi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Health Sciences, Université du Québec à Rimouski, Lévis, Quebec, Canada
| | - Elisabetta Poluzzi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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19
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Rožman M, Lekunberri I, Grgić I, Borrego CM, Petrović M. Effects of combining flow intermittency and exposure to emerging contaminants on the composition and metabolic response of streambed biofilm bacterial communities. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 877:162818. [PMID: 36914121 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Freshwater ecosystems are characterised by the co-occurrence of stressors that simultaneously affect the biota. Among these, flow intermittency and chemical pollution severely impair the diversity and functioning of streambed bacterial communities. Using an artificial streams mesocosm facility, this study examined how desiccation and pollution caused by emerging contaminants affect the composition of stream biofilm bacterial communities, their metabolic profiles, and interactions with their environment. Through an integrative analysis of the composition of biofilm communities, characterization of their metabolome and composition of the dissolved organic matter, we found strong genotype-to-phenotype interconnections. The strongest correlation was found between the composition and metabolism of the bacterial community, both of which were influenced by incubation time and desiccation. Unexpectedly, no effect of the emerging contaminants was observed, which was due to the low concentration of the emerging contaminants and the dominant impact of desiccation. However, biofilm bacterial communities modified the chemical composition of their environment under the effect of pollution. Considering the tentatively identified classes of metabolites, we hypothesised that the biofilm response to desiccation was mainly intracellular while the response to chemical pollution was extracellular. The present study demonstrates that metabolite and dissolved organic matter profiling may be effectively integrated with compositional analysis of stream biofilm communities to yield a more complete picture of changes in response to stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marko Rožman
- Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), Emili Grahit 101, 17003 Girona, Spain.
| | - Itziar Lekunberri
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), Emili Grahit 101, 17003 Girona, Spain
| | - Ivana Grgić
- Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Carles M Borrego
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), Emili Grahit 101, 17003 Girona, Spain; Group of Molecular Microbial Ecology, Institute of Aquatic Ecology, University of Girona, E-17001 Girona, Spain
| | - Mira Petrović
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), Emili Grahit 101, 17003 Girona, Spain; Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Passeig Lluís Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
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20
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Gustavsson M, Molander S, Backhaus T, Kristiansson E. Risk assessment of chemicals and their mixtures are hindered by scarcity and inconsistencies between different environmental exposure limits. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 225:115372. [PMID: 36709027 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
In chemical risk assessment, measured or modelled environmental concentrations are compared to environmental exposure limits (EELs), such as Predicted No Effect Concentrations (PNECs) or hazardous concentrations for 5% of species (HC05s) derived from species sensitivity distributions (SSDs). However, for many chemicals the EELs include large uncertainties or, in the worst case, the necessary data for their estimation are completely missing. This makes the assessment of chemical risks and any subsequent implementation of management strategies challenging. In this study we analyzed the uncertainty of EELs and its impact on chemical risk assessment. First, we compared three individual EEL datasets, two primarily based on experimental data and one based on computational predictions. The comparison demonstrates large disagreements between EEL data sources, with experimentally derived EELs differing by more than seven orders of magnitude. In a case-study, based on the predicted emissions of 2005 chemicals, we showed that these uncertainties lead to significantly different risk assessment outcomes, including large differences in the magnitude of the total risk, risk driver identification, and the ranking of use categories as risk contributors. We also show that the large data-gaps in EEL datasets cannot be covered by commonly used computational approaches (QSARs). We conclude that an expanded framework for interpreting risk characterization outcomes is needed. We also argue that the large data-gaps present in ecotoxicological data need to be addressed in order to achieve the European zero pollution vision as the growing emphasis on ambient exposures will further increase the demand for accurate and well-established EELs.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Gustavsson
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, Chalmers University of Technology and University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | - S Molander
- Division of Environmental Systems Analysis, Department of Technology Management and Economics, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - T Backhaus
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - E Kristiansson
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, Chalmers University of Technology and University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
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21
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Lopez-Herguedas N, Irazola M, Alvarez-Mora I, Orive G, Lertxundi U, Olivares M, Zuloaga O, Prieto A. Comprehensive micropollutant characterization of wastewater during Covid-19 crisis in 2020: Suspect screening and environmental risk prioritization strategy. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 873:162281. [PMID: 36822422 PMCID: PMC9943555 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Micropollutants monitoring in wastewater can serve as a picture of what is consuming society and how it can impact the aquatic environment. In this work, a suspect screening approach was used to detect the known and unknown contaminants in wastewater samples collected from two wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) located in the Basque Country (Crispijana in Alava, and Galindo in Vizcaya) during two weekly sampling campaigns, which included the months from April to July 2020, part of the confinement period caused by COVID-19. To that aim, high-resolution mass spectrometry was used to collect full-scan data-dependent tandem mass spectra from the water samples using a suspect database containing >40,000 chemical substances. The presence of > 80 contaminants was confirmed (level 1) and quantified in both WWTP samples, while at least 47 compounds were tentatively identified (2a). Among the contaminants of concern, an increase in the occurrence of some compounds used for COVID-19 disease treatment, such as lopinavir and hydroxychloroquine, was observed during the lockdown. A prioritization strategy for environmental risk assessment was carried out considering only the compounds quantified in the effluents of Crispijana and Galindo WWTPs. The compounds were scored based on the removal efficiency, estimated persistency, bioconcentration factor, mobility, toxicity potential and frequency of detection in the samples. With this approach, 33 compounds (e.g. amantadine, clozapine or lopinavir) were found to be considered key contaminants in the analyzed samples based on their concentration, occurrence and potential toxicity. Additionally, antimicrobial (RQ-AR) and antiviral (EDRP) risk of certain compounds was evaluated, where ciprofloxacin and fluconazole represented medium risk for antibiotic resistance (1 > RQ-AR > 0.1) in the aquatic ecosystems. Regarding mixture toxicity, the computed sum of toxic unit values of the different effluents (> 1) suggest that interactions between the compounds need to be considered for future environmental risk assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Lopez-Herguedas
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Basque Country, Spain; Research Centre for Experimental Marine Biology and Biotechnology (PIE), University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Plentzia, Basque Country, Spain.
| | - M Irazola
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Basque Country, Spain; Research Centre for Experimental Marine Biology and Biotechnology (PIE), University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Plentzia, Basque Country, Spain
| | - I Alvarez-Mora
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Basque Country, Spain; Research Centre for Experimental Marine Biology and Biotechnology (PIE), University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Plentzia, Basque Country, Spain
| | - G Orive
- NanoBioCel Group, Laboratory of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Paseo de la Universidad 7, Vitoria-Gasteiz 01006, Spain; Bioaraba, NanoBioCel Research Group, 01009 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
| | - U Lertxundi
- Bioaraba, NanoBioCel Research Group, 01009 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain; Bioaraba Health Research Institute; Osakidetza Basque Health Service, Araba Mental Health Network, Araba Psychiatric Hospital, Pharmacy Service, c/Alava 43, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Alava, Spain
| | - M Olivares
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Basque Country, Spain; Research Centre for Experimental Marine Biology and Biotechnology (PIE), University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Plentzia, Basque Country, Spain
| | - O Zuloaga
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Basque Country, Spain; Research Centre for Experimental Marine Biology and Biotechnology (PIE), University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Plentzia, Basque Country, Spain
| | - A Prieto
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Basque Country, Spain; Research Centre for Experimental Marine Biology and Biotechnology (PIE), University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Plentzia, Basque Country, Spain
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22
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Verovšek T, Šuštarič A, Laimou-Geraniou M, Krizman-Matasic I, Prosen H, Eleršek T, Kramarič Zidar V, Mislej V, Mišmaš B, Stražar M, Levstek M, Cimrmančič B, Lukšič S, Uranjek N, Kozlovič-Bobič T, Kosjek T, Kocman D, Heath D, Heath E. Removal of residues of psychoactive substances during wastewater treatment, their occurrence in receiving river waters and environmental risk assessment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 866:161257. [PMID: 36608822 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.161257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Continuous consumption combined with incomplete removal during wastewater treatment means residues of psychoactive substances (licit drugs, medications of abuse and illicit drugs) are constantly introduced into the aquatic environment, where they have the potential to affect non-target organisms. In this study, 17 drug residues of psychoactive substances were determined in wastewater influent, effluent and in receiving rivers of six Slovene municipal wastewater treatment plants employing different treatment technologies. Variations in removal efficiencies (REs) during spring, summer and winter were explored, and ecotoxic effects were evaluated using in silico (Ecological Structure-Activity Relationships software-ECOSAR) and in vivo (algal growth inhibition test) methods. Drug residues were detected in influent and effluent in the ng/L to μg/L range. In receiving rivers, biomarkers were in the ng/L range, and there was good agreement between measured and predicted concentrations. On average, REs were highest for nicotine, 11-nor-9-carboxy-∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-COOH), cocaine residues, and amphetamine (>90 %) and lowest for methadone residues (<30 %). REs were comparable between treatments involving activated sludge and membrane bioreactors, while the moving biofilm bed reactor (MBBR) removed cotinine, cocaine, and benzoylecgonine to a lesser extent. Accordingly, higher levels of nicotine and cocaine residues were detected in river water receiving MBBR discharge. Although there were seasonal variations in REs and levels of drug residues in receiving rivers, no general pattern could be observed. No significant inhibition of algal growth (Chlamydomonas reinhardtii) was observed for the tested compounds (1 mg/L) during 72 h and 240 h of exposure, although effects on aquatic plants were predicted in silico. In addition, environmental risk assessment revealed that levels of nicotine, methadone, 2-ethylidene-1,5-dimethyl-3,3-diphenylpyrrolidine (EDDP), morphine, and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) pose a risk to aquatic organisms. Since nicotine and EDDP can have acute and chronic effects, the authors support regular monitoring of receiving surface waters, followed up by regulatory actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taja Verovšek
- Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; International Postgraduate School Jožef Stefan, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Ariana Šuštarič
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Večna pot 113, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Maria Laimou-Geraniou
- Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; International Postgraduate School Jožef Stefan, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | | | - Helena Prosen
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Večna pot 113, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Tina Eleršek
- National Institute of biology, Večna pot 111, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | | | - Vesna Mislej
- JP Vodovod Kanalizacija Snaga, d.o.o., Vodovodna cesta 90, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Boštjan Mišmaš
- JP Vodovod Kanalizacija Snaga, d.o.o., Vodovodna cesta 90, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Marjeta Stražar
- JP Central Wastewater Treatment Plant Domžale-Kamnik, d.o.o., Študljanska 91, 1230 Domžale, Slovenia
| | - Marjetka Levstek
- JP Central Wastewater Treatment Plant Domžale-Kamnik, d.o.o., Študljanska 91, 1230 Domžale, Slovenia
| | | | - Simon Lukšič
- Komunala Novo mesto, d.o.o., Podbevškova ulica 12, 8000 Novo mesto, Slovenia
| | - Nataša Uranjek
- Komunalno podjetje Velenje, d.o.o., Koroška cesta 37/b, 3320 Velenje, Slovenia
| | | | - Tina Kosjek
- Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; International Postgraduate School Jožef Stefan, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - David Kocman
- Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - David Heath
- Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Ester Heath
- Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; International Postgraduate School Jožef Stefan, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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23
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Serna-Galvis EA, Silva-Agredo J, Hernández F, Botero-Coy AM, Torres-Palma RA. Methods involved in the treatment of four representative pharmaceuticals in hospital wastewater using sonochemical and biological processes. MethodsX 2023; 10:102128. [PMID: 36974326 PMCID: PMC10038785 DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2023.102128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
A primary pollution source by pharmaceuticals is hospital wastewater (HWW). Herein, the methods involved in the action of a biological system (BS, aerobic activated sludge) or a sonochemical treatment (US, 375 kHz and 30.8 W), for degrading four relevant pharmaceuticals (azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, paracetamol, and valsartan) in HWW, are shown. Before treatment of HWW, the correct performance of BS was assessed using glucose as a reference substance, monitoring oxygen consumption, and organic carbon removal. Meanwhile, for US, a preliminary test using ciprofloxacin in distilled water was carried out. The determination of risk quotients (RQ) and theoretical analyses about reactive moieties on these target substances are also presented. For both, the degradation of the pharmaceuticals and the calculation of RQ, analyses were performed by LC-MS/MS. The BS action decreased the concentration of paracetamol and valsartan by ∼96 and 86%, respectively. However, a poor action on azithromycin (2% removal) was found, whereas ciprofloxacin concentration increased ∼20%; leading to an RQ value of 1.61 (high risk) for the pharmaceuticals mixture. The analyses using a biodegradation pathway predictor (EAWAG-BDD methodology) revealed that the amide group on paracetamol and alkyl moieties on valsartan could experience aerobic biotransformations. In turn, US action decreased the concentration of the four pharmaceuticals (removals > 60% for azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, and paracetamol), diminishing the environmental risk (RQ: 0.51 for the target pharmaceuticals mixture). Atomic charge analyses (based on the electronegativity equalization method) were performed, showing that the amino-sugar on azithromycin; piperazyl ring, and double bond close to the two carbonyls on ciprofloxacin, acetamide group on paracetamol, and the alkyl moieties bonded to the amide group of valsartan are the most susceptible moieties to attacks by sonogenerated radicals. The LC-MS/MS analytical methodology, RQ calculations, and theoretical analyses allowed for determining the degrading performance of BS and US toward the target pollutants in HWW.•Biological and sonochemical treatments as useful methods for degrading 4 representative pharmaceuticals are presented.•Sonochemical treatment had higher degrading action than the biological one on the target pharmaceuticals.•Methodologies for risk environmental calculation and identification of moieties on the pharmaceuticals susceptible to radical attacks are shown.
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24
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Holmes CM, Maltby L, Sweeney P, Thorbek P, Otte JC, Marshall S. Heterogeneity in biological assemblages and exposure in chemical risk assessment: Exploring capabilities and challenges in methodology with two landscape-scale case studies. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2022; 246:114143. [PMID: 36201920 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.114143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Chemical exposure concentrations and the composition of ecological receptors (e.g., species) vary in space and time, resulting in landscape-scale (e.g. catchment) heterogeneity. Current regulatory, prospective chemical risk assessment frameworks do not directly address this heterogeneity because they assume that reasonably worst-case chemical exposure concentrations co-occur (spatially and temporally) with biological species that are the most sensitive to the chemical's toxicity. Whilst current approaches may parameterise fate models with site-specific data and aim to be protective, a more precise understanding of when and where chemical exposure and species sensitivity co-occur enables risk assessments to be better tailored and applied mitigation more efficient. We use two aquatic case studies covering different spatial and temporal resolution to explore how geo-referenced data and spatial tools might be used to account for landscape heterogeneity of chemical exposure and ecological assemblages in prospective risk assessment. Each case study followed a stepwise approach: i) estimate and establish spatial chemical exposure distributions using local environmental information and environmental fate models; ii) derive toxicity thresholds for different taxonomic groups and determine geo-referenced distributions of exposure-toxicity ratios (i.e., potential risk); iii) overlay risk data with the ecological status of biomonitoring sites to determine if relationships exist. We focus on demonstrating whether the integration of relevant data and potential approaches is feasible rather than making comprehensive and refined risk assessments of specific chemicals. The case studies indicate that geo-referenced predicted environmental concentration estimations can be achieved with available data, models and tools but establishing the distribution of species assemblages is reliant on the availability of a few sources of biomonitoring data and tools. Linking large sets of geo-referenced exposure and biomonitoring data is feasible but assessment of risk will often be limited by the availability of ecotoxicity data. The studies highlight the important influence that choices for aggregating data and for the selection of statistical metrics have on assessing and interpreting risk at different spatial scales and patterns of distribution within the landscape. Finally, we discuss approaches and development needs that could help to address environmental heterogeneity in chemical risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Paul Sweeney
- Syngenta, Jealott's Hill International Research Centre, Bracknell RG42 6EY, UK
| | | | - Jens C Otte
- BASF, Carl-Bosch-Strasse 38, 67056 Ludwigshafen, Germany
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25
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Struk-Sokołowska J, Gwoździej-Mazur J, Jurczyk Ł, Jadwiszczak P, Kotowska U, Piekutin J, Canales FA, Kaźmierczak B. Environmental risk assessment of low molecule benzotriazoles in urban road rainwaters in Poland. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 839:156246. [PMID: 35644405 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 05/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to identify and quantify benzotriazoles (BTRs) emissions from road traffic and paved areas in an urban environment. Heterocyclic organic compounds BTRs are an emerging threat, under-recognized and under-analyzed in most environmental and water legislation. They are hazardous, potentially mutagenic, and carcinogenic micropollutants, not susceptible to effective biodegradation, and they move easily through the trophic chain, contaminating the environment and water resources. Traffic activities are a common source of BTR emissions in the urban environment, directly polluting human habitats through the different routes and numerous vehicles circulating in the cities. Using twelve heterogeneous locations scattered over a metropolitan area in Poland as a case study, this research analyzed the presence of BTRs in water samples from runoff produced from rainwater and snowmelt. 1H-BTR, 4Me-BTR, 5Me-BTR and 5Cl-BTR were detected in the tested runoff water. 5Cl-BTR was present in all samples and in the highest concentrations reaching 47,000 ng/L. Risk quotients calculated on the basis of the determined concentrations indicate that the highest environmental risk is associated with the presence of 5Cl-BTR and the sum of 4Me-BTR and 5Me-BTR, and the most sensitive organisms are bacteria and invertebrates. The results indicate that it is possible to associate the occurrence of these contaminants with the type of cover, traffic intensity, and vehicle type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Struk-Sokołowska
- Department of Environmental Engineering Technology, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences, Bialystok University of Technology, 15-351 Bialystok, Poland.
| | - Joanna Gwoździej-Mazur
- Department of Water Supply and Sewerage Systems, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences, Bialystok University of Technology, 15-351 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Łukasz Jurczyk
- Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Land Management and Environmental Protection, College of Natural Sciences, University of Rzeszow, 35-601 Rzeszów, Poland
| | - Piotr Jadwiszczak
- Department of Air Conditioning, Heating, Gas Engineering and Air Protection, Faculty of Environmental Engineering, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Urszula Kotowska
- Department of Analytical and Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Bialystok, 15-245 Białystok, Poland
| | - Janina Piekutin
- Department of Environmental Engineering Technology, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences, Bialystok University of Technology, 15-351 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Fausto A Canales
- Department of Civil and Environmental, Universidad de la Costa, Calle 58 #55-66, 080002 Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia
| | - Bartosz Kaźmierczak
- Department of Water Supply and Sewerage Systems, Faculty of Environmental Engineering, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland.
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26
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Machine learning approach towards explaining water quality dynamics in an urbanised river. Sci Rep 2022; 12:12346. [PMID: 35854053 PMCID: PMC9295889 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-16342-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Human activities alter river water quality and quantity, with consequences for the ecosystems of urbanised rivers. Quantifying the role of human-induced drivers in controlling spatio-temporal patterns in water quality is critical to develop successful strategies for improving the ecological health of urban rivers. Here, we analyse high-frequency electrical conductivity and temperature data collected from the River Chess in South-East England during a Citizen Science project. Utilizing machine learning, we find that boosted trees outperform GAM and accurately describe water quality dynamics with less than 1% error. SHapley Additive exPlanations reveal the importance of and the (inter)dependencies between the individual variables, such as river level and Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW) outflow. WWTW outflows give rise to diurnal variations in electrical conductivity, which are detectable throughout the year, and to an increase in average water temperature of 1 [Formula: see text] in a 2 km reach downstream of the wastewater treatment works during low flows. Overall, we showcase how high-frequency water quality measurements initiated by a Citizen Science project, together with machine learning techniques, can help untangle key drivers of water quality dynamics in an urbanised chalk stream.
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27
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Hong X, Zhang L, Zha J. Toxicity of waterborne vortioxetine, a new antidepressant, in non-target aquatic organisms: From wonder to concern drugs? ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 304:119175. [PMID: 35337889 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Vortioxetine is increasing in popularity as a treatment for major depressive disorder and has been detected in wastewater effluent. However, information on the toxicity and environmental risk of vortioxetine in non-target organisms is scarce. Here, embryonic and juvenile zebrafish (Danio rerio) were used to assess the toxicity of vortioxetine (0, 1, 10, 30, 100, 300, and 1000 μg/L) after 120 h and 7 d of exposure, respectively. Vortioxetine induced significant toxicity during embryonic development, including effects on survival, hatching, basal heart rate, spontaneous tail coiling and developmental abnormalities, and inhibited larval locomotor activity at concentrations higher than 30 μg/L. Additionally, vortioxetine evoked anxiolytic-like behavior and caused histopathological changes to multiple organs (gills, heart, liver and intestine) in juvenile zebrafish. Significant increase in 5-HT content was observed in whole zebrafish larvae and juvenile brain tissues from animals treated with 1 or 100 μg/L vortioxetine. Notably, the lowest effective concentrations of vortioxetine for zebrafish were mainly in the range of 10-30 μg/L, which were slightly lower than the vortioxetine therapeutic concentrations. Risk quotients assuming conservative exposure assessments were above one in European countries indicating moderate risk for the behavioral endpoints assessed. We believe that these results highlight the adverse effects of vortioxetine on non-target organisms and that further investigations will be required to provide a higher confidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangsheng Hong
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China
| | - Le Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jinmiao Zha
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
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28
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Drummond JD, Bernal S, Meredith W, Schumer R, Martí E. Stream Hydrology Controls the Longitudinal Bioreactive Footprint of Urban-Sourced Fine Particles. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:9083-9091. [PMID: 35671404 PMCID: PMC9228078 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c00876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The relevance of wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents in fluvial networks is increasing as urbanization grows in catchments. Urban-sourced fine particles from WWTP effluents deposit and accumulate in the streambed sediment of receiving streams over time and can fuel respiration rates, which can thus potentially increase rates of biogeochemical reactions and CO2 emissions to the atmosphere. We aimed to provide a quantitative assessment of the influence of WWTP-sourced fine particles deposited in the streambed sediment on stream metabolic activity for 1 year in an intermittent Mediterranean stream. More nutrient-rich and metabolically active fine particle standing stocks were observed downstream of the WWTP, propagating to the end of the 820 m study reach, especially during the dry period (i.e., when the dilution capacity of the stream to WWTP inputs is <40%). Based on the longitudinal patterns of fine particle standing stocks and their metabolic activity, we estimated that the in-stream bioreactive capacity associated with these fine particles could potentially lead to substantial carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere (3.1 g C/m2/d). We show the importance of incorporating fine particle standing stocks downstream of point source inputs, particularly WWTPs in intermittent streams, into carbon budgets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer D. Drummond
- Integrative
Freshwater Ecology Group, Centre for Advanced
Studies of Blanes (CEAB-CSIC), Blanes, Girona 17300, Spain
- School
of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston B15 2TT, U.K.
| | - Susana Bernal
- Integrative
Freshwater Ecology Group, Centre for Advanced
Studies of Blanes (CEAB-CSIC), Blanes, Girona 17300, Spain
| | - Warren Meredith
- Integrative
Freshwater Ecology Group, Centre for Advanced
Studies of Blanes (CEAB-CSIC), Blanes, Girona 17300, Spain
- Center
for Geology and Environmental Cartography (Geocamb), University of Girona, Girona 17003, Spain
| | - Rina Schumer
- Division
of Hydrologic Sciences, Desert Research
Institute, Reno, Nevada 89512, United States
| | - Eugènia Martí
- Integrative
Freshwater Ecology Group, Centre for Advanced
Studies of Blanes (CEAB-CSIC), Blanes, Girona 17300, Spain
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29
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Dominguez-García P, Gibert M, Lacorte S, Gómez-Canela C. Long-Term Calculation of Predicted Environmental Concentrations to Assess the Risk of Anticancer Drugs in Environmental Waters. Molecules 2022; 27:3203. [PMID: 35630679 PMCID: PMC9147345 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27103203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2022] [Revised: 05/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
This study reports the consumption data for 132 anticancer drugs in Catalonia (NE Spain) during the period of 2013-2017 and calculates the predicted environmental concentrations (PECs) in wastewater effluents and rivers. This long-term analysis can determine the evolution of drugs present in the environment according to prescriptions and serve as an adequate tool to determine their presence and impact. Data showed that out of 132 compounds prescribed, 77 reached wastewater effluents, which accounted for the most consumed, those excreted in the highest doses, and the least biodegradable. Once diluted in receiving river waters, only mycophenolic acid and hydroxycarbamide had PEC values higher than 10 ng L-1, which is the value set by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to carry out further risk assessment. It was also observed that compounds present in river water are those that can pose a high risk, given their persistence and capability to bioaccumulate. Therefore, this study shows that the estimation of PEC, together with physico-chemical properties of detected compounds, is a useful tool to determine the long-term presence and fate of this new class of emerging contaminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pol Dominguez-García
- Department of Analytical and Applied Chemistry, School of Engineering, Institut Químic de Sarrià-Universitat Ramon Llull, Via Agusta 390, 08017 Barcelona, Spain; (P.D.-G.); (M.G.)
| | - Marta Gibert
- Department of Analytical and Applied Chemistry, School of Engineering, Institut Químic de Sarrià-Universitat Ramon Llull, Via Agusta 390, 08017 Barcelona, Spain; (P.D.-G.); (M.G.)
| | - Sílvia Lacorte
- Institute for Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Jordi Girona 18, 08034 Barcelona, Spain;
| | - Cristian Gómez-Canela
- Department of Analytical and Applied Chemistry, School of Engineering, Institut Químic de Sarrià-Universitat Ramon Llull, Via Agusta 390, 08017 Barcelona, Spain; (P.D.-G.); (M.G.)
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30
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Domingo-Echaburu S, Irazola M, Prieto A, Rocano B, Lopez de Torre-Querejazu A, Quintana A, Orive G, Lertxundi U. Drugs used during the COVID-19 first wave in Vitoria-Gasteiz (Spain) and their presence in the environment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 820:153122. [PMID: 35063509 PMCID: PMC8767721 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
The city of Vitoria-Gasteiz was one of the probable first entrances of the SARS-CoV2 in Spain, one of the worst affected countries in the world during the first COVID 19 wave. Driven by the urgency of the situation, multiple drugs with antiviral activity were used off label. Sadly, most of these treatments were of little or no benefit and thus, the number of patients suffering from COVID-19 attended in intensive care units (ICUs) multiplied. After being administered to patients, a variable proportion of these drugs reach the environment where they may have detrimental effects, although this aspect is usually ignored by healthcare professionals. In this study we measured the patterns of hospital drug use in the city of Vitoria-Gasteiz (Spain) during the first COVID-19 wave pandemic, focusing on those with antiviral activity and those used in the ICUs. Subsequently, we measured concentrations of selected drugs in the city's wastewater treatment plant influent and effluent and estimated the potential risk for the environment. The hospital use of certain antivirals and drugs used for sedo-analgesia were dramatically increased during the first wave (cisatracurium was multiplied by 25 and lopinavir/ritonavir by 20). A mean of 1.632 daily defined doses of hydroxychloroquine were used during the period of February-May 2020. In this study we report the first positive detection of hydroxychloroquine ever in the environment. We also show the second positive report of lopinavir. Low risk was estimated for hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir and ritonavir (Risk quotients (RQ) <1), and medium risk for azithromycin (RQ 0f 0.146).
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Affiliation(s)
- S Domingo-Echaburu
- Osakidetza Basque Health Service, Debagoiena Integrated Health Organisation, Pharmacy Service, Nafarroa Hiribidea, 16, 20500 Arrasate, Gipuzkoa, Spain
| | - M Irazola
- Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, ES48903 Barakaldo, Biscay, Spain; Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of the Basque Country, ES48940 Leioa, Biscay, Spain; Research Centre for Experimental Marine Biology & Biotechnology, ES48620 Plentzia, Biscay, Spain
| | - A Prieto
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country, Bilbao, Spain; Research Centre for Experimental Marine Biology and Biotechnology, University of the Basque Country (PiE-UPV/EHU), Plentzia, Basque Country 48620, Spain
| | - B Rocano
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country, Bilbao, Spain
| | - A Lopez de Torre-Querejazu
- Pharmacy Service, Araba-Integrated Health Care Organization, Santiago Hospital, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Alava, Spain
| | - A Quintana
- Pharmacy Service, Araba Integrated Health Care Organization, Txagorritxu Hospital, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Alava, Spain
| | - G Orive
- NanoBioCel Group, Laboratory of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Paseo de la Universidad 7, Vitoria-Gasteiz 01006, Spain; Biomedical Research Networking Centre in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain; University Institute for Regenerative Medicine and Oral Implantology - UIRMI (UPV/EHU-Fundación Eduardo Anitua), Vitoria, Spain; Singapore Eye Research Institute, The Academia, 20 College Road, Discovery Tower, Singapore; Bioaraba, NanoBioCel Research Group, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.
| | - U Lertxundi
- Bioaraba Health Research Institute, Osakidetza Basque Health Service, Araba Mental Health Network, Araba Psychiatric Hospital, Pharmacy Service, c/Alava 43, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Alava, Spain.
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Malnes D, Ahrens L, Köhler S, Forsberg M, Golovko O. Occurrence and mass flows of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in Sweden's three largest lakes and associated rivers. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 294:133825. [PMID: 35114267 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.133825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/29/2022] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) are a concern in aquatic environments due to possible adverse effects on the environment and humans. This study assessed the occurrence and mass flows of CECs in Sweden's three largest lakes and 24 associated rivers. The occurrence and distribution of 105 CECs was investigated, comprising 71 pharmaceuticals, 13 perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), eight industrial chemicals, four personal care products (PCPs), three parabens, two pesticides, and four other CECs (mostly anthropogenic markers). This is the first systematic study of CECs in Sweden's main lakes and one of the first to report environmental concentrations of the industrial chemicals tributyl citrate acetate and 2,2'-dimorpholinyldiethyl-ether. The ∑CEC concentration was generally higher in river water (31-5200 ng/L; median 440 ng/L) than in lake water (36-900 ng/L; median 190 ng/L). At urban lake sites, seasonal variations were observed for PCPs and parabens, and also for antihistamines, antidiabetics, antineoplastic agents, antibiotics, and fungicides. The median mass CEC load in river water was 180 g/day (range 4.0-4300 g/day), with a total mass load of 5000 g/day to Lake Vänern, 510 g/day to Lake Vättern, and 5600 g/day to Lake Mälaren. All three lakes are used as drinking water reservoirs, so further investigations of the impact of CECs on the ecosystem and human health are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Malnes
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala, SE, 750 07, Sweden
| | - Lutz Ahrens
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala, SE, 750 07, Sweden.
| | - Stephan Köhler
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala, SE, 750 07, Sweden; Uppsala Water and Waste AB, Uppsala, SE, 754 50, Sweden
| | - Malin Forsberg
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala, SE, 750 07, Sweden
| | - Oksana Golovko
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala, SE, 750 07, Sweden.
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Wastewater treatment plant effluent inputs influence the temporal variability of nutrient uptake in an intermittent stream. Urban Ecosyst 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-022-01228-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
AbstractWastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents alter water chemistry and in-stream nutrient uptake rates of receiving freshwaters, thus changing the magnitude and fate of the nutrients exported. In Mediterranean regions, the dilution capacity of receiving streams can vary strongly over time due to the seasonal occurrence of floods and droughts, causing temporal variability of nutrient uptake. We assessed the temporal patterns and the controlling factors of net nutrient uptake in an intermittent Mediterranean stream receiving WWTP effluent inputs. We compiled the longitudinal concentration profiles of ambient dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) along a 800 m reach on 47 sampling dates between 2001 and 2017, encompassing a wide range of hydrological conditions. We estimated net nutrient uptake in the receiving stream. In 72% of the dates, high rates of net ammonium uptake co-occurred with net releases of either nitrate or nitrite. This pattern suggests that the receiving stream has a high nitrification capacity. Conversely, 75% of the dates did not show any longitudinal pattern in SRP concentration, suggesting that uptake and release processes for this element were either counterbalanced or both occurred at very low rates. Finally, net ammonium uptake was low when the stream had a low dilution capacity (< 40%) and ammonium concentration was high. Overall, we demonstrate that consideration of the receiving stream’s dilution capacity is imperative to the management of freshwaters to guarantee an adequate dilution of WWTP effluent inputs and avoid saturation of in-stream nutrient uptake capacity under low flow conditions in urban landscapes.
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An Initial Approach to the Presence of Pharmaceuticals in Wastewater from Hospitals in Colombia and Their Environmental Risk. WATER 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/w14060950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Hospital wastewater (HWW) from three different cities in Colombia was characterized. Wastewater quality indicators and 38 relevant pharmaceuticals were examined. The HWW had pH from 6.82 to 8.06, chemical oxygen demand was between 235.5 and 1203 mg L−1, and conductivity ranged from 276.5 to 717.5 µS cm−1. Additionally, most of the target pharmaceuticals (20 of 38) had 100% occurrence frequency in the samples due to their high and continuous consumption in the hospitals. Indeed, acetaminophen, diclofenac, azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole, losartan, metoprolol, and omeprazole were present in all samples at concentrations from one up to some hundreds of μg L−1. Once pharmaceuticals are discharged into local sewage systems or rivers, because of the high dilution of HWW, the individual environmental hazards are low (i.e., risk quotients, RQ < 0.1 were determined). The action of conventional treatments on HWW also decreased the individual environmental risks of pharmaceuticals (RQ values < 0.1). However, the mixture of pharmaceuticals in the HWW had potential environmental risks (as RQ > 0.1 were found), remarking the need for efficient processes to eliminate pharmaceuticals from HWW. This work provides an initial view on the characterization of diverse Colombian HWW, which could be useful for the understanding of the current situation of pollution by pharmaceuticals in Latin America.
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Soloperto S, Aroua S, Jozet-Alves C, Minier C, Halm-Lemeille MP. Development of an exposure protocol for toxicity test (FEET) for a marine species: the European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:15777-15790. [PMID: 34636016 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-16785-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Regulatory assessment of the effects of chemicals requires the availability of validated tests representing different environments and organisms. In this context, developing new tests is particularly needed for marine species from temperate environments. It is also important to evaluate effects that are generally poorly characterized and seldom included in regulatory tests. In this study, we designed an exposure protocol using European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) larvae. We examined classical toxicological values (LCx) as well as behavioral responses. By comparing different hatching and breeding strategies, we defined the optimal conditions of exposure as non-agitated conditions in 24- or 48-well microplates. Our exposure protocol was then tested with 3,4-dichloroaniline (3,4-DCA), a recommended reference molecule. Based on our results, the 96 h LC50 for 3,4-DCA corresponded to 2.04 mg/L while the 168 h LC50 to 0.79 mg/L. Behavioral analyses showed no effect of 3,4-DCA at low concentration (0.25 mg/L). In conclusion, the present work established the basis for a new test which includes behavioral analysis and shows that the use of sea bass is suitable to early-life stage toxicity tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Soloperto
- UMR-I 02 SEBIO - Stress Environnementaux et BIOsurveillance des milieux aquatiques, Université du Havre, 25, Rue Philippe Lebon, 76600, Le Havre, France.
| | - Salima Aroua
- UMR-I 02 SEBIO - Stress Environnementaux et BIOsurveillance des milieux aquatiques, Université du Havre, 25, Rue Philippe Lebon, 76600, Le Havre, France
| | - Christelle Jozet-Alves
- Unicaen, CNRS, Normandie Univ, 14000, Caen, France
- EthoS (Éthologie animale et humaine) - UMR 6552, Univ Rennes, CNRS, F-35000, Rennes, France
| | - Christophe Minier
- UMR-I 02 SEBIO - Stress Environnementaux et BIOsurveillance des milieux aquatiques, Université du Havre, 25, Rue Philippe Lebon, 76600, Le Havre, France
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Goswami P, Guruge KS, Tanoue R, Tamamura YA, Jinadasa KBSN, Nomiyama K, Kunisue T, Tanabe S. Occurrence of Pharmaceutically Active Compounds and Potential Ecological Risks in Wastewater from Hospitals and Receiving Waters in Sri Lanka. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2022; 41:298-311. [PMID: 34529856 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Revised: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The presence of pharmaceutically active compounds (PACs) in the environment and their associated hazards is a major global health concern; however, data on these compounds are scarce in developing nations. In the present study, the existence of 39 non-antimicrobial PACs and six of their metabolites in wastewater from hospitals and adjacent surface waters in Sri Lanka was investigated from 2016 to 2018. The highest amounts of the measured chemicals, including the highest concentrations of atorvastatin (14,620 ng/L) and two metabolites, mefenamic acid (12,120 ng/L) and o-desmethyl tramadol (8700 ng/L), were detected in wastewater from the largest facility. Mefenamic acid, gemfibrozil, losartan, cetirizine, carbamazepine, and phenytoin were detected in all the samples. The removal rates in wastewater treatment were 100% for zolpidem, norsertaline, quetiapine, chlorpromazine, and alprazolam. There was substantial variation in removal rates of PACs among facilities, and the overall data suggest that treatment processes in facilities were ineffective and that some PAC concentrations in the effluents were increased. The estimated risk quotients revealed that 14 PACs detected in water samples could pose low to high ecological risk to various aquatic organisms. Compounds such as ibuprofen, tramadol, and chlorpromazine detected in untreated and treated wastewater at these facilities pose a high risk to several aquatic organisms. Our study provides novel monitoring data for non-antimicrobial PAC abundance and the associated potential ecological risk related to hospitals and urban surface waters in Sri Lanka and further offers valuable information on pre-COVID-19 era PAC distribution in the country. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:298-311. © 2021 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prasun Goswami
- Atal Centre for Ocean Science and Technology for Islands, ESSO-National Institute of Ocean Technology, Dollygunj, Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India
| | - Keerthi S Guruge
- National Institute of Animal Health, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, Izumisano, Osaka, Japan
- National Institute of Fundamental Studies, Kandy, Sri Lanka
| | - Rumi Tanoue
- Center for Marine Environmental Studies, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan
| | - Yukino A Tamamura
- National Institute of Animal Health, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - K B S N Jinadasa
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
| | - Kei Nomiyama
- Center for Marine Environmental Studies, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Kunisue
- Center for Marine Environmental Studies, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan
| | - Shinsuke Tanabe
- Center for Marine Environmental Studies, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan
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Gwenzi W, Selvasembian R, Offiong NAO, Mahmoud AED, Sanganyado E, Mal J. COVID-19 drugs in aquatic systems: a review. ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS 2022; 20:1275-1294. [PMID: 35069060 PMCID: PMC8760103 DOI: 10.1007/s10311-021-01356-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
The outbreak of the human coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has induced an unprecedented increase in the use of several old and repurposed therapeutic drugs such as veterinary medicines, e.g. ivermectin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, protein and peptide therapeutics, disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and antimalarial drugs, antiretrovirals, analgesics, and supporting agents, e.g. azithromycin and corticosteroids. Excretion of drugs and their metabolites in stools and urine release these drugs into wastewater, and ultimately into surface waters and groundwater systems. Here, we review the sources, behaviour, environmental fate, risks, and remediation of those drugs. We discuss drug transformation in aquatic environments and in wastewater treatment systems. Degradation mechanisms and metabolite toxicity are poorly known. Potential risks include endocrine disruption, acute and chronic toxicity, disruption of ecosystem functions and trophic interactions in aquatic organisms, and the emergence of antimicrobial resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Willis Gwenzi
- Biosystems and Environmental Engineering Research Group, Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Environment and Food Systems, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP 167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Rangabhashiyam Selvasembian
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed University, Thanjavur, Tamilnadu 613401 India
| | - Nnanake-Abasi O. Offiong
- International Centre for Energy and Environmental Sustainability Research (ICEESR), University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Computing and Applied Sciences, Topfaith University, Mkpatak, Nigeria
| | - Alaa El Din Mahmoud
- Environmental Sciences Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria, 21511 Egypt
- Green Technology Group, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria, 21511 Egypt
| | - Edmond Sanganyado
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Institute of Marine Science, Shantou University, Shantou, 515063 China
| | - Joyabrata Mal
- Department of Biotechnology, Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology Allahabad, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh India
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Nag R, Nolan S, O'Flaherty V, Fenton O, Richards KG, Markey BK, Whyte P, Bolton D, Cummins E. Quantitative microbial human exposure model for faecal indicator bacteria and risk assessment of pathogenic Escherichia coli in surface runoff following application of dairy cattle slurry and co-digestate to grassland. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 299:113627. [PMID: 34467857 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 08/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Animal waste contains high numbers of microorganisms and therefore can present a potential biological threat to human health. During episodic rainfall events resulting in runoff, microorganisms in the waste and soil may migrate into surface runoff, contaminating surface water resources. A probabilistic human exposure (HE) model was created to determine exposure to faecal indicator bacteria (FIB): total coliforms (TC), E. coli and enterococci following application of bio-based fertiliser (dairy cattle slurry, digestate) to grassland; using a combination of experimental field results and literature-based data. This step was followed by a quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) model for pathogenic E. coli based on a literature-based dose-response model. The results showed that the maximum daily HE (HEdaily) is associated with E. coli for unprocessed slurry (treatment T1) on day 1, the worst-case scenario where the simulated mean HEdaily was calculated as 2.84 CFU day -1. The results indicate that the overall annual probability of risk (Pannual) of illness from E. coli is very low or low based on the WHO safe-limit of Pannual as 10 -6. In the worst-case scenario, a moderate risk was estimated with simulated mean Pannual as 1.0 × 10 -5. Unpasteurised digestate application showed low risk on day 1 and 2 (1.651 × 10 -6, 1.167 × 10 -6, respectively). Pasteurised digestate showed very low risk in all scenarios. These results support the restriction imposed on applying bio-based fertiliser if there is any rain forecast within 48 h from the application time. This study proposes a future extension of the probabilistic model to include time, intensity, discharge, and distance-dependant dilution factor. The information generated from this model can help policymakers ensure the safety of surface water sources through the quality monitoring of FIB levels in bio-based fertiliser.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajat Nag
- University College Dublin School of Biosystems and Food Engineering, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
| | - Stephen Nolan
- National University of Ireland Galway, School of Natural Sciences and Ryan Institute, University Road, Galway, Ireland; TEAGASC, Environment Research Centre, Johnstown Castle, County Wexford, Ireland.
| | - Vincent O'Flaherty
- National University of Ireland Galway, School of Natural Sciences and Ryan Institute, University Road, Galway, Ireland.
| | - Owen Fenton
- TEAGASC, Environment Research Centre, Johnstown Castle, County Wexford, Ireland.
| | - Karl G Richards
- TEAGASC, Environment Research Centre, Johnstown Castle, County Wexford, Ireland.
| | - Bryan K Markey
- University College Dublin School of Veterinary Medicine, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
| | - Paul Whyte
- University College Dublin School of Veterinary Medicine, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
| | - Declan Bolton
- TEAGASC, Ashtown Food Research Centre, Ashtown, Dublin 15, Ireland.
| | - Enda Cummins
- University College Dublin School of Biosystems and Food Engineering, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
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Sumpter JP, Runnalls TJ, Donnachie RL, Owen SF. A comprehensive aquatic risk assessment of the beta-blocker propranolol, based on the results of over 600 research papers. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 793:148617. [PMID: 34182447 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
A comprehensive aquatic environmental risk assessment (ERA) of the human pharmaceutical propranolol was conducted, based on all available scientific literature. Over 200 papers provided information on environmental concentrations (77 of which provided river concentrations) and 98 dealt with potential environmental effects. The median concentration of propranolol in rivers was 7.1 ng/L (range of median values of individual studies 0.07 to 89 ng/L), and the highest individual value was 590 ng/L. Sixty-eight EC50 values for 35 species were available. The lowest EC50 value was 0.084 mg/L. A species sensitivity distribution (SSD) provided an HC50 value of 6.64 mg/L and an HC5 value of 0.22 mg/L. Thus, there was a difference of nearly 6 orders of magnitude between the median river concentration and the HC50 value, and over 4 orders of magnitude between the median river concentration and the HC5 value. Even if an assessment factor of 100 was applied to the HC5 value, to provide considerable protection to all species, the safety margin is over 100-fold. However, nearly half of all papers reporting effects of propranolol did not provide an EC50 value. Some reported that very low concentrations of propranolol caused effects. The lowest concentration reported to cause an effect - in fact, a range of biochemical and physiological effects on mussels - was 0.3 ng/L. In none of these 'low concentration' papers was a sigmoidal concentration-response relationship obtained. Although inclusion of data from these papers in the ERA cause a change in the conclusion reached, we are sceptical of the repeatability of these 'low concentration' results. We conclude that concentrations of propranolol present currently in rivers throughout the world do not constitute a risk to aquatic organisms. We discuss the need to improve the quality of ecotoxicology research so that more robust ERAs acceptable to all stakeholders can be completed.
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Affiliation(s)
- John P Sumpter
- Institute of Environment, Health and Societies, College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 3PH, United Kingdom.
| | - Tamsin J Runnalls
- Institute of Environment, Health and Societies, College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 3PH, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel L Donnachie
- Institute of Environment, Health and Societies, College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 3PH, United Kingdom; Now at Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London SW7 2A2, United Kingdom
| | - Stewart F Owen
- AstraZeneca, Global Environment, Alderley Park, Macclesfield, Cheshire SK10 4TF, United Kingdom
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Nieto-Juárez JI, Torres-Palma RA, Botero-Coy AM, Hernández F. Pharmaceuticals and environmental risk assessment in municipal wastewater treatment plants and rivers from Peru. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 155:106674. [PMID: 34174591 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 05/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
This is the first study dealing with removal of the pharmaceutical substances in municipal wastewater treatment plants (MWWTPs) from Peru and the impact of these compounds in surface waters receiving treated wastewater. To this aim, samples from MWWTP of Lima (Peruvian Coast), MWWTP of Cusco, Puno and Juliaca (Peruvian Highlands), as well surface water (confluence of Torococha and Coata rivers in Juliaca) were analyzed. A total of 38 target pharmaceuticals were included in this study and were determined by Liquid Chromatography coupled to tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Around 60% and 75% of the target pharmaceuticals could be quantified in surface water and MWWTPs, respectively. Acetaminophen was the drug found at the highest concentration, and it was present in all the treated wastewater samples reaching average values above 100 μg/L in the department of Puno. The gabapentin anti-epileptic drug (up to 11.85 μg/L in MWWTP Lima) and the antibiotics clarithromycin, trimethoprim, ciprofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole and azithromycin (1.86 to 4.47 μg/L in MWWTP Lima) were also found at moderate concentrations in the treated wastewater. In surface water, the highest concentration corresponded also to acetaminophen (28.70 μg/L) followed by sulfamethoxazole (4.36 μg/L). As regards the pharmaceuticals removal, data of this work showed that the MWWTP Cusco (aerobic biologic process by synthetic trickling filters as secondary treatment) was more efficient than the MWWTP Lima (a preliminary treatment that combines grilles, sand trap, degreaser-aerated and sieved of 1.0 mm). However, many pharmaceuticals (around 50% of the compounds investigated) presented concentrations in treated wastewater similar or even higher than in influent wastewater. The environmental ecological risk of pharmaceuticals was assessed based on calculated Risk Quotient (RQ) in the treated wastewater and surface water from the concentration data found in the samples. According to our data, three antibiotics (clarithromycin, ciprofloxacin, clindamycin) and the analgesic acetaminophen posed high environmental risk (RQ ≥ 1) on the aquatic environment. In the river, all antibiotics (except norfloxacin) as well as the analgesic-anti-inflammatory compounds acetaminophen, diclofenac posed a high environmental risk (RQ ≥ 1). Based on data reported in this work for the first time in water samples from Peru, it can be deduced that the treatment processes applied in important cities from Peru are not enough efficient to remove pharmaceuticals in wastewater. As a consequence, severe environmental risks associated to the presence of pharmaceuticals in treated wastewater and surface water are expected; so complementary treatment processes should be implemented in the MWWTPs for a more efficient elimination of these compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica I Nieto-Juárez
- Research Group in Environmental Quality and Bioprocesses (GICAB), Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Textile, Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería UNI, Av. Túpac Amaru N° 210, Rímac, Lima, Peru.
| | - Ricardo A Torres-Palma
- Grupo de Investigación en Remediación Ambiental y Biocatálisis (GIRAB), Instituto de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Antioquía UdeA, Calle 70 N° 52-21 Medellín, Colombia
| | - A M Botero-Coy
- Research Institute for Pesticides and Water (IUPA), University Jaume I, Castellón, Spain
| | - Félix Hernández
- Research Institute for Pesticides and Water (IUPA), University Jaume I, Castellón, Spain
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Zhong R, Zou H, Gao J, Wang T, Bu Q, Wang ZL, Hu M, Wang Z. A critical review on the distribution and ecological risk assessment of steroid hormones in the environment in China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 786:147452. [PMID: 33975111 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
During past two decades, steroid hormones have raised significant public concerns due to their potential adverse effects on the hormonal functions of aquatic organisms and humans. Considering China being a big producer and consumer of steroid hormones, we summarize the current contamination status of steroid hormones in different environmental compartments in China, and preliminarily assess the associated risks to ecological systems. The results show that steroid hormones are ubiquitously present in Chinese surface waters where estrogens are the most studied steroids compared with androgens, progestogens and glucocorticoids. Estrone (E1), 17β-estradiol (17β-E2) and estriol (E3) are generally the dominant steroid estrogens in Chinese surface waters, whereas for the other steroids, androsterone (ADR), epi-androsterone (EADR), progesterone (PGT), cortisol (CRL) and cortisone (CRN) have relatively large contributions. Meanwhile, the investigations for the other environmental media such as particles, sediments, soils and groundwater have been limited, as well as for steroid conjugates and metabolites. The median risk quotients of most steroid hormones in surface waters and sediments are lower than 1, indicating low to moderate risks to local organisms. This review provides a full picture of steroid distribution and ecological risks in China, which may be useful for future monitoring and risk assessment. More studies may focus on the analysis of steroid conjugates, metabolites, solid phase fractions, analytical method development and acute/chronic toxicities in different matrices to pursue a more precise and holistic risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruyue Zhong
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Environment, Tianjin Normal University, 300387 Tianjin, PR China
| | - Hongyan Zou
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Environment, Tianjin Normal University, 300387 Tianjin, PR China.
| | - Jian Gao
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Environment, Tianjin Normal University, 300387 Tianjin, PR China
| | - Tao Wang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Environment, Tianjin Normal University, 300387 Tianjin, PR China
| | - Qingwei Bu
- School of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, China University of Mining & Technology, Beijing 100083, PR China.
| | - Zhong-Liang Wang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Aquatic Science and Technology, Tianjin Chengjian University, Tianjin 300384, China.
| | - Meng Hu
- School of Forensic Medicine, Shanxi Medical University, No. 55 Wenhua Street, Jinzhong 030600, China
| | - Zhanyun Wang
- Chair of Ecological Systems Design, Institute of Environmental Engineering, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
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41
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Abily M, Vicenç A, Gernjak W, Rodríguez-Roda I, Poch M, Corominas L. Climate change impact on EU rivers' dilution capacity and ecological status. WATER RESEARCH 2021; 199:117166. [PMID: 33984584 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Impacts from urban wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) to receiving riverine surface water bodies (SWBs) depend on the load of contaminants discharged, as well as on their dilution capacity. Yet, climate change impacts on such dilution capacity and ultimately on the SWBs ecological status remain unclear. Here, we assess SWBs dilution capacity across the European continent to identify most vulnerable areas using information from centralized European databases. SWBs´ future dilution factor values are estimated based on representative concentration pathway scenarios impacts on rivers flow, and likely changes in European SWBs´ ecological status foretold. Results show that dilution factor in Europe increases by 5.4% in average. Yet, climate change effects are found to lead to a consistent dilution factor decrease for 11% of the 40074 European SWBs receiving WWTP discharge for the early century. This share reaches 17% for the midcentury period. We estimate that up to 42% of the SWBs receiving WWTP discharges and currently reaching a good ecological status show a 0.7 probability to have their ecological status downgraded due to climate change. Sites more vulnerable are located in the Mediterranean countries. Our findings highlight that climate change mitigation is essential for maintaining good ecological status in European SWBs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan Abily
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA). Carrer Emili Grahit 101, 17003 Girona, Spain; University of Girona. Plaça de Sant Domènec 3, 17004 Girona, Spain
| | - Acuña Vicenç
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA). Carrer Emili Grahit 101, 17003 Girona, Spain; University of Girona. Plaça de Sant Domènec 3, 17004 Girona, Spain
| | - Wolfgang Gernjak
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA). Carrer Emili Grahit 101, 17003 Girona, Spain; Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Passeig Lluís Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ignasi Rodríguez-Roda
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA). Carrer Emili Grahit 101, 17003 Girona, Spain; Laboratory of Chemical and Environmental Engineering (LEQUiA), Institute of the Environment, University of Girona, 17071 Girona, Spain
| | - Manuel Poch
- Laboratory of Chemical and Environmental Engineering (LEQUiA), Institute of the Environment, University of Girona, 17071 Girona, Spain
| | - Lluís Corominas
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA). Carrer Emili Grahit 101, 17003 Girona, Spain; University of Girona. Plaça de Sant Domènec 3, 17004 Girona, Spain.
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Kuroda K, Li C, Dhangar K, Kumar M. Predicted occurrence, ecotoxicological risk and environmentally acquired resistance of antiviral drugs associated with COVID-19 in environmental waters. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 776:145740. [PMID: 33647647 PMCID: PMC7883697 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Antiviral drugs have been used to treat the ever-growing number of coronavirus disease, 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Consequently, unprecedented amounts of such drug residues discharging into ambient waters raise concerns on the potential ecotoxicological effects to aquatic lives, as well as development of antiviral drug-resistance in wildlife. Here, we estimated the occurrence, fate and ecotoxicological risk of 11 therapeutic agents suggested as drugs for COVID-19 treatment and their 13 metabolites in wastewater and environmental waters, based on drug consumption, physical-chemical property, and ecotoxicological and pharmacological data for the drugs, with the aid of quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) modelling. Our results suggest that the removal efficiencies at conventional wastewater treatment plants will remain low (<20%) for half of the substances, and consequently, high drug residues (e.g. 7402 ng/L ribavirin, 4231 ng/L favipiravir, 730 ng/L lopinavir, 319 ng/L remdesivir; each combined for both unchanged forms and metabolites; and when each drug is administered to 100 patients out of 100,000 populations on a day) can be present in secondary effluents and persist in the environmental waters. Ecotoxicological risk in receiving river waters can be high (risk quotient >1) by a use of favipiravir, lopinavir, umifenovir and ritonavir, and medium (risk quotient >0.1) by a use of chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, remdesivir, and ribavirin, while the risk will remain low (risk quotient <0.1) for dexamethasone and oseltamivir. The potential of wild animals acquiring antiviral drug resistance was estimated to be low. Our prediction suggests a pressing need for proper usage and waste management of antiviral drugs as well as for improving removal efficiencies of drug residues in wastewater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keisuke Kuroda
- Department of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Toyama Prefectural University, Toyama 939 0398, Japan.
| | - Cong Li
- Department of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Toyama Prefectural University, Toyama 939 0398, Japan
| | - Kiran Dhangar
- Discipline of Earth Science, Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, Gujarat 382 355, India
| | - Manish Kumar
- Discipline of Earth Science, Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, Gujarat 382 355, India
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Koch J, De Schamphelaere KAC. Making Sense of Life-History Effects of the Antidepressant Citalopram in the Copepod Nitocra spinipes Using a Bioenergetics Model. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2021; 40:1928-1939. [PMID: 33760263 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The global consumption of human antidepressants has steadily increased over the last years. The most widely prescribed antidepressants are the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which have been linked to various life-history effects in nontarget organisms. We investigated the effects of the SSRI citalopram hydrobromide on the life history of the copepod Nitocra spinipes. Slight but significant developmental delay effects were observed at nominal concentrations of 0.1 and 1 µg/L, with stronger effects occurring at measured concentrations of 178 µg/L and above. At 77 µg/L and above, a significant increase in adult body length and offspring production/brood was found, although the time between brood releases remained unaffected. The pre-adult surviving fraction was significantly reduced (by 44%) at 765 µg/L. For a mechanistic evaluation of these observations, we used a bioenergetics model for N. spinipes based on the dynamic energy budget theory. Toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic submodels were used to dynamically simulate the chemical uptake and elimination, as well as dose-response relationships for hypothetical physiological modes of action and survival over time. Although none of the commonly invoked physiological modes of action, acting on assimilation, maintenance, growth, or offspring production, could explain the observed combination of effects, a newly proposed physiological mode of action acting on the process of maturation delivered correct predictions in terms of each effect's direction. The model fits could be further improved by allowing for a gentler concentration-effect slope and by adding an auxiliary physiological mode of action acting on the reproduction efficiency. The quantitative explanations provided in the present study offer a starting point for exploratory simulation studies investigating the effects of SSRIs at higher ecological levels. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:1928-1939. © 2021 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josef Koch
- Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, Environmental Toxicology Unit, Ghent University, Ghent, East Flanders, Belgium
| | - Karel A C De Schamphelaere
- Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, Environmental Toxicology Unit, Ghent University, Ghent, East Flanders, Belgium
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Martínez-Pachón D, Echeverry-Gallego RA, Serna-Galvis EA, Villarreal JM, Botero-Coy AM, Hernández F, Torres-Palma RA, Moncayo-Lasso A. Treatment of wastewater effluents from Bogotá - Colombia by the photo-electro-Fenton process: Elimination of bacteria and pharmaceutical. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 772:144890. [PMID: 33578165 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
In this work, the occurrences of bacteria families and relevant pharmaceuticals in municipal wastewater effluents from Bogotá (Colombia), and their treatment by the photo-electro-Fenton process were studied. Twenty-five representative pharmaceuticals (azithromycin, carbamazepine, ciprofloxacin, clarithromycin, diclofenac, enalapril, gabapentin, iopromide, metoprolol, sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim, valsartan, clindamycin, erythromycin, levamisole, lincomycin, norfloxacin, oxolinic acid, phenazone, primidone, salbutamol, sulfadiazine, tetracycline, tramadol, and venlafaxine) were quantified in the effluent by LC-MS/MS analysis. Four of these target compounds (azithromycin, diclofenac, trimethoprim, norfloxacin) were found at concentrations that represent an environmental risk. In addition, several bacteria families related to water and foodborne diseases were identified in such effluents (e.g., Pseudomonadaceae, Campylobacteraceae, Aeromonadaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, and Bacteroidaceae), via shotgun-metagenomic technique. Then, a bench-scale photo-electro-Fenton (PEF) system equipped with a DSA anode (Ti/IrO2-SnO2) and a GDE cathode was applied to treat such effluents. After 60 min, this treatment led to a decrease in the ratio of the bacterial content in the original samples, ~150 thousand times, and a pondered removal of 66.12% for the pharmaceuticals. The study of the process pathways indicated that the bacteria and pharmaceuticals elimination mainly occurred through attacks of hydroxyl and chlorine radicals. Interestingly, in the case of pharmaceuticals, their environmental risk quotients were diminished after the PEF application. Furthermore, the prolonged action of this electrochemical process induced ~15% of mineralization and a significant reduction of the total DNA (removal >85%). Hence, the photo-electro-Fenton process showed to be a promising alternative to deal with municipal effluents for limiting the waterborne diseases, pollution by pharmaceuticals, and mobility/availability of genetic material coming from microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Martínez-Pachón
- Grupo de Investigación en Ciencias Biológicas y Químicas (GIBIQS), Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Antonio Nariño (UAN), Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Rodrigo A Echeverry-Gallego
- Grupo de Investigación en Ciencias Biológicas y Químicas (GIBIQS), Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Antonio Nariño (UAN), Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Efraím A Serna-Galvis
- Grupo de Investigación en Remediación Ambiental y Biocatálisis (GIRAB), Instituto de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Antioquia (UdeA), Calle 70 No. 52-21, Medellín, Colombia
| | - José Miguel Villarreal
- Universidad Nacional de Colombia - Sede Bogotá, Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Química, Carrera 30 # 45-03, Edificio 451 Oficina 101, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Ana María Botero-Coy
- Research Institute for Pesticides and Water (IUPA), University Jaume I, Castellón, Spain
| | - Félix Hernández
- Research Institute for Pesticides and Water (IUPA), University Jaume I, Castellón, Spain
| | - Ricardo A Torres-Palma
- Grupo de Investigación en Remediación Ambiental y Biocatálisis (GIRAB), Instituto de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Antioquia (UdeA), Calle 70 No. 52-21, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Alejandro Moncayo-Lasso
- Grupo de Investigación en Ciencias Biológicas y Químicas (GIBIQS), Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Antonio Nariño (UAN), Bogotá, Colombia.
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45
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Ramírez-Morales D, Masís-Mora M, Beita-Sandí W, Montiel-Mora JR, Fernández-Fernández E, Méndez-Rivera M, Arias-Mora V, Leiva-Salas A, Brenes-Alfaro L, Rodríguez-Rodríguez CE. Pharmaceuticals in farms and surrounding surface water bodies: Hazard and ecotoxicity in a swine production area in Costa Rica. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 272:129574. [PMID: 33485042 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.129574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The presence of pharmaceuticals in the environment is known to have multiple origins; livestock activities comprise one scarcely studied source, both globally and specially in Latin-America. This work aims to study the occurrence of pharmaceuticals in wastewater from swine farms and their surrounding surface waters, in a highland livestock production area of Costa Rica. The monitoring of 70 pharmaceutical active compounds resulted in the detection of 10 molecules in farm wastewater (influents and effluents of the on-farm treatment system), including compounds of animal and human use. A 57% of effluents showed high hazard (ΣHQ > 1), mainly due to the compounds risperidone, ketoprofen, ibuprofen and naproxen. Additionally, ecotoxicological tests with Daphnia magna and Microtox classified at least 21% of the effluents as very toxic (10 < TU ≤ 100); likewise, 86% of effluents exhibited germination index (GI) inhibition values over 90% for Lactuca sativa. Seven molecules were detected in surface water, six of them of human use (1,7-dimethylxanthine, caffeine, cephalexin, carbamazepine, gemfibrozil, ibuprofen) and one (acetaminophen) of dual (human and veterinary) use; nonetheless, most of the detections were found in sampling points closer to human settlements than animal farms. Considering the set of molecules and their distribution, the livestock influence on surface water seems minimal in comparison with the urban influence. Only 16% of surface water samples showed high risk, mainly due to ibuprofen, gemfibrozil and caffeine; similarly, 45% samples presented GI inhibition >20% (no toxicity was determined towards Daphnia magna or Microtox). These findings in surface water suggest an incipient environmental risk in the area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Didier Ramírez-Morales
- Centro de Investigación en Contaminación Ambiental (CICA), Universidad de Costa Rica, 2060, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Mario Masís-Mora
- Centro de Investigación en Contaminación Ambiental (CICA), Universidad de Costa Rica, 2060, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Wilson Beita-Sandí
- Centro de Investigación en Contaminación Ambiental (CICA), Universidad de Costa Rica, 2060, San José, Costa Rica
| | - José R Montiel-Mora
- Centro de Investigación en Contaminación Ambiental (CICA), Universidad de Costa Rica, 2060, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Ericka Fernández-Fernández
- Centro de Investigación en Contaminación Ambiental (CICA), Universidad de Costa Rica, 2060, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Michael Méndez-Rivera
- Centro de Investigación en Contaminación Ambiental (CICA), Universidad de Costa Rica, 2060, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Víctor Arias-Mora
- Centro de Investigación en Contaminación Ambiental (CICA), Universidad de Costa Rica, 2060, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Adrián Leiva-Salas
- Centro de Investigación en Contaminación Ambiental (CICA), Universidad de Costa Rica, 2060, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Laura Brenes-Alfaro
- Centro de Investigación en Contaminación Ambiental (CICA), Universidad de Costa Rica, 2060, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Carlos E Rodríguez-Rodríguez
- Centro de Investigación en Contaminación Ambiental (CICA), Universidad de Costa Rica, 2060, San José, Costa Rica.
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46
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Koutsoumanis K, Allende A, Álvarez‐Ordóñez A, Bolton D, Bover‐Cid S, Chemaly M, Davies R, De Cesare A, Herman L, Hilbert F, Lindqvist R, Nauta M, Ru G, Simmons M, Skandamis P, Suffredini E, Argüello H, Berendonk T, Cavaco LM, Gaze W, Schmitt H, Topp E, Guerra B, Liébana E, Stella P, Peixe L. Role played by the environment in the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) through the food chain. EFSA J 2021; 19:e06651. [PMID: 34178158 PMCID: PMC8210462 DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2021.6651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of food-producing environments in the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in EU plant-based food production, terrestrial animals (poultry, cattle and pigs) and aquaculture was assessed. Among the various sources and transmission routes identified, fertilisers of faecal origin, irrigation and surface water for plant-based food and water for aquaculture were considered of major importance. For terrestrial animal production, potential sources consist of feed, humans, water, air/dust, soil, wildlife, rodents, arthropods and equipment. Among those, evidence was found for introduction with feed and humans, for the other sources, the importance could not be assessed. Several ARB of highest priority for public health, such as carbapenem or extended-spectrum cephalosporin and/or fluoroquinolone-resistant Enterobacterales (including Salmonella enterica), fluoroquinolone-resistant Campylobacter spp., methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and glycopeptide-resistant Enterococcus faecium and E. faecalis were identified. Among highest priority ARGs bla CTX -M, bla VIM, bla NDM, bla OXA -48-like, bla OXA -23, mcr, armA, vanA, cfr and optrA were reported. These highest priority bacteria and genes were identified in different sources, at primary and post-harvest level, particularly faeces/manure, soil and water. For all sectors, reducing the occurrence of faecal microbial contamination of fertilisers, water, feed and the production environment and minimising persistence/recycling of ARB within animal production facilities is a priority. Proper implementation of good hygiene practices, biosecurity and food safety management systems is very important. Potential AMR-specific interventions are in the early stages of development. Many data gaps relating to sources and relevance of transmission routes, diversity of ARB and ARGs, effectiveness of mitigation measures were identified. Representative epidemiological and attribution studies on AMR and its effective control in food production environments at EU level, linked to One Health and environmental initiatives, are urgently required.
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Gursoy-Haksevenler BH, Atasoy-Aytis E, Dilaver M, Yalcinkaya S, Findik-Cinar N, Kucuk E, Pilevneli T, Koc-Orhon A, Siltu E, Gücver SM, Karaaslan Y, Yetis U. A strategy for the implementation of water-quality-based discharge limits for the regulation of hazardous substances. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:24706-24720. [PMID: 32929676 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-10220-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Many developing countries apply technology-based discharge standards that set quantitative limits on pollutant discharges. These standards do not inherently consider ambient constraints and, therefore, cannot guarantee to protect aquatic life from hazardous pollutants. It is a challenge for developing countries to enforce water-quality-based limits for wastewater discharges and guarantee the intended use of water. This study aims to develop a strategy that suits the needs of developing countries for a transition from technology-based discharge standards to water-quality-based discharge limits. To this end, a pilot monitoring program was carried in the Gediz River Basin in Turkey. Surface water, industrial, and urban wastewater samples were collected and analyzed for 45 priority pollutants identified by the European Union and 250 national river basin specific pollutants. The monitoring results revealed that the environmental quality standards (EQSs) were exceeded for 8 priority, and 28 specific pollutants. This finding indicated that the existing technology-based discharge standards are not satisfactory to guarantee the intended water quality, and there is a need for adopting a new strategy for the implementation of water-quality-based discharge limits in Turkey. As a widely applied approach for determining water-quality-based discharge limits, firstly, conservative mass balance with and without consideration of mixing zone was evaluated. The results indicated that this approach was not applicable due to the receiving environment concentrations being higher than the EQSs. As an alternative approach, the dilution methodology, which considers the level of dilution occurring at the immediate discharge point, was tested. The results proved that the dilution methodology is the most appropriate strategy for developing countries with relatively poor surface water quality to improve the water quality to the level where the conservative mass balance approach can be applicable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Betul Hande Gursoy-Haksevenler
- Department of Political Science and Public Administration, Faculty of Political Science, Marmara University, Beykoz, 34820, Istanbul, Turkey.
| | - Elif Atasoy-Aytis
- Environment and Cleaner Production Institute, TUBITAK Marmara Research Center (MRC), Kocaeli, Turkey
| | - Mehmet Dilaver
- Environment and Cleaner Production Institute, TUBITAK Marmara Research Center (MRC), Kocaeli, Turkey
| | - Sedat Yalcinkaya
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Katip Celebi University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Nur Findik-Cinar
- Innovation and Technology Transfer Application and Research Center, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Elif Kucuk
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Tolga Pilevneli
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Aybala Koc-Orhon
- Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, General Directorate of Water Management, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Esra Siltu
- Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, General Directorate of Water Management, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Sibel Mine Gücver
- Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, General Directorate of Water Management, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Yakup Karaaslan
- Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, General Directorate of Water Management, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Ulku Yetis
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey
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48
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Shutler JD, Zaraska K, Holding T, Machnik M, Uppuluri K, Ashton IGC, Migdał Ł, Dahiya RS. Rapid Assessment of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission Risk for Fecally Contaminated River Water. ACS ES&T WATER 2021; 1:949-957. [PMID: 33880460 PMCID: PMC7931626 DOI: 10.1021/acsestwater.0c00246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Following the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), airborne water droplets have been identified as the main transmission route. Identifying and breaking all viable transmission routes are critical to stop future outbreaks, and the potential of transmission by water has been highlighted. By modifying established approaches, we provide a method for the rapid assessment of the risk of transmission posed by fecally contaminated river water and give example results for 39 countries. The country relative risk of transmission posed by fecally contaminated river water is related to the environment and the populations' infection rate and water usage. On the basis of in vitro data and using temperature as the primary controller of survival, we then demonstrate how viral loads likely decrease after a spill. These methods using readily available data suggest that sewage spills into rivers within countries with high infection rates could provide infectious doses of >40 copies per 100 mL of water. The approach, implemented in the supplementary spreadsheet, can provide a fast estimate of the upper and lower viral load ranges following a riverine spill. The results enable evidence-based research recommendations for wastewater epidemiology and could be used to evaluate the significance of fecal-oral transmission within freshwater systems.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Thomas Holding
- University
of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn TR10 9FE, U.K.
| | - Monika Machnik
- Łukasiewicz-Institute
of Electron Technology, 01-919 Warsaw, Poland
| | | | | | - Łukasz Migdał
- University
of Agriculture in Kraków, 30-239 Kraków, Poland
| | - Ravinder S. Dahiya
- Bendable
Electronics and Sensing Technologies (BEST) Group, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, U.K.
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49
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Shutler JD, Zaraska K, Holding T, Machnik M, Uppuluri K, Ashton IGC, Migdał Ł, Dahiya RS. Rapid Assessment of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission Risk for Fecally Contaminated River Water. ACS ES&T WATER 2021; 1:949-957. [PMID: 33880460 DOI: 10.1101/2020.06.17.20133504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Following the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), airborne water droplets have been identified as the main transmission route. Identifying and breaking all viable transmission routes are critical to stop future outbreaks, and the potential of transmission by water has been highlighted. By modifying established approaches, we provide a method for the rapid assessment of the risk of transmission posed by fecally contaminated river water and give example results for 39 countries. The country relative risk of transmission posed by fecally contaminated river water is related to the environment and the populations' infection rate and water usage. On the basis of in vitro data and using temperature as the primary controller of survival, we then demonstrate how viral loads likely decrease after a spill. These methods using readily available data suggest that sewage spills into rivers within countries with high infection rates could provide infectious doses of >40 copies per 100 mL of water. The approach, implemented in the supplementary spreadsheet, can provide a fast estimate of the upper and lower viral load ranges following a riverine spill. The results enable evidence-based research recommendations for wastewater epidemiology and could be used to evaluate the significance of fecal-oral transmission within freshwater systems.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Thomas Holding
- University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn TR10 9FE, U.K
| | - Monika Machnik
- Łukasiewicz-Institute of Electron Technology, 01-919 Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Ian G C Ashton
- University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn TR10 9FE, U.K
| | - Łukasz Migdał
- University of Agriculture in Kraków, 30-239 Kraków, Poland
| | - Ravinder S Dahiya
- Bendable Electronics and Sensing Technologies (BEST) Group, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, U.K
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Freixa A, Perujo N, Langenheder S, Romaní AM. River biofilms adapted to anthropogenic disturbances are more resistant to WWTP inputs. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2021; 96:5884858. [PMID: 32766791 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiaa152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The sensitivity and spatial recovery of river sediment biofilms along 1 km after the input of two wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) located in two river reaches with different degrees of anthropogenic influence were investigated. First, at the upper reach, we observed an inhibition of some microbial functions (microbial respiration and extracellular enzyme activities) and strong shifts in bacterial community composition (16S rRNA gene), whereas an increase in microbial biomass and activity and less pronounced effect on microbial diversity and community composition were seen at the lower reach. Second, at the lower reach we observed a quick spatial recovery (around 200 m downstream of the effluent) as most of the functions and community composition were similar to those from reference sites. On the other hand, bacterial community composition and water quality at the upper reach was still altered 1 km from the WWTP effluent. Our results indicate that biofilms in the upstream sites were more sensitive to the effect of WWTPs due to a lower degree of tolerance after a disturbance than communities located in more anthropogenically impacted sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Freixa
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), Girona, Spain.,GRECO, Institute of Aquatic Ecology, University of Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Núria Perujo
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), Girona, Spain.,GRECO, Institute of Aquatic Ecology, University of Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Silke Langenheder
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Limnology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anna M Romaní
- GRECO, Institute of Aquatic Ecology, University of Girona, Girona, Spain
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