1
|
Zeng Y, Liu G, Li J, Zhao Y, Yang W. Ecological threshold of phosphorus load in Baiyangdian Lake based on a PCLake model and ecological network analysis. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 915:170091. [PMID: 38224883 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
Ecological thresholds are a useful indicator for implementing ecological management. Many studies determine the thresholds for nutrient loads in lakes based on the maximum allowable concentration of chlorophyll a (Chla), although this neglects the overall performance of the ecosystem. A PCLake model of Baiyangdian (BYD) Lake in northern China was constructed with six ecological network analysis (ENA) indicators that characterized the ecosystem function, system maturity, and food web structure to quantify the overall status of the BYD ecosystem. To my knowledge, this is the first study on the system level responses of the BYD Lake to phosphorus load interference. Different phosphorus load scenarios were designed to simulate the ecological responses of BYD Lake. The simulated results were employed to calculate the ENA indicators. Ecological thresholds were determined through the driving response relationship between the phosphorus load gradient and the ENA indicators. The results show a non-linear transition response of ENA indicator under phosphorus load gradient. As phosphorus load increases, D/H, SOI, and FCI decreases while A/DC, TPP/TR, and TPP/TB increases. This indicates that the overall structure and function of the ecosystem will deteriorate if phosphorus load increases. The phosphorus load thresholds for the overall performance of BYD Lake were 0.50-1.32 mg m-2 d-1, slightly wider than that of Chla (0.53-1.26 mg m-2 d-1). The model results clearly indicate that there is a time-lag phenomenon at the switch points in the response of ENA indicators compared to that of single functional group. In addition, the A/DC, TPP/TR, SOI, and FCI present more time-lag than that of other ENA indicators. These time-lag effects provide a particular opportunity for biodiversity conservation. Therefore, a possible management strategy is proposed to combine system-level and function group-level thresholds, with the ENA-based threshold as the bottom line and the phytoplankton's threshold as the early-warning indicator. This design is expected to be more precise and efficient, by exploiting the advantages of two thresholds, and may benefit for ecological management practices.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yong Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, Beijing Key Laboratory of Oil & Gas Pollution Control, College of Chemical Engineering and Environment, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, China.
| | - Gaiguo Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, Beijing Key Laboratory of Oil & Gas Pollution Control, College of Chemical Engineering and Environment, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, China
| | - Jiaxin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, Beijing Key Laboratory of Oil & Gas Pollution Control, College of Chemical Engineering and Environment, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, China
| | - Yanwei Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Wei Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Zeng Y, Li J, Zhao Y, Yang W. Community ecological response to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Baiyangdian Lake based on an ecological model. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2024; 33:34-46. [PMID: 38182933 PMCID: PMC10830818 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-023-02722-y] [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] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024]
Abstract
The dynamic response of a single population to chemicals can be represented by a Weibull function. However, it is unclear whether the overall response can still be represented in this manner when scaled up to the community level. In this study, we investigated the responses of biological communities to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by using an ecological model of Baiyangdian Lake in northern China. The community dynamics process was divided into the following three stages. In the first stage, toxicity, played a dominant role and strong, medium, and weak species responses were observed according to the toxicity sensitivity. In the second stage, the dynamic process was dominated by the interaction strength with three alternative dynamic pathways comprising of direct response, no response, or inverse response. In the third stage, the toxicity was again dominant, and the biomasses of all species decreased to extinction. The toxicological dynamics were far more complex at the community level than those at the single species level and they were also influenced by the interaction strength as well as toxicity. The toxicological dynamic process in the community was constantly driven by the competing effects of these two forces. In addition to the total biomass, the interaction strength was identified as a suitable community-level signal because it exhibited good indicator properties regarding ecosystem steady-state transitions. However, we found that food web stability indicators were not suitable for use as community-level signals because they were not sensitive to changes in the ecosystem state. Some ecological management suggestions have been proposed, including medium to long-term monitoring, and reduction of external pollution loads and bioindicators. The results obtained in this study increase our understanding of how chemicals interfere with community dynamics, and the interaction strength and total biomass were identified as useful holistic indicators.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yong Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, Beijing Key Laboratory of Oil & Gas Pollution Control, College of Chemical Engineering and Environment, China University of Petroleum, Beijing, 102249, China.
| | - Jiaxin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, Beijing Key Laboratory of Oil & Gas Pollution Control, College of Chemical Engineering and Environment, China University of Petroleum, Beijing, 102249, China
| | - Yanwei Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Wei Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Zeng Y, Yang W, Zhao Y. Ecological impact of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on Baiyangdian Lake based on an ecosystem model. Ecol Modell 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2022.110103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
|
4
|
Mu H, Li J, Chen L, Hu H, Wang J, Gu C, Zhang XX, Ren HQ, Wu B. Distribution, source and ecological risk of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in Chinese municipal wastewater treatment plants. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 167:107447. [PMID: 35940032 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are sinks of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) generated by human activities and are also sources of PFASs in aquatic environment. This study analyzed distribution, source and ecological risk of 14 PFASs in influent and effluent samples from 148 Chinese municipal WWTPs. Composition and concentrations of PFASs in the influents and effluents had obvious spatial differences. Fluoropolymer processing aids/wrappers and textile treatments/coatings were found to be the dominant sources in WWTP influents, which accounted for 78.34% of all sources. Consumption structure and metal and transportation equipment manufacturing affected the spatial differences of PFASs in WWTPs. Further, mean removal rate of total PFASs in all WWTPs was -5.45%. The conventional treatment processes can not effectively remove PFASs and no significant difference was found among different treatment processes. However, risk quotient values of PFASs in effluents were all below 0.1, indicating low risk or no risk to aquatic organisms. It should be noted that the composition, source and ecological risk of PFASs in east China were different from the other regions, which need more attentions. This study sheds insights into occurrencesof PFASs in municipal WWTPs, which should be helpful for their control strategy development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hongxin Mu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, PR China
| | - Jiahao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, PR China
| | - Ling Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, PR China
| | - Haidong Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, PR China
| | - Jinfeng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, PR China
| | - Cheng Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, PR China
| | - Xu-Xiang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, PR China
| | - Hong-Qiang Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, PR China
| | - Bing Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Martins I, Soares J, Neuparth T, Barreiro AF, Xavier C, Antunes C, Santos MM. Prioritizing the Effects of Emerging Contaminants on Estuarine Production under Global Warming Scenarios. TOXICS 2022; 10:46. [PMID: 35202234 PMCID: PMC8877751 DOI: 10.3390/toxics10020046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Due to non-linear interactions, the effects of contaminant mixtures on aquatic ecosystems are difficult to assess, especially under temperature rise that will likely exacerbate the complexity of the responses. Yet, under the current climatic crisis, assessing the effects of water contaminants and temperature is paramount to understanding the biological impacts of mixtures of stressors on aquatic ecosystems. Here, we use an ecosystem model followed by global sensitivity analysis (GSA) to prioritize the effects of four single emerging contaminants (ECs) and their mixture, combined with two temperature rise scenarios, on the biomass production of a NE Atlantic estuary. Scenarios ran for 10 years with a time-step of 0.1 days. The results indicate that macroinvertebrate biomass was significantly explained by the effect of each single EC and by their mixture but not by temperature. Globally, the most adverse effects were induced by two ECs and by the mixture of the four ECs, although the sensitivity of macroinvertebrates to the tested scenarios differed. Overall, the present approach is useful to prioritize the effects of stressors and assess the sensitivity of the different trophic groups within food webs, which may be of relevance to support decision making linked to the sustainable management of estuaries and other aquatic systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Irene Martins
- CIMAR/CIIMAR—Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Av. General Norton de Matos S/N, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal; (J.S.); (T.N.); (A.F.B.); (C.A.)
| | - Joana Soares
- CIMAR/CIIMAR—Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Av. General Norton de Matos S/N, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal; (J.S.); (T.N.); (A.F.B.); (C.A.)
| | - Teresa Neuparth
- CIMAR/CIIMAR—Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Av. General Norton de Matos S/N, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal; (J.S.); (T.N.); (A.F.B.); (C.A.)
| | - Aldo F. Barreiro
- CIMAR/CIIMAR—Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Av. General Norton de Matos S/N, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal; (J.S.); (T.N.); (A.F.B.); (C.A.)
| | - Cândido Xavier
- FCUP—Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre S/N, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal;
| | - Carlos Antunes
- CIMAR/CIIMAR—Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Av. General Norton de Matos S/N, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal; (J.S.); (T.N.); (A.F.B.); (C.A.)
- Aquamuseu do Rio Minho, Parque do Castelinho, 4920-290 Vila Nova de Cerveira, Portugal
| | - Miguel M. Santos
- CIMAR/CIIMAR—Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Av. General Norton de Matos S/N, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal; (J.S.); (T.N.); (A.F.B.); (C.A.)
- FCUP—Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre S/N, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal;
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Maltby L, Brown R, Faber JH, Galic N, Van den Brink PJ, Warwick O, Marshall S. Assessing chemical risk within an ecosystem services framework: Implementation and added value. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 791:148631. [PMID: 34243988 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 06/13/2021] [Accepted: 06/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
An ecosystem services (ES) approach to chemical risk assessment has many potential advantages, but there are also substantial challenges regarding its implementation. We report the findings of a multi-stakeholder workshop that evaluated the feasibility of adopting an ES approach to chemical risk assessment using currently available tools and data. Also evaluated is the added value such an approach would bring to environmental decision making. The aim was to build consensus across disparate stakeholders and to co-produce a common understanding of the regulatory benefits and feasibility of implementing an ES approach in European chemicals regulation. Workshop discussions were informed by proof of concept studies and resulted in the development of a novel tiered framework for assessing chemical risk to ES delivery. There was consensus on the substantial added value of adopting an ES-based approach for regulatory decision making. Ecosystem services provide a common currency and a 'unifying approach' across environmental compartments, stressors and regulatory frameworks. The ES approach informs prioritisation of risk and remedial action and aids risk communication and risk management. It facilitates a more holistic assessment, enables ES trade-offs to be compared across alternative interventions, and supports comparative risk assessments and a socio-economic analysis of management options and decisions. Key to realising this added value is a shift away from using a single threshold value to categorise risk, towards a consideration of the exposure-effect distribution for individual ES of interest. Also required is the development of an integrated systems-level approach across regulatory frameworks and agreement on specific protection goals and scenarios for framing environmental risk assessments. The need to further develop tools for extrapolating toxicity data to service providers and ES delivery, including logic chains and ecological production functions, was highlighted. Also agreed was the need for methods and metrics for ES valuation to be used in assessing trade-offs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lorraine Maltby
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK.
| | - Ross Brown
- Biosciences, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter, UK
| | - Jack H Faber
- Wageningen Environmental Research, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Nika Galic
- Syngenta Crop Protection LLC., Greensboro, NC, USA
| | - Paul J Van den Brink
- Wageningen Environmental Research, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, the Netherlands; Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA, the Netherlands
| | - Oliver Warwick
- Peter Fisk Associates Ltd, Saxon House, John Roberts Business Park, Pean Hill, Whitstable, Kent CT5 3BJ, UK
| | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Huang C, Zhang J, Hu G, Zhang L, Chen H, Wei D, Cai D, Yu Y, Li X, Ding P, Li J. Characterization of the distribution, source, and potential ecological risk of perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs) in the inland river basin of Longgang District, South China. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 287:117642. [PMID: 34182383 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117642] [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: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies of perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs) in receiving water bodies of typical industrial parks under the low-carbon development mode are scarce. In the present study, 18 PFASs were analyzed in surface water and sediment samples of the inland river basin in Longgang District in 2017. The ΣPFAS concentrations in surface water (drought and rainy periods) and sediment ranged from 15.17 to 948.50 ng/L, 11.56-561.14 ng/L, and 1.07-28.94 ng/g dw, respectively. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) were the dominant pollutants in surface water, with maximum concentrations of 867.68 ng/L, 288.28 ng/L, and 245.09 ng/L, respectively. Meanwhile, PFOS, perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUdA), PFBS, and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) were the major PFASs in the sediment samples, with maximum concentrations of 9.83 ng/g dw, 11.86 ng/g dw, 5.30 ng/g dw, and 5.23 ng/g dw, respectively. In addition, PFOA and PFOS resulted from similar sources in sediment and surface water samples (P < 0.05). The risk quotient value (RQ) results showed that the control of PFOS in the treatment of pollutants in the inland river basin of Longgang District deserves more attention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chushan Huang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou, 510655, China.
| | - Jiaji Zhang
- Central and Southern China Municipal Engineering Design & Research Institute Co., Ltd, Haikou, 570100, China
| | - Guocheng Hu
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou, 510655, China
| | - Lijuan Zhang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou, 510655, China
| | - Haibo Chen
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou, 510655, China; Institute for Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, PR China
| | - Dongyang Wei
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou, 510655, China
| | - Dan Cai
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou, 510655, China
| | - Yunjiang Yu
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou, 510655, China
| | - Xin Li
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou, 510655, China
| | - Ping Ding
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou, 510655, China
| | - Jing Li
- GMU-GIBH Joint School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, PR China
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Li Q, Wang P, Hu B, Wang C, Li D. Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid (PFOS) in Surface Water of China: National Exposure Distributions and Probabilistic Risk Assessment. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2021; 81:470-481. [PMID: 34545443 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-021-00837-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
This study presents a comprehensive application of the probabilistic risk assessment methodology for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), which are two types of perfluoroalkyl acids frequently studied in recent years. The exposure characteristics of PFOA and PFOS in Chinese surface water on a nationwide scale were summarized. Individual predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) and the sensitivities for taxonomic groups of primary producers, invertebrates, and vertebrates were derived by the species sensitivity distributions method. Both hazard quotients (HQs) and joint probability curves were calculated to assess the risks to aquatic organisms. Among seven Chinese river basins, the mean concentrations of PFOA and PFOS in the Yangtze River Basin were the highest (58 ng/L and 22 ng/L, respectively), while the lowest concentrations (< 1 ng/L) were in the Songhua River Basin. The acute PNEC value was 2.43 mg/L for PFOA and 0.96 mg/L for PFOS, and the chronic PNEC value was 0.0067 mg/L for PFOA and 0.0012 mg/L for PFOS, respectively. The sensitivities of different taxonomic groups revealed higher sensitivity of primary producers for PFOA and higher sensitivity of invertebrates for PFOS. The acute HQs of PFOA and PFOS were less than 1. The probabilities of exposure concentrations exceeding 5th percentile toxicity value of the chronic data for all aquatic organisms were 1.65% for PFOA and 1.23% for PFOS, respectively, suggesting a low probability of effects to aquatic organisms. Compared with the risk scenarios worldwide, the ecological risks for chronic effects decreased in the order of PFOS (worldwide) > PFOA (China) > PFOS (China) > PFOA (worldwide).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Li
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China
| | - Peifang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China.
| | - Bin Hu
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China
| | - Chao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China
| | - Dandan Li
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Costa CMDSB, Leite IR, Almeida AK, de Almeida IK. Choosing an appropriate water quality model-a review. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2021; 193:38. [PMID: 33409711 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-020-08786-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Water quality models are quite complex to use even for scientists, requiring knowledge in different areas such as biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering. Hence, the use of these models by a non-specialist is quite complicated, demanding considerable time and research, particularly to choose which model is the most appropriate for a given situation. In this study, a comparative guide is suggested, which can help users select the appropriate water quality model for certain systems and variables. Five models were considered as follows: AQUATOX, CE-QUAL-W2, Spatially Referenced Regression Model on Watershed Attributes (SPARROW), Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), and Water Quality Analysis Simulation Program 7 (WASP7), which have been widely used during the last 5 years. All of these selected models are free and easily available. It was verified that each model has its particularities and applications; however, the AQUATOX model has several advantages compared with the other models analyzed. In addition, to illustrate the availability of the proposed comparative guide, a case study was carried out to demonstrating the selection process of the selected models.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Izabel Rodrigues Leite
- Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Urbanism and Geography, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, 79070-900, Brazil
| | - Aleska Kaufmann Almeida
- Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Urbanism and Geography, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, 79070-900, Brazil
| | - Isabel Kaufmann de Almeida
- Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Urbanism and Geography, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, 79070-900, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Abstract
Indirect effects in ecotoxicology are defined as chemical- or pollutant-induced alterations in the density or behavior of sensitive species that have cascading effects on tolerant species in natural systems. As a result, species interaction networks (e.g., interactions associated with predation or competition) may be altered in such a way as to bring about large changes in populations and/or communities that may further cascade to disrupt ecosystem function and services. Field studies and experimental outcomes as well as models indicate that indirect effects are most likely to occur in communities in which the strength of interactions and the sensitivity to contaminants differ markedly among species, and that indirect effects will vary over space and time as species composition, trophic structure, and environmental factors vary. However, knowledge of indirect effects is essential to improve understanding of the potential for chemical harm in natural systems. For example, indirect effects may confound laboratory-based ecological risk assessment by enhancing, masking, or spuriously indicating the direct effect of chemical contaminants. Progress to better anticipate and interpret the significance of indirect effects will be made as monitoring programs and long-term ecological research are conducted that facilitate critical experimental field and mesocosm investigations, and as chemical transport and fate models, individual-based direct effects models, and ecosystem/food web models continue to be improved and become better integrated.
Collapse
|
11
|
Yeom J, Kim I, Kim M, Cho K, Kim SD. Coupling of the AQUATOX and EFDC Models for Ecological Impact Assessment of Chemical Spill Scenarios in the Jeonju River, Korea. BIOLOGY 2020; 9:biology9100340. [PMID: 33086610 PMCID: PMC7603242 DOI: 10.3390/biology9100340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In this study, an ecological impact was assessed for the short-term leak scenario through the AQUATOX-EFDC model, which combines the proven ecological model AQUATOX with the hydrodynamic model EFDC. A case study of the coupled AQUATOX-EFDC model was conducted for 30-30,000 kg toluene leak scenarios in the Jeonju River in South Korea. A 21-day scenario simulation was conducted, and the impact of the toluene spill accident was evaluated by comparing the biomass between the control simulation and the perturbed simulation. As a result of the simulation, it was found that in the scenario in which 3000 kg of toluene was leaked for a day, a substantial change was expected in the range of 0-640 m from the accident site. Additionally, for a 30,000 kg leak, a substantial change was expected in the range of 0-2300 m from the accident site, and the greatest damage was observed for the fish species group, the top predators. As a result, the AQUATOX-EFDC simulation showed a significant ecological impact, and the proposed model will be helpful to understand the ecological impact and establish the management strategy for the ecological risk of the chemical spill.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jaehoon Yeom
- School of Earth Sciences and Environmental Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju 61005, Korea;
| | - Injeong Kim
- Jeonbuk Department of Inhalation Research, Korea Institute of Toxicology, Jeongeup 56212, Korea;
| | - Minjeong Kim
- School of Urban and Environmental Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan 689-798, Korea; (M.K.); (K.C.)
| | - Kyunghwa Cho
- School of Urban and Environmental Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan 689-798, Korea; (M.K.); (K.C.)
| | - Sang Don Kim
- School of Earth Sciences and Environmental Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju 61005, Korea;
- Center for Chemicals Risk Assessment, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju 61005, Korea
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-62-715-2445
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Park S, Hong Y, Lee J, Kho Y, Ji K. Chronic effects of bisphenol S and bisphenol SIP on freshwater waterflea and ecological risk assessment. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2019; 185:109694. [PMID: 31562998 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.109694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2019] [Revised: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 09/17/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Bisphenol S (BPS) and 4-hydroxyphenyl 4-isoprooxyphenylsulfone (BPSIP) have been used as substitutes for bisphenol A (BPA) owing to increased regulation of BPA in plastics. In this study, long-term toxicity tests of BPS and BPSIP were performed using Daphnia magna and Moina macrocopa. The predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) of BPA, BPS, and BPSIP were derived by the assessment factor (AF) method and the species sensitivity distribution (SSD) method. An ecological risk assessment was performed based on the measured environmental concentrations of BPA in surface water worldwide and the derived PNECs. The chronic NOEC of D. magna was 2.5 mg/L for BPS and 0.5 mg/L for BPSIP, and that of M. macrocopa was 0.03 mg/L for BPS and 0.1 mg/L for BPSIP. The PNECAF was generally one order of magnitude less than the PNECSSD, and the PNEC of BPS was 10 times lower than that of BPA. The hazard quotients of BPA and BPS exceeded 1, indicating that concentrations in ambient water conditions could pose a potential risk to aquatic organisms. Since the use of alternative compounds is increasing, further monitoring data of the water environment and chronic toxicity in various aquatic organisms appears to be necessary.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Suhyun Park
- Institute of Natural Sciences, Yongin University, Yongin, 17092, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeongwan Hong
- Department of Environmental Health, Graduate School at Yongin University, Yongin, 17092, Republic of Korea
| | - Jiyun Lee
- Institute of Natural Sciences, Yongin University, Yongin, 17092, Republic of Korea; Department of Environmental Health, Graduate School at Yongin University, Yongin, 17092, Republic of Korea
| | - Younglim Kho
- Department of Health, Environment and Safety, Eulji University, Seongnam, 13135, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyunghee Ji
- Department of Environmental Health, Graduate School at Yongin University, Yongin, 17092, Republic of Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Research progress on ecological models in the field of water eutrophication: CiteSpace analysis based on data from the ISI web of science database. Ecol Modell 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2019.108779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
|
14
|
A modeling approach for calcium carbonate precipitation in a hypersaline environment: A case study from a shallow, alkaline lake. ECOLOGICAL COMPLEXITY 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecocom.2019.100774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
|
15
|
Hajiahmadi D, Amanollahi J. Fuzzy risk assessment modelling of wild animal life in Bijar protected area. Ecol Modell 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2018.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
|
16
|
Gredelj A, Barausse A, Grechi L, Palmeri L. Deriving predicted no-effect concentrations (PNECs) for emerging contaminants in the river Po, Italy, using three approaches: Assessment factor, species sensitivity distribution and AQUATOX ecosystem modelling. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2018; 119:66-78. [PMID: 29935425 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.06.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2018] [Revised: 06/07/2018] [Accepted: 06/13/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Over the past decades, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) found in environmental matrices worldwide have raised concerns due to their toxicity, ubiquity and persistence. A widespread pollution of groundwater and surface waters caused by PFASs in Northern Italy has been recently discovered, becoming a major environmental issue, also because the exact risk for humans and nature posed by this contamination is unclear. Here, the Po River in Northern Italy was selected as a study area to assess the ecological risk posed by perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs), a class of PFASs, considering the noticeable concentration of various PFAAs detected in the Po waters over the past years. Moreover, the Po has a large environmental and socio-economic importance: it is the largest Italian river and drains a densely inhabited, intensely cultivated and heavily industrialized watershed. Predicted no-effect concentrations (PNECs) were derived using two regulated methodologies, assessment factors (AFs) and species sensitivity distribution (SSD), which rely on published ecotoxicological laboratory tests. Results were compared to those of a novel methodology using the mechanistic ecosystem model AQUATOX to compute PNECs in an ecologically-sound manner, i.e. considering physical, chemical, biological and ecological processes in the river. The model was used to quantify how the biomasses of the modelled taxa in the river food web deviated from natural conditions due to varying inputs of the chemicals. PNEC for each chemical was defined as the lowest chemical concentration causing a non-negligible yearly biomass loss for a simulated taxon with respect to a control simulation. The investigated PFAAs were Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) as long-chained compounds, and Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) and Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS) as short-chained homologues. Two emerging contaminants, Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonate (LAS) and triclosan, were also studied to assess the performance of the three methodologies for chemicals whose ecotoxicology and environmental fate are well-studied. The most precautionary approach was the use of AFs generally followed by SSD and then AQUATOX, except for PFOS, for which AQUATOX yielded a much lower PNEC compared to the other approaches since, unlike the other two methodologies, it explicitly simulates sublethal toxicity and indirect ecological effects. Our findings highlight that neglecting the role of ecological processes when extrapolating from laboratory tests to ecosystems can result in under-protective threshold concentrations for chemicals. Ecosystem models can complement existing laboratory-based methodologies, and the use of multiple methods for deriving PNECs can help to clarify uncertainty in ecological risk estimates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Gredelj
- Environmental Systems Analysis Lab (LASA) Research Group, Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, via Marzolo 9, 35131 Padova, Italy.
| | - Alberto Barausse
- Environmental Systems Analysis Lab (LASA) Research Group, Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, via Marzolo 9, 35131 Padova, Italy.
| | - Laura Grechi
- Environmental Systems Analysis Lab (LASA) Research Group, Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, via Marzolo 9, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Luca Palmeri
- Environmental Systems Analysis Lab (LASA) Research Group, Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, via Marzolo 9, 35131 Padova, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Arlos MJ, Parker WJ, Bicudo JR, Law P, Hicks KA, Fuzzen MLM, Andrews SA, Servos MR. Modeling the exposure of wild fish to endocrine active chemicals: Potential linkages of total estrogenicity to field-observed intersex. WATER RESEARCH 2018; 139:187-197. [PMID: 29649703 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2018.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2017] [Revised: 02/21/2018] [Accepted: 04/02/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Decades of studies on endocrine disruption have suggested the need to manage the release of key estrogens from municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). However, the proposed thresholds are below the detection limits of most routine chemical analysis, thereby restricting the ability of watershed managers to assess the environmental exposure appropriately. In this study, we demonstrated the utility of a mechanistic model to address the data gaps on estrogen exposure. Concentrations of the prominent estrogenic contaminants in wastewaters (estrone, estradiol, and ethinylestradiol) were simulated in the Grand River in southern Ontario (Canada) for nine years, including a period when major WWTP upgrades occurred. The predicted concentrations expressed as total estrogenicity (E2 equivalent concentrations) were contrasted to a key estrogenic response (i.e., intersex) in rainbow darter (Etheostoma caeruleum), a wild sentinel fish species. A predicted total estrogenicity in the river of ≥10 ng/L E2 equivalents was associated with high intersex incidence and severity, whereas concentrations <0.1 ng/L E2 equivalents were associated with minimal intersex expression. Exposure to a predicted river concentration of 0.4 ng/L E2 equivalents, the environmental quality standard (EQS) proposed by the European Union for estradiol, was associated with 34% (95% CI:30-38) intersex incidence and a very low severity score of 0.6 (95% CI:0.5-0.7). This exposure is not predicted to cause adverse effects in rainbow darter. The analyses completed in this study were only based on the predicted presence of three major estrogens (E1, E2, EE2), so caution must be exercised when interpreting the results. Nevertheless, this study illustrates the use of models for exposure assessment, especially when measured data are not available.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maricor J Arlos
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada.
| | - Wayne J Parker
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - José R Bicudo
- Region of Waterloo, Kitchener, Ontario, N2G 4J3, Canada
| | - Pam Law
- Region of Waterloo, Kitchener, Ontario, N2G 4J3, Canada
| | - Keegan A Hicks
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Meghan L M Fuzzen
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Susan A Andrews
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1S4, Canada
| | - Mark R Servos
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Zhang Y, Liu Y, Niu Z, Jin S. Ecological risk assessment of toxic organic pollutant and heavy metals in water and sediment from a landscape lake in Tianjin City, China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2017; 24:12301-12311. [PMID: 28357793 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-017-8906-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2016] [Accepted: 03/21/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
To estimate the ecological risk of toxic organic pollutant (formaldehyde) and heavy metals (mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and chromium (Cr)) in water and sediment from a landscape Lake in Tianjin City, an ecological risk assessment was performed. The risk quotient (RQ) method and the AQUATOX model were used to assess the ecological risk of formaldehyde in landscape water. Meanwhile, the RQ method and the potential ecological risk index method were used to assess the ecological risk of four heavy metals in water and sediment from the studied landscape lake, respectively. The results revealed that the maximum concentration of formaldehyde in landscape water was lower than the environmental quality standards of surface water in China. The maximum simulated concentrations of formaldehyde in phytoplankton and invertebrates were 3.15 and 22.91 μg/L, respectively, which were far less than its toxicity data values (1000 and 510 μg/L, respectively), suggesting that formaldehyde in landscape water was at a safe level for aquatic organisms. The RQ model indicated that the risks of phytoplankton and invertebrates were higher than that of fish posed by Hg and Cd in landscape water, and the risks from As and Cr were acceptable for all test organisms. Cd is the most important pollution factor among all heavy metals in sediment from studied landscape lake, and the pollution factor sequence of heavy metals was Hg > As > Cr > Cd. The values of risk index (RI) for four heavy metals in samples a and b were 43.48 and 72.66, which were much lower than the threshold value (150), suggesting that the ecological risk posed by heavy metals in sediment was negligible.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ying Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Yuanyuan Liu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Zhiguang Niu
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China.
| | - Shaopei Jin
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Pivato A, Lavagnolo MC, Manachini B, Vanin S, Raga R, Beggio G. Ecological risk assessment of agricultural soils for the definition of soil screening values: A comparison between substance-based and matrix-based approaches. Heliyon 2017; 3:e00284. [PMID: 28409185 PMCID: PMC5382141 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2017.e00284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2016] [Revised: 12/05/2016] [Accepted: 03/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The Italian legislation on contaminated soils does not include the Ecological Risk Assessment (ERA) and this deficiency has important consequences for the sustainable management of agricultural soils. The present research compares the results of two ERA procedures applied to agriculture (i) one based on the "substance-based" approach and (ii) a second based on the "matrix-based" approach. In the former the soil screening values (SVs) for individual substances were derived according to institutional foreign guidelines. In the latter, the SVs characterizing the whole-matrix were derived originally by the authors by means of experimental activity. The results indicate that the "matrix-based" approach can be efficiently implemented in the Italian legislation for the ERA of agricultural soils. This method, if compared to the institutionalized "substance based" approach is (i) comparable in economic terms and in testing time, (ii) is site specific and assesses the real effect of the investigated soil on a battery of bioassays, (iii) accounts for phenomena that may radically modify the exposure of the organisms to the totality of contaminants and (iv) can be considered sufficiently conservative.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Pivato
- DII − Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, via Marzolo n 9, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Lavagnolo
- DII − Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, via Marzolo n 9, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Barbara Manachini
- Dipartimento Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farmaceutiche “STEBICEF” Via Archirafi, 18 − 90123 Palermo, Italy
| | - Stefano Vanin
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Queensgate, Huddersfield HD1 3DH, UK
| | - Roberto Raga
- DII − Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, via Marzolo n 9, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Giovanni Beggio
- DII − Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, via Marzolo n 9, 35131 Padova, Italy
| |
Collapse
|