1
|
de Oliveira Galvão MF, Scaramboni C, Ünlü Endirlik B, Vieira Silva A, Öberg M, Pozza SA, Watanabe T, de Oliveira Rodrigues PC, de Castro Vasconcellos P, Sadiktsis I, Dreij K. Application of an in vitro new approach methodology to determine relative cancer potency factors of air pollutants based on whole mixtures. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 190:108942. [PMID: 39151266 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108942] [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: 04/22/2024] [Revised: 07/08/2024] [Accepted: 08/06/2024] [Indexed: 08/19/2024]
Abstract
Air pollution is an example of a complex environmental mixture with different biological activities, making risk assessment challenging. Current cancer risk assessment strategies that focus on individual pollutants may overlook interactions among them, potentially underestimating health risks. Therefore, a shift towards the evaluation of whole mixtures is essential for accurate risk assessment. This study presents the application of an in vitro New Approach Methodology (NAM) to estimate relative cancer potency factors of whole mixtures, with a focus on organic pollutants associated with air particulate matter (PM). Using concentration-dependent activation of the DNA damage-signaling protein checkpoint kinase 1 (pChk1) as a readout, we compared two modeling approaches, the Hill equation and the benchmark dose (BMD) method, to derive Mixture Potency Factors (MPFs). MPFs were determined for five PM2.5 samples covering sites with different land uses and our historical pChk1 data for PM10 samples and Standard Reference Materials. Our results showed a concentration-dependent increase in pChk1 by all samples and a higher potency compared to the reference compound benzo[a]pyrene. The MPFs derived from the Hill equation ranged from 128 to 9793, while those from BMD modeling ranged from 70 to 303. Despite the differences in magnitude, a consistency in the relative order of potencies was observed. Notably, PM2.5 samples from sites strongly impacted by biomass burning had the highest MPFs. Although discrepancies were observed between the two modeling approaches for whole mixture samples, relative potency factors for individual PAHs were more consistent. We conclude that differences in the shape of the concentration-response curves and how MPFs are derived explain the observed differences in model agreement for complex mixtures and individual PAHs. This research contributes to the advancement of predictive toxicology and highlights the feasibility of transitioning from assessing individual agents to whole mixture assessment for accurate cancer risk assessment and public health protection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Caroline Scaramboni
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Philosophy, Science and Letters at Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, 14040-901, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Burcu Ünlü Endirlik
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Pharmaceutical Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Erciyes University, 38280, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Antero Vieira Silva
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mattias Öberg
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Simone Andréa Pozza
- Faculdade de Tecnologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp), Limeira, Brazil
| | - Tetsushi Watanabe
- Department of Public Health, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Kyoto, Japan
| | | | | | - Ioannis Sadiktsis
- Department of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kristian Dreij
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Shahid N, Siddique A, Liess M. Predicting the Combined Effects of Multiple Stressors and Stress Adaptation in Gammarus pulex. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:12899-12908. [PMID: 38984974 PMCID: PMC11270985 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c02014] [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: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Abstract
Global change confronts organisms with multiple stressors causing nonadditive effects. Persistent stress, however, leads to adaptation and related trade-offs. The question arises: How can the resulting effects of these contradictory processes be predicted? Here we show that Gammarus pulex from agricultural streams were more tolerant to clothianidin (mean EC50 148 μg/L) than populations from reference streams (mean EC50 67 μg/L). We assume that this increased tolerance results from a combination of physiological acclimation, epigenetic effects, and genetic evolution, termed as adaptation. Further, joint exposure to pesticide mixture and temperature stress led to synergistic interactions of all three stressors. However, these combined effects were significantly stronger in adapted populations as shown by the model deviation ratio (MDR) of 4, compared to reference populations (MDR = 2.7). The pesticide adaptation reduced the General-Stress capacity of adapted individuals, and the related trade-off process increased vulnerability to combined stress. Overall, synergistic interactions were stronger with increasing total stress and could be well predicted by the stress addition model (SAM). In contrast, traditional models such as concentration addition (CA) and effect addition (EA) substantially underestimated the combined effects. We conclude that several, even very disparate stress factors, including population adaptations to stress, can act synergistically. The strong synergistic potential underscores the critical importance of correctly predicting multiple stresses for risk assessment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Naeem Shahid
- System-Ecotoxicology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research −
UFZ, Permoserstraße 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
- Department
of Evolutionary Ecology and Environmental Toxicology, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60629 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Ayesha Siddique
- System-Ecotoxicology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research −
UFZ, Permoserstraße 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
- Institute
for Environmental Research (Biology V), RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Matthias Liess
- System-Ecotoxicology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research −
UFZ, Permoserstraße 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
- Institute
for Environmental Research (Biology V), RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Alvarez-Mora I, Arturi K, Béen F, Buchinger S, El Mais AER, Gallampois C, Hahn M, Hollender J, Houtman C, Johann S, Krauss M, Lamoree M, Margalef M, Massei R, Brack W, Muz M. Progress, applications, and challenges in high-throughput effect-directed analysis for toxicity driver identification - is it time for HT-EDA? Anal Bioanal Chem 2024:10.1007/s00216-024-05424-4. [PMID: 38992177 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-024-05424-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2024] [Revised: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
The rapid increase in the production and global use of chemicals and their mixtures has raised concerns about their potential impact on human and environmental health. With advances in analytical techniques, in particular, high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), thousands of compounds and transformation products with potential adverse effects can now be detected in environmental samples. However, identifying and prioritizing the toxicity drivers among these compounds remain a significant challenge. Effect-directed analysis (EDA) emerged as an important tool to address this challenge, combining biotesting, sample fractionation, and chemical analysis to unravel toxicity drivers in complex mixtures. Traditional EDA workflows are labor-intensive and time-consuming, hindering large-scale applications. The concept of high-throughput (HT) EDA has recently gained traction as a means of accelerating these workflows. Key features of HT-EDA include the combination of microfractionation and downscaled bioassays, automation of sample preparation and biotesting, and efficient data processing workflows supported by novel computational tools. In addition to microplate-based fractionation, high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) offers an interesting alternative to HPLC in HT-EDA. This review provides an updated perspective on the state-of-the-art in HT-EDA, and novel methods/tools that can be incorporated into HT-EDA workflows. It also discusses recent studies on HT-EDA, HT bioassays, and computational prioritization tools, along with considerations regarding HPTLC. By identifying current gaps in HT-EDA and proposing new approaches to overcome them, this review aims to bring HT-EDA a step closer to monitoring applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Iker Alvarez-Mora
- Department of Exposure Science, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, UFZ, Leipzig, Germany.
- Research Centre for Experimental Marine Biology and Biotechnology (PIE), University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Plentzia, Basque Country, Spain.
| | - Katarzyna Arturi
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Frederic Béen
- KWR Water Research Institute, Nieuwegein, the Netherlands
- Chemistry for Environment and Health, Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment (A-LIFE), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Sebastian Buchinger
- Department of Biochemistry and Ecotoxicology, Federal Institute of Hydrology (BfG), Koblenz, Germany
| | | | | | - Meike Hahn
- Department of Biochemistry and Ecotoxicology, Federal Institute of Hydrology (BfG), Koblenz, Germany
| | - Juliane Hollender
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
- Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, ETH Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Corine Houtman
- Chemistry for Environment and Health, Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment (A-LIFE), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- The Water Laboratory, Haarlem, the Netherlands
| | - Sarah Johann
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology and Environmental Toxicology, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany
| | - Martin Krauss
- Department of Exposure Science, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Marja Lamoree
- Chemistry for Environment and Health, Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment (A-LIFE), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Maria Margalef
- Chemistry for Environment and Health, Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment (A-LIFE), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Riccardo Massei
- Department of Monitoring and Exploration Technologies, Research Data Management Team (RDM), Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Ecotoxicology, Group of Integrative Toxicology (iTox), Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Werner Brack
- Department of Exposure Science, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology and Environmental Toxicology, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany
| | - Melis Muz
- Department of Exposure Science, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Rodríguez EM. Endocrine disruption in crustaceans: New findings and perspectives. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2024; 585:112189. [PMID: 38365065 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2024.112189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
A significant advance has been made, especially during the last two decades, in the knowledge of the effects on crustacean species of pollutants proven to be endocrine disruptors in vertebrates. Such effects have been also interpreted in the light of recent studies on crustacean endocrinology. Year after year, the increased number of reports refer to the effects of endocrine disruptors on several processes hormonally controlled. This review is aimed at summarizing and discussing the effects of several kinds of endocrine disruptors on the hormonal control of reproduction (including gonadal growth, sexual differentiation, and offspring development), molting, and intermediate metabolism of crustaceans. A final discussion about the state of the art, as well as the perspective of this toxicological research line is given.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Enrique M Rodríguez
- Universidad de Buenos Aires. CONICET. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada (IBBEA). Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental. Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Zhou J, He X, Zhang Z, Wu G, Liu P, Wang D, Shi P, Zhang XX. Chemical-toxicological insights and process comparison for estrogenic activity mitigation in municipal wastewater treatment plants. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 253:121304. [PMID: 38364463 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121304] [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: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Efforts in water ecosystem conservation require an understanding of causative factors and removal efficacies associated with mixture toxicity during wastewater treatment. This study conducts a comprehensive investigation into the interplay between wastewater estrogenic activity and 30 estrogen-like endocrine disrupting chemicals (EEDCs) across 12 municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) spanning four seasons in China. Results reveal substantial estrogenic activity in all WWTPs and potential endocrine-disrupting risks in over 37.5 % of final effluent samples, with heightened effects during colder seasons. While phthalates are the predominant EEDCs (concentrations ranging from 86.39 %) for both estrogenic activity and major EEDCs (phthalates and estrogens), with the secondary and tertiary treatment segments contributing 88.59 ± 8.12 % and 11.41 ± 8.12 %, respectively. Among various secondary treatment processes, the anaerobic/anoxic/oxic-membrane bioreactor (A/A/O-MBR) excels in removing both estrogenic activity and EEDCs. In tertiary treatment, removal efficiencies increase with the inclusion of components involving physical, chemical, and biological removal principles. Furthermore, correlation and multiple liner regression analysis establish a significant (p < 0.05) positive association between solid retention time (SRT) and removal efficiencies of estrogenic activity and EEDCs within WWTPs. This study provides valuable insights from the perspective of prioritizing key pollutants, the necessity of integrating more efficient secondary and tertiary treatment processes, along with adjustments to operational parameters like SRT, to mitigate estrogenic activity in municipal WWTPs. This contribution aids in managing endocrine-disrupting risks in wastewater as part of ecological conservation efforts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiawei Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Xiwei He
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China.
| | - Zepeng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Gang Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Peng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Depeng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Peng Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Xu-Xiang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Maddalon A, Pierzchalski A, Krause JL, Bauer M, Finckh S, Brack W, Zenclussen AC, Marinovich M, Corsini E, Krauss M, Herberth G. Impact of chemical mixtures from wastewater treatment plant effluents on human immune cell activation: An effect-based analysis. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 906:167495. [PMID: 37804965 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Humans are exposed to many different chemicals on a daily basis, mostly as chemical mixtures, usually from food, consumer products and the environment. Wastewater treatment plant effluent contains mixtures of chemicals that have been discarded or excreted by humans and not removed by water treatment. These effluents contribute directly to water pollution, they are used in agriculture and may affect human health. The possible effect of such chemical mixtures on the immune system has not been characterized. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of extracts obtained from four European wastewater treatment plant effluents on human primary immune cell activation. METHODS Immune cells were exposed to the effluent extracts and modulation of cell activation was performed by multi-parameter flow cytometry. Messenger-RNA (mRNA) expression of genes related to immune system and hormone receptors was measured by RT-PCR. RESULTS The exposure of immune cells to these extracts, containing 339 detected chemicals, significantly reduced the activation of human lymphocytes, mainly affecting T helper and mucosal-associated invariant T cells. In addition, basophil activation was also altered upon mixture exposure. Concerning mRNA expression, we observed that 12 transcripts were down-regulated by at least one extract while 11 were up-regulated. Correlation analyses between the analyzed immune parameters and the concentration of chemicals in the WWTP extracts, highlighted the most immunomodulatory chemicals. DISCUSSION Our results suggest that the mixture of chemicals present in the effluents of wastewater treatment plants could be considered as immunosuppressive, due to their ability to interfere with the activation of immune cells, a process of utmost importance for the functionality of the immune system. The combined approach of immune effect-based analysis and chemical content analysis used in our study provides a useful tool for investigating the effect of environmental mixtures on the human immune response.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ambra Maddalon
- Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences 'Rodolfo Paoletti', Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Arkadiusz Pierzchalski
- Department of Environmental Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jannike Lea Krause
- Schwiete Laboratory for Microbiota and Inflammation, German Rheumatism Research (DRFZ), Centre-a Leibniz Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mario Bauer
- Department of Environmental Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Saskia Finckh
- Department of Effect-Directed Analysis, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Werner Brack
- Department of Effect-Directed Analysis, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig, Germany; Department of Evolutionary Ecology and Environmental Toxicology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt/Main, Germany
| | - Ana C Zenclussen
- Department of Environmental Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig, Germany; Perinatal Immunology Research Group, Medical Faculty, Saxonian Incubator for Clinical Translation (SIKT), University of Leipzig, Germany
| | - Marina Marinovich
- Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences 'Rodolfo Paoletti', Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Emanuela Corsini
- Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences 'Rodolfo Paoletti', Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Martin Krauss
- Department of Effect-Directed Analysis, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Gunda Herberth
- Department of Environmental Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Spilsbury F, Kisielius V, Bester K, Backhaus T. Ecotoxicological mixture risk assessment of 35 pharmaceuticals in wastewater effluents following post-treatment with ozone and/or granulated activated carbon. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 906:167440. [PMID: 37774874 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
Reducing the risk posed by mixtures of pharmaceuticals is a goal of current initiatives such as the European Green Deal to reduce anthropological environmental impacts. Wastewater effluent typically contains large numbers of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). For some APIs, existing technology such as conventional activated sludge (CAS) wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have removal rates below 20 %, thus the WWTP discharges are adding to the toxic burden of receiving waters. We present an environmental risk assessment of mixtures of 35 APIs in effluent samples from 82 Northern European WWTPs using the concentration addition model, and identify the respective risk-driving APIs. This is then compared to a corresponding mixture risk assessment of effluent samples from the Danish Hillerød WWTP subjected to post-treatment with varying specific ozone doses (0.15-1.05 mgO3/mgDOC) and/or granulated activated carbon (GAC). All 82 WWTP effluent samples exceeded risk thresholds by at least a factor of 30, with a median RQSUM of 92.9, highlighting the need for effluent post-treatment and/or a substantial dilution in the recipient waters. Antibiotics, analgesics and anti-depressants were among the top risk drivers with 99 % of the average mixture risk attributable to azithromycin, diclofenac, venlafaxine, clarithromycin and mycophenolic acid. Effluent mixture risk was reduced by ozonation in a concentration-dependent manner, decreasing below threshold levels to a median RQSUM of 0.83 following treatment with 0.65 mgO3/mg DOC. Fresh GAC was also effective at reducing the mixture risk both alone and with ozone treatment, with median RQSUM of 0.04 and 0.07 respectively. To our knowledge, this is the first study to present a risk assessment of pharmaceutical mixtures in effluent comparing "conventional" WWTP processes with additional post-treatment with ozone and/or GAC for reducing the joint risks of pharmaceutical mixtures for recipient waters. We demonstrate the need for additional WWTP treatment technologies, and the efficacy of GAC and ozonation in decreasing the risk to the aquatic environment from pharmaceutical mixtures to below acceptable threshold limits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francis Spilsbury
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg 40530, Sweden.
| | - Vaidotas Kisielius
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Kai Bester
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Thomas Backhaus
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg 40530, Sweden; Institute for Environmental Research, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, D-52074 Aachen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Finckh S, Carmona E, Borchardt D, Büttner O, Krauss M, Schulze T, Yang S, Brack W. Mapping chemical footprints of organic micropollutants in European streams. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 183:108371. [PMID: 38103345 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
There is increasing awareness that chemical pollution of freshwater systems with complex mixtures of chemicals from domestic sources, agriculture and industry may cause a substantial chemical footprint on water organisms, pushing aquatic ecosystems outside the safe operating space. The present study defines chemical footprints as the risk that chemicals or chemical mixtures will have adverse effects on a specific group of organisms. The aim is to characterise these chemical footprints in European streams based on a unique and uniform screening of more than 600 chemicals in 445 surface water samples, and to derive site- and compound-specific information for management prioritisation purposes. In total, 504 pesticides, biocides, pharmaceuticals and other compounds have been detected, including frequently occurring and site-specific compounds with concentrations up to 74 µg/L. Key finding is that three-quarter of the investigated sites in 22 European river basins exceed established thresholds for chemical footprints in freshwater, leading to expected acute or chronic impacts on aquatic organisms. The largest footprints were recorded on invertebrates, followed by algae and fish. More than 70 chemicals exceed thresholds of chronic impacts on invertebrates. For all organism groups, pesticides and biocides were the main drivers of chemical footprints, while mixture impacts were particularly relevant for invertebrates. No clear significant correlation was found between chemical footprints and the urban discharge fractions, suggesting that effluent-specific quality rather than the total load of treated wastewater in the aquatic environment and the contribution of diffuse sources, e.g. from agriculture, determine chemical footprints.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Saskia Finckh
- Department of Effect-Directed Analysis, UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Leipzig, Germany; Department of Evolutionary Ecology and Environmental Toxicology, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
| | - Eric Carmona
- Department of Effect-Directed Analysis, UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Dietrich Borchardt
- Department of Aquatic Ecosystem Analysis and Management, UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Olaf Büttner
- Department of Aquatic Ecosystem Analysis and Management, UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Martin Krauss
- Department of Effect-Directed Analysis, UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Tobias Schulze
- Department of Effect-Directed Analysis, UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Soohyun Yang
- Department of Aquatic Ecosystem Analysis and Management, UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Magdeburg, Germany; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Werner Brack
- Department of Effect-Directed Analysis, UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Leipzig, Germany; Department of Evolutionary Ecology and Environmental Toxicology, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Xu M, Zhang G, Qiu Y, Li Y, Liu C, Yang X. Biotransformation of cyproterone acetate, drospirenone, and megestrol acetate in agricultural soils: Kinetics, microbial community dynamics, transformation products, and mechanisms. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 904:166847. [PMID: 37690749 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166847] [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: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
The occurrence of biologically active synthetic progestins in agricultural soils is of growing concern due to their potential to disrupt the endocrine function of aquatic fish in nearby surface waters. This study investigated the biotransformation outcomes of cyproterone acetate (CPA), drospirenone (DRO), and megestrol acetate (MGA) in four agricultural soils. The biotransformation data were fitted to a first-order decay model (R2 = 0.93-0.99), with half-lives and first-order decay coefficients ranging from 76.2-217 h and 9.10 × 10-3-3.20 × 10-3 (h-1), respectively. Abundant biotransformation products (TPs) were generated during incubation, with the number and yields varying across the four soils. 1,2-Dehydrogenation was the main transformation pathway of DRO in the four soils (yields of 32.3-214 %). Similarly, 1,2-dehydrogenation was the most relevant transformation pathway of MGA in the four soils (yields of 21.8-417 %). C3 reduction was the major transformation pathway of CPA in soils B, C, and D (yields of 114-245 %). Hydrogenation (yield of 133 %) and hydroxylation (yield of 21.0 %) were the second major transformation pathway of CPA in soil B and C, respectively. In particular, several TPs exhibited progestogenic and antimineralocorticoid activity, as well as genotoxicity. The high-throughput sequencing indicated that interactions between microorganisms and soil properties may affect biotransformation. Spearman correlation and bidirectional network correlation analysis further revealed that soil properties can directly interfere with the soil sorption capacity for the progestins, thus affecting biotransformation. In particular, soil properties can also limit or promote biotransformation and the formation of TPs (i.e., biotransformation pathways) by affecting the relative abundances of relevant microorganisms. The results of this study indicate that the ecotoxicity of synthetic progestins and related TPs can vary across soils and that the assessment of environmental risks associated with these compounds requires special consideration of both soil properties and microbial communities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Manxin Xu
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Joint Institute for Environment & Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China
| | - Ge Zhang
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Joint Institute for Environment & Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China
| | - Yang Qiu
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Joint Institute for Environment & Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China
| | - Yongtao Li
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Joint Institute for Environment & Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Land Use and Consolidation, Guangzhou 510642, PR China
| | - Churong Liu
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Joint Institute for Environment & Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China
| | - Xingjian Yang
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Joint Institute for Environment & Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Land Use and Consolidation, Guangzhou 510642, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Zhang L, Zhang Y, Zhu M, Chen L, Wu B. A critical review on quantitative evaluation of aqueous toxicity in water quality assessment. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 342:140159. [PMID: 37716564 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023]
Abstract
Conventional chemical techniques have inherent limitations in detecting unknown chemical substances in water. As a result, effect-based methods have emerged as a viable alternative to overcome these limitations. These methods provide more accurate and intuitive evaluations of the toxic effects of water. While numerous studies have been conducted, only a few have been applied to national water quality monitoring. Therefore, it is crucial to develop toxicity evaluation methods and establish thresholds based on quantifying toxicity. This article provides an overview of the development and application of bioanalytical tools, including in vitro and in vivo bioassays. The available methods for quantifying toxicity are then summarized. These methods include aquatic life criteria for assessing the toxicity of a single compound, comprehensive wastewater toxicity testing for all contaminants in a water sample (toxicity units, whole effluent toxicity, the potential ecotoxic effects probe, the potential toxicology method, and the lowest ineffective dilution), methods based on mechanisms and relative toxicity ratios for substances with the same mode of action (the toxicity equivalency factors, toxic equivalents, bioanalytical equivalents), and effect-based trigger values for micropollutants. The article also highlights the advantages and disadvantages of each method. Finally, it proposes potential areas for applying toxicity quantification methods and offers insights into future research directions. This review emphasizes the significance of enhancing the evaluation methods for assessing aqueous toxicity in water quality assessment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Linyu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Mengyuan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Ling Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Bing Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Rager JE, Rider CV. Wrangling Whole Mixtures Risk Assessment: Recent Advances in Determining Sufficient Similarity. CURRENT OPINION IN TOXICOLOGY 2023; 35:100417. [PMID: 37790747 PMCID: PMC10545370 DOI: 10.1016/j.cotox.2023.100417] [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] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Human health risk assessments for complex mixtures can address real-world exposures and protect public health. While risk assessors typically prefer whole mixture approaches over component-based approaches, data from the precise exposure of interest are often unavailable and surrogate data from a sufficiently similar mixture(s) are required. This review describes recent advances in determining sufficient similarity of whole, complex mixtures spanning the comparison of chemical features, bioactivity profiles, and statistical evaluation to determine "thresholds of similarity". Case studies, including water disinfection byproducts, botanical ingredients, and wildfire emissions, are used to highlight tools and methods. Limitations to application of sufficient similarity in risk-based decision making are reviewed and recommendations presented for developing best practice guidelines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julia E. Rager
- The Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- The Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Cynthia V. Rider
- Division of Translational Toxicology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Neale PA, Escher BI, de Baat ML, Enault J, Leusch FDL. Effect-Based Trigger Values Are Essential for the Uptake of Effect-Based Methods in Water Safety Planning. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2023; 42:714-726. [PMID: 36524849 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 11/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Effect-based methods (EBMs) using in vitro bioassays and well plate-based in vivo assays are recommended for water quality monitoring because they can capture the mixture effects of the many chemicals present in water. Many in vitro bioassays are highly sensitive, so an effect in a bioassay does not necessarily indicate poor chemical water quality. Consequently, effect-based trigger values (EBTs) have been introduced to differentiate between acceptable and unacceptable chemical water quality and are required for the wider acceptance of EBMs by the water sector and regulatory bodies. These EBTs have been derived for both drinking water and surface water to protect human and ecological health, respectively, and are available for assays indicative of specific receptor-mediated effects, as well as assays indicative of adaptive stress responses, apical effects, and receptor-mediated effects triggered by many chemicals. An overview of currently available EBTs is provided, and a simple approach is proposed to predict interim EBTs for assays currently without an EBT based on the effect concentration of the assay reference compound. There was good agreement between EBTs predicted using this simplistic approach and EBTs from the literature derived using more robust methods. Finally, an interpretation framework that outlines the steps to take if the effect of a sample exceeds the EBT was developed to help facilitate the uptake of EBMs in routine water quality monitoring and water safety planning for drinking water production. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:714-726. © 2022 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peta A Neale
- Australian Rivers Institute, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, Australia
| | - Beate I Escher
- Australian Rivers Institute, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, Australia
- Department of Cell Toxicology, UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Leipzig, Germany
- Environmental Toxicology, Department of Geosciences, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Milo L de Baat
- KWR Water Research Institute, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands
| | | | - Frederic D L Leusch
- Australian Rivers Institute, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, Australia
| |
Collapse
|