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Duarte C, Di Lorenzo T, Reboleira ASPS. Environmental risk of diclofenac in European groundwaters and implications for environmental quality standards. Sci Rep 2024; 14:20689. [PMID: 39237757 PMCID: PMC11377587 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-71747-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2024] [Accepted: 08/30/2024] [Indexed: 09/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Groundwater harbours unique species adapted to perpetual darkness. Groundwater fauna plays a crucial role in global ecosystem services, but contamination poses a threat to this keystone ecosystem. Diclofenac is a common non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug of particular concern, due to its presence in both surface and groundwater. We assess the environmental risk of diclofenac in European groundwaters using different scenarios, analyzing Measured Environmental Concentrations (MECs) of diclofenac and estimating the Predicted No Effect Concentration (PNECs) through two approaches: considering the sensitivity of the groundwater crustacean Proasellus lusitanicus (Isopoda: Asellidae), and using surface water species as proxies. Our results show that scenarios based on surrogate species predict that groundwater ecosystems are at risk due to diclofenac contamination. On the other hand, the MECs of diclofenac were consistently lower than the PNEC of P. lusitanicus, suggesting that the current MECs do not pose a significant threat to this groundwater-adapted species. However, risk scenarios differ considering the sensitivity of other groundwater species, emphasizing the importance of considering multiple species' sensitivities in risk assessment. Therefore, we recommend establishing an environmental quality standard for diclofenac in groundwater at 5 ng/L, a value that accounts the need for precautionary measures to safeguard groundwater ecosystems, essential for preserving their unique biota and services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cláudia Duarte
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, and Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016, Campo Grande, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Tiziana Di Lorenzo
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, and Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016, Campo Grande, Lisbon, Portugal
- Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems of the National Research Council of Italy (IRET-CNR), Via Madonna del Piano 10, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019, Florence, Italy
- NBFC (National Biodiversity Future Center), 90133, Palermo, Italy
- Department of Cluj-Napoca, "Emil Racoviţă" Institute of Speleology, Str. Clinicilor 5, 400006, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Ana Sofia P S Reboleira
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, and Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016, Campo Grande, Lisbon, Portugal.
- National Museum of Natural History and Science, University of Lisbon, Rua da Escola Politécnica 56, 1250-102, Lisboa, Portugal.
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Selak A, Reberski JL, Klobučar G. Assessing the persistence, mobility and toxicity of emerging organic contaminants in Croatian karst springs used for drinking water supply. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 903:166240. [PMID: 37572907 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023]
Abstract
Emerging organic contaminants (EOCs) are a vast group of often (very)persistent, (very)mobile and toxic (PMT/vPvM) substances that are continuously released worldwide, posing environmental and human health risks. Research on occurrence and behavior of EOCs in karst is in its infancy, thus policy measures and legislative control of these compounds in groundwater are still lacking. The Dinaric karst aquifers are an essential source of drinking water for almost half of Croatia's territory. Intense karstification, complex heterogeneous characteristics, and high fracture-cavernous porosity result in rapid, far-reaching groundwater flow and large karst springs, but also high intrinsic vulnerability due to low contaminant attenuation. To prioritize future monitoring and establish appropriate thresholds for EOCs detected in Croatian karst drinking water resources, in silico tools based on quantitative structure-activity relationships were used in PBT (persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity) and PMT/vPvM analyzes, while toxicological assessment helped identify potential threats to human health. In 33 samples collected during two sampling campaigns in 2019 at 16 karst springs and one lake used for water supply, we detected 65 compounds (EOCs and some legacy chemicals), of which 7 were classified as potentially PBT or vPvB compounds (PFOS, PFHxS, PFHpA, PFOA, PFNA, boscalid, and azoxystrobin), while only 2 compounds were assessed as not PMT/vPvM. This finding underlines that most of detected EOCs potentially endanger karst (ground)water ecosystems and important drinking water sources in Croatia. Comparison of maximum concentrations with existing or derived drinking water guideline values revealed how 2 of 65 detected compounds represent a potential risk to human health at lifelong exposure (sulfadiazine and hydrochlorothiazide), while 5 chemicals warrant additional human health impacts studies and groundwater monitoring. Although most compounds do not individually pose a significant risk to human health at current environmental levels, their potential synergistic and long-term effects remain unknown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Selak
- HGI-CGS - Croatian Geological Survey, Department of Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology, Sachsova 2, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Jasmina Lukač Reberski
- HGI-CGS - Croatian Geological Survey, Department of Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology, Sachsova 2, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Göran Klobučar
- PMF - Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Division of Zoology, Rooseveltov trg 6, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
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de Palma Lopes LF, Rocha GS, de Medeiros JF, Montagner CC, Espíndola ELG. The acute effects of fipronil and 2,4-D, individually and in mixture: a threat to the freshwater Calanoida copepod Notodiaptomus iheringi. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:80335-80348. [PMID: 37294488 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-28066-y] [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: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The magnitude of copepods' responses to pesticides, individually and in mixture, is little understood. The aims of this study were to evaluate: (i) the effects of the pesticides fipronil and 2,4-D, individually and in mixture, on the freshwater copepod Notodiaptomus iheringi; and (ii) the survival and the feeding rate of copepods after the exposure. Acute toxicity tests using the commercial formulations of fipronil and 2,4-D, individually and in mixture, were performed. The LC10-48h, LC20-48h, and LC50-48h of fipronil to N. iheringi were 2.38 ± 0.48, 3.08 ± 1.14, and 4.97 ± 3.30 μg L-1, respectively. For 2,4-D the LC10-48h, LC20-48h, and LC50-48h were 371.18 ± 29.20, 406.93 ± 53.77, and 478.24 ± 107.77 mg L-1, respectively. Morphological damages on the copepods exposed to pesticides were observed at all concentrations. Fungal filaments covering dead organisms were presented at the treatment highest concentration (R5:7.43 ± 2.78 μg L-1 fipronil). The mixture of the pesticides presented synergistic effects on the mortality of N. iheringi. Post-exposure tests showed no difference between the treatments and the control on the mortality and on the feeding rate for 4 h. However, since delayed toxicity of pesticides can occur, longer post-exposure tests using N. iheringi should be tested. N. iheringi is a key species in the aquatic Brazilian ecosystem and showed sensitivity to fipronil and 2,4-D; thus, more studies with this species assessing other responses are recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laís Fernanda de Palma Lopes
- NEEA/CRHEA/SHS, São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo, Avenida Trabalhador São Carlense, 400, São Carlos, São Paulo, 13560-970, Brazil.
| | - Giseli Swerts Rocha
- NEEA/CRHEA/SHS, São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo, Avenida Trabalhador São Carlense, 400, São Carlos, São Paulo, 13560-970, Brazil
| | - Jéssyca Ferreira de Medeiros
- LQA, Analytical Chemistry Department, Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas, Cidade Universitária Zeferino Vaz - Barão Geraldo, Campinas, São Paulo, 13083-970, Brazil
| | - Cassiana Carolina Montagner
- LQA, Analytical Chemistry Department, Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas, Cidade Universitária Zeferino Vaz - Barão Geraldo, Campinas, São Paulo, 13083-970, Brazil
| | - Evaldo Luiz Gaeta Espíndola
- NEEA/CRHEA/SHS, São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo, Avenida Trabalhador São Carlense, 400, São Carlos, São Paulo, 13560-970, Brazil
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Duarte C, Gravato C, Di Lorenzo T, Reboleira ASPS. Acetaminophen induced antioxidant and detoxification responses in a stygobitic crustacean. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 330:121749. [PMID: 37127234 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
A variety of veterinary and human medicinal products (VHMPs) are found in groundwater, an often-neglected habitat inhabited by species with unique traits, stygobitic species. It is crucial to understand the effect of VHMPs on stygobitic species because they may respond differently to stressors than surface species. Our hypothesis is that groundwater species may be more susceptible to environmental contaminants due to less plasticity in their detoxification response and acquisition of energy because subterranean habitats are more stable and isolated from anthropogenic activities. We performed a battery of biomarkers associated with important physiological functions on the stygobitic asellid crustacean Proasellus lusitanicus, after a 14-day exposure to acetaminophen, a commonly used pharmaceutical and pollutant of groundwaters. Our results show an decrease in total glutathione levels and an increase in glutathione S-transferase activity, suggesting a successful detoxification response. This helps explaining why acetaminophen did not cause oxidative damage, as well as had no effect cholinesterase activity nor in aerobic production of energy. This study shows the remarkable capacity of P. lusitanicus to tolerate sublethal concentrations of VHMP acetaminophen. Most ecotoxicological studies on stygobitic species focused on the lethal effects of these compound. The present study focus on consequences at sublethal concentrations. Future studies should assess the stress levels induced to better predict and estimate the impacts of contaminants on groundwater ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cláudia Duarte
- Departamento de Biologia Animal, and Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Carlos Gravato
- Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Tiziana Di Lorenzo
- Departamento de Biologia Animal, and Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal; Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems of the National Research Council of Italy (IRET-CNR), Via Madonna Del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy; National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), Palermo, 90133, Italy
| | - Ana Sofia P S Reboleira
- Departamento de Biologia Animal, and Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal; Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Becher J, Englisch C, Griebler C, Bayer P. Groundwater fauna downtown - Drivers, impacts and implications for subsurface ecosystems in urban areas. JOURNAL OF CONTAMINANT HYDROLOGY 2022; 248:104021. [PMID: 35605354 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconhyd.2022.104021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Groundwater fauna (stygofauna) comprises organisms that have adapted to the dark subterranean environment over a course of thousands and millions of years, typically having slow metabolisms and long life cycles. They are crucial players in the groundwater of oxygenic aquifers, and contribute to various ecosystem services. Today's knowledge of their sensitivity to anthropogenic impacts is incomplete and a critical analysis of the general relevance of local findings is lacking. In this review, we focus on those areas with the highest interference between humans and stygofauna: cities. Here is where local pollution by various contaminants and heat strongly stresses the unique groundwater ecosystems. It is demonstrated that it is difficult to discern the influence of individual factors from the findings reported in field studies, and to extrapolate laboratory results to field conditions. The effects of temperature increase and chemical pollution vary strongly between tested species and test conditions. In general, previous findings indicate that heating, especially in the long-term, will increase mortality, and less adapted species are at risk of vanishing from their habitats. The same may be true for salinity caused by road de-icing in cold urban areas. Furthermore, high sensitivities were shown for ammonium, which will probably be even more pronounced with rising temperatures resulting in altered biodiversity patterns. Toxicity of heavy metals, for a variety of invertebrates, increases with time and chronic exposure. Our current knowledge reveals diverse potential impacts on groundwater fauna by urban pollution, but our insights gained so far can only be validated by standardized and long-term test concepts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Becher
- Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Institute of Geosciences and Geography, Department of Applied Geology, Von-Seckendorff-Platz 3, 06120 Halle, Germany.
| | - Constanze Englisch
- University of Vienna, Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, Division of Limnology, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Christian Griebler
- University of Vienna, Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, Division of Limnology, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Peter Bayer
- Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Institute of Geosciences and Geography, Department of Applied Geology, Von-Seckendorff-Platz 3, 06120 Halle, Germany
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Di Cicco M, Di Lorenzo T, Fiasca B, Ruggieri F, Cimini A, Panella G, Benedetti E, Galassi DMP. Effects of diclofenac on the swimming behavior and antioxidant enzyme activities of the freshwater interstitial crustacean Bryocamptus pygmaeus (Crustacea, Harpacticoida). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 799:149461. [PMID: 34426329 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149461] [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: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/31/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Diclofenac (DCF) is one of the most widespread pharmaceutical compounds found in freshwaters as a pseudo-persistent pollutant due to its continuous release from point and diffuse sources, being its removal in Wastewater Treatment Plants incomplete. Moreover, DCF is particularly persistent in interstitial habitats and potentially toxic for the species that spend their whole life cycle among the same sediment grains. This study is aimed at offering a first contribution to the assessment of DCF effects on freshwater invertebrate species living in the interstitial habitats of springs, rivers, lakes and groundwaters. The Crustacea Copepoda are one of the main components of the freshwater interstitial communities, with the primacy taken by the worm-like and small-sized harpacticoids. A sub-lethal concentration of 50 μg L-1 DCF significantly affected six out of the eight behavior parameters of the burrower/interstitial crustacean harpacticoid Bryocamptus pygmaeus recorded by video tracking analysis. DCF exposure reduced swimming speed, swimming activity, exploration ability and thigmotaxis, and increased swimming path tortuosity. The biochemical approach revealed a reduced level of the mitochondrial superoxide dismutase 2 in individuals exposed to DCF. It could be explained by a decline in mitochondrial performance or by a reduced number of functional mitochondria. Since mitochondrial dysfunction may determine ATP reduction, it comes that less energy is produced for maintaining the cell functions of the DCF-exposed individuals. In addition, the increasing energy demand for the detoxification process further contributes to decrease the total energetic budget allocated for other physiological activities. These observations can explain the changes we have observed in the swimming behavior of the copepod B. pygmaeus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattia Di Cicco
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Tiziana Di Lorenzo
- Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems of the National Research Council, Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy; "Emil Racovita" Institute of Speleology, Romanian Academy, Clinicilor 5, Cluj Napoca 400006, Romania
| | - Barbara Fiasca
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Ruggieri
- Department of Physical and Chemical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Annamaria Cimini
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Gloria Panella
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Benedetti
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Diana M P Galassi
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy.
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