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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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Cecinato A, Romagnoli P, Perilli M, Patriarca C, Balducci C. Psychotropic substances in indoor environments. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2014; 71:88-93. [PMID: 24997305 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2014.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2013] [Revised: 05/30/2014] [Accepted: 06/09/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The presence of drugs in outdoor air has been established, but few investigations have been conducted indoors. This study focused on psychotropic substances (PSs) at three schools, four homes and one office in Rome, Italy. The indoor drug concentrations and the relationships with the outdoor atmosphere were investigated. The optimised monitoring procedure allowed for the determination of cocaine, cannabinoids and particulate fractions of nicotine and caffeine. In-field experiments were performed during the winter, spring and summer seasons. Psychotropic substances were observed in all indoor locations. The indoor concentrations often exceeded those recorded both outdoors at the same sites and at the atmospheric pollution control network stations, indicating that the drugs were released into the air at the inside sites or were more persistent. During winter, the relative concentrations of cannabinol, cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol depended on site and indoor/outdoor location at the site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelo Cecinato
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research (CNR-IIA), Monterotondo Stazione, RM, Italy.
| | - Paola Romagnoli
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research (CNR-IIA), Monterotondo Stazione, RM, Italy
| | - Mattia Perilli
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research (CNR-IIA), Monterotondo Stazione, RM, Italy
| | - Claudia Patriarca
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research (CNR-IIA), Monterotondo Stazione, RM, Italy
| | - Catia Balducci
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research (CNR-IIA), Monterotondo Stazione, RM, Italy
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