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Huang J, Cheng F, He L, Lou X, Li H, You J. Effect driven prioritization of contaminants in wastewater treatment plants across China: A data mining-based toxicity screening approach. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 264:122223. [PMID: 39116614 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.122223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2024] [Revised: 07/08/2024] [Accepted: 08/04/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
A diversity of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) are present in wastewater effluent, posing potential threats to receiving waters. It is urgent for a holistic assessment of the occurrence and risk of CECs related to wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) on national and regional scales. A data mining-based risk prioritization method was developed to collect the reported contaminants and their respective concentrations in municipal and industrial WWTPs and their receiving waters across China over the past 20 years. A total of 10,781 chemicals were reported in 8336 publications, of which 1037 contaminants were reported with environmental concentrations. While contaminant categories varied across WWTP types (municipal vs. industrial) and regions, pharmaceuticals and cyclic hydrocarbons were the most studied CECs. Contaminant composition in receiving water was closer to that in municipal than industrial WWTPs. Publications on legacy pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in WWTP decreased recently compared to the past, while pharmaceuticals and perfluorochemicals have received increasing attention, showing a changing concern over time. Detection frequency, concentration, removal efficiency, and toxicity data were integrated for assessing potential risks and prioritizing CECs on national and regional scales using an environmental health prioritization index (EHPi) approach. Among 666 contaminants in municipal WWTP effluent, trichlorfon and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid were with the highest EHPi scores, while 17ɑ-ethinylestradiol and bisphenol A had the highest EHPi scores among 304 contaminants in industrial WWTPs. The prioritized contaminants varied across regions, suggesting a need for tailoring regional measures of wastewater treatment and control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiehui Huang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 511443, China
| | - Fei Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China
| | - Liwei He
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 511443, China
| | - Xiaohan Lou
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 511443, China
| | - Huizhen Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 511443, China.
| | - Jing You
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 511443, China.
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Hou J, Hu C, Yang L, Wang X. Aquatic ecological risk assessment of imidacloprid and thiacloprid in an urban river of Qingdao, China. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 199:116013. [PMID: 38183835 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.116013] [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: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2024]
Abstract
Imidacloprid and thiacloprid, two neonicotinoid insecticides that are extensively used in urban areas, are potentially toxic to non-target aquatic organisms. In this study, the concentrations of imidacloprid and thiacloprid in surface runoff after rainfall were 20.79-43.77 ng/L and 25.13-63.84 ng/L, respectively, whereas the levels for the Licun River were 10.78-41.70 ng/L and 2.66-39.68 ng/L, respectively. The acute and chronic criteria for imidacloprid and thiacloprid are 0.865, 0.006, 0.83, and 0.012 μg/L, respectively. Tiered ecological risk assessments revealed the chronic ecological risks of these micropollutants to local aquatic species. There was a moderate chronic toxicity risk associated with imidacloprid and thiacloprid in the Licun River, and the joint probability curves showed a probability of chronic ecological risk to 5 % of the aquatic organisms at 68 %-97 %. The results provide evidence of urban surface runoff transporting micropollutants from surface into rivers and estuaries, highlighting the ecological risks to aquatic ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinlong Hou
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Changqin Hu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Lei Yang
- Key Laboratory of Eco-Environmental Geochemistry of Ministry of Natural Resources, National Research Center for Geoanalysis, Beijing 100037, China; School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
| | - Xiaocui Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China.
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Huang J, Zhang S, Tan M, Shen J, Zhao H, Wu D. Occurrence, removal, and risk assessment of emerging contaminants in aquatic products processing sewage treatment plants. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:117772-117784. [PMID: 37874520 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-30458-z] [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: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Emerging contaminants (ECs) in aquatic environments have attracted attention due to their wide distribution and potential ecotoxicities. Sewage treatment plants (STPs) are proven to be the major source of ECs in the aquatic environment, while there remains insufficient understanding of the removal and risk assessment of ECs in STPs. Here, we clarified the degradation and risk impact of 13 ECs in two aquatic product processing sewage treatment plants (APPSTPs) along the southeast coast of China. The concentrations of ECs followed the order: endocrine-disrupting chemicals (1877.85-15,398.02 ng/L in influent, 3.37-44.47 ng/L in effluent) > > sulfonamide antibiotics (SAs, 75.14-906.19 ng/L in influent, 1.14-15.33 ng/L in effluent) > pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs, 44.47-589.93 ng/L in influent, 2.54-34.16 ng/L in effluent) ≈ fluoroquinolone antibiotic (54.76-434.83 ng/L in influent, 10.75-32.82 ng/L in effluent) > other antibiotics (16.21-51.96 ng/L in influent, 0.68-6.17 ng/L in effluent). Moreover, the concentrations of PPCPs (decreased by 55.33-87.65% in peak fishing season) and antibiotics (increased by 44.99% in peak fishing season) were affected by fishing activities. In particular, the sequencing batch reactor (SBR) process had a better removal effect than the anaerobic-anoxic-oxic (A2/O) process on the treatment of some contaminants (e.g., norfloxacin and nonylphenol). Risk evaluations of ECs demonstrated that nonylphenol and SAs were at high- and low-risk states, respectively. Overall, our results provide important information for the degradation treatment of ECs, which is essential for pollutant management policy formulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jialu Huang
- College of Environmental and Resource Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Shuchi Zhang
- College of Environmental and Resource Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Mengyu Tan
- College of Environmental and Resource Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Jie Shen
- Huzhou Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau, Zhejiang Province, Huzhou, 313000, China
| | - Haiyan Zhao
- College of Environmental and Resource Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Donglei Wu
- College of Environmental and Resource Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, No. 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
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Abd Rahman N, Choong CE, Pichiah S, Nah IW, Kim JR, Oh SE, Yoon Y, Choi EH, Jang M. Recent advances in the TiO2 based photoreactors for removing contaminants of emerging concern in water. Sep Purif Technol 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2022.122294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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Liu Y, Li F, Li H, Tong Y, Li W, Xiong J, You J. Bioassay-based identification and removal of target and suspect toxicants in municipal wastewater: Impacts of chemical properties and transformation. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 437:129426. [PMID: 35897175 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Municipal wastewater contains numerous chemicals and transformation products with highly diverse physiochemical properties and intrinsic toxicity; thus, it is imperative but challenging to identify major toxicants. Herein, toxicity identification evaluation (TIE) was applied to identify major toxicants in a typical municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). Impacts of chemical properties on the removal of contaminants and toxicity at individual treatment stages were also examined. The WWTP influent caused 100% death of Daphnia magna and zebrafish embryos, and toxicity characterization suggested that organics, metals, and volatiles all contributed to the toxicity. Toxicity identification based on 189 target and approximately one-thousand suspect chemicals showed that toxicity contributions of organic contaminants, metals, and ammonia to D. magna were 77%, 4%, and 19%, respectively. Galaxolide, pyrene, phenanthrene, benzo[a]anthracene, fluoranthene, octinoxate, silver, and ammonia were identified as potential toxicants. Comparatively, the detected transformation products elicited lower toxicity than their respective parent contaminants. In contrast, the analyzed contaminants showed negligible contributions to the toxicity of zebrafish embryos. Removal efficiencies of these toxicants in WWTP were highly related to their hydrophobicity. Diverse transformation and removal efficiencies of contaminants in WWTPs may influence the chemical compositions in effluent and ultimately the risk to aquatic organisms in the receiving waterways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Liu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510443, China
| | - Faxu Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510443, China
| | - Huizhen Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510443, China.
| | - Yujun Tong
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510443, China
| | - Weizong Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510443, China
| | - Jingjing Xiong
- South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou 510655, China
| | - Jing You
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510443, China
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Benedetti B, Baglietto M, MacKeown H, Scapuzzi C, Di Carro M, Magi E. An optimized processing method for polar organic chemical integrative samplers deployed in seawater: Toward a maximization of the analysis accuracy for trace emerging contaminants. J Chromatogr A 2022; 1677:463309. [PMID: 35853423 DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2022.463309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Passive sampling of emerging contaminants (ECs) in seawater represents a challenge in environmental monitoring. A specific protocol for Polar Organic Chemical Integrative Sampler (POCIS) processing may be necessary when dealing with marine applications, due to the peculiarity of the considered matrix. Herein, both the instrumental LC-MS/MS analysis and the sampler processing for the determination of 22 ECs in seawater were carefully optimized. The study entailed a test simulating POCIS sorbent exposure to seawater as well as the processing of replicated field POCIS with different elution solvents. The final method involved washing the sorbent with water, to eliminate most salts, and a two-step elution, by using methanol and a small volume of a dichloromethane-isopropanol mixture. With this protocol, recoveries between 58 and 137% (average 106%) were obtained for most analytes, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, UV-filters, perfluorinated substances and caffeine. Still, the protocol was not suitable for very hydrophilic compounds (recovery under 20% for artificial sweeteners and the pharmaceutical salbutamol), which also showed remarkable ion suppression (matrix effects in the range 4-46%). For all other chemicals, the matrix effects were in the range 67-103% (average 86%), indicating satisfactory accuracy. Also, the overall method showed high sensitivity (detection limits in the range 0.04-9 ng g-1 of POCIS sorbent) and excellent specificity, thanks to the monitoring of two "precursor ion-product ion" MS transitions for identity confirmation. The method was applied to samplers deployed in the Ligurian coast (Italy), detecting caffeine, bisphenol A, ketoprofen and two UV-filters as the most concentrated in the POCIS sorbent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Benedetti
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Genoa, via Dodecaneso 31, Genoa 16146, Italy
| | - Matteo Baglietto
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Genoa, via Dodecaneso 31, Genoa 16146, Italy
| | - Henry MacKeown
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Genoa, via Dodecaneso 31, Genoa 16146, Italy
| | - Chiara Scapuzzi
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Genoa, via Dodecaneso 31, Genoa 16146, Italy
| | - Marina Di Carro
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Genoa, via Dodecaneso 31, Genoa 16146, Italy.
| | - Emanuele Magi
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Genoa, via Dodecaneso 31, Genoa 16146, Italy
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Liu P, Zhang L, Li H, Wei Y, Wu F, You J. Reduced concentrations and toxicity of sediment-associated pesticides from vegetable planting field to surrounding waterways: Impacts of chemical properties and intrinsic toxicity. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 436:129292. [PMID: 35739797 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129292] [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: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Pesticides from agricultural activities transfer to surrounding waterways, jeopardizing aquatic ecosystem. To better characterize transfer of pesticide residues and toxicity, a batch of pesticides were analyzed in 22 sediment samples collected from the ditches (< 5 m away from field) and receiving streams nearby a vegetable planting area, South China. Sum concentrations of pesticides in ditch sediments (152 ± 121 ng/g dry wt.) were higher than those in stream sediments (24.9 ± 14.9 ng/g dry wt.). Toxicity reduction from ditch to stream was different for two invertebrates. Stream sediment toxicity to Chironomus dilutus decreased considerably but elevated toxicity was still observed (50% mortality on average), while stream sediments exhibited no significant lethality to Hyallela azteca (< 10% mortality). Fipronil and its transformation products (FIPs) were responsible for sediment toxicity to the midges, and pyrethroids contributed significantly to the death of the amphipods. Hydrophobic pyrethroids were tended to stay in the ditches, whereas FIPs were detected in stream sediments at considerable concentrations due their possible transfer to the nearby streams and/or residential use. This physicochemical property-related transfer characteristics and intrinsic toxicity of the major toxicants explained the distinct toxicity reduction patterns for the two species, which highlighted their importance in assessing aquatic transfer and risk of agriculture derived pesticides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peipei Liu
- School of Environment and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China
| | - Ling Zhang
- School of Environment and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China
| | - Huizhen Li
- School of Environment and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China.
| | - Yanli Wei
- School of Environment and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China
| | - Fan Wu
- School of Environment and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China
| | - Jing You
- School of Environment and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China
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