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Martín-Pozo L, Mejías C, Santos JL, Martín J, Aparicio I, Alonso E. Influence of microplastic contamination on the dissipation of endocrine disrupting chemicals in soil environment. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 349:123919. [PMID: 38582188 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123919] [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: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
Microplastic (MP) contamination is in the spotlight today, yet knowledge of their interaction with other organic contaminants in the soil environment is limited. Concerns extend to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), known for their potential to interfere with the hormonal systems of organisms and for their persistence and widespread presence in the environment. In this study, the most frequently occurring EDCs were monitored both in alluvial soil and in soil contaminated with different MPs commonly found in soil media, polyethylene, polyamide, and polystyrene. Bisphenol A and parabens were the most rapidly dissipating compounds, followed by triclosan and triclocarban, with the latter showing poor degradation. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) showed high persistence as concentrations remained nearly constant throughout the experiment. Although they fitted well with first-order dissipation kinetics, most showed biphasic behavior. The co-occurrence of MPs in the soil influenced the kinetic behavior in most cases although the differences were not very marked. MPs could impact sorption-desorption processes, affecting contaminant mobility and bioavailability to organisms in soil. These findings strengthen evidence for the influence of MPs on the behavior of soil contaminants such as EDCs, not only as vectors or sources of contaminants but by affecting dissipation kinetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Martín-Pozo
- Departamento de Química Analítica, Escuela Politécnica Superior, Universidad de Sevilla, C/ Virgen de África, 7, E-41011, Seville, Spain.
| | - Carmen Mejías
- Departamento de Química Analítica, Escuela Politécnica Superior, Universidad de Sevilla, C/ Virgen de África, 7, E-41011, Seville, Spain
| | - Juan Luis Santos
- Departamento de Química Analítica, Escuela Politécnica Superior, Universidad de Sevilla, C/ Virgen de África, 7, E-41011, Seville, Spain
| | - Julia Martín
- Departamento de Química Analítica, Escuela Politécnica Superior, Universidad de Sevilla, C/ Virgen de África, 7, E-41011, Seville, Spain
| | - Irene Aparicio
- Departamento de Química Analítica, Escuela Politécnica Superior, Universidad de Sevilla, C/ Virgen de África, 7, E-41011, Seville, Spain
| | - Esteban Alonso
- Departamento de Química Analítica, Escuela Politécnica Superior, Universidad de Sevilla, C/ Virgen de África, 7, E-41011, Seville, Spain
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2
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Devendrapandi G, Balu R, Ayyappan K, Ayyamperumal R, Alhammadi S, Lavanya M, Senthilkumar R, Karthika PC. Unearthing Earth's secrets: Exploring the environmental legacy of contaminants in soil, water, and sediments. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 249:118246. [PMID: 38278509 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
The Earth's history is documented in human civilizations, soil layers, river movement, and quiet sediments throughout millennia. This investigation explores the significant legacy of environmental toxins in these key planet components. Understanding how ancient activity shaped the terrain is crucial as mankind faces environmental issues. This interdisciplinary study uses environmental science, archaeology, and geology to uncover Earth's mysteries. It illuminates the dynamic processes that have built our globe by studying pollutants and soil, water, and sediments. This research follows human actions, both intentional and unintentional, from ancient civilizations through contemporary industrialization and their far-reaching effects. Environmental destiny examines how contaminants affect ecosystems and human health. This study of past contamination helps solve modern problems including pollution cleanup, sustainable land management, and water conservation. This review studies reminds us that our previous activities still affect the ecosystem in a society facing rapid urbanisation and industrialization. It emphasises the importance of environmental stewardship and provides a framework for making educated choices to reduce toxins in soil, water, and sediments. Discovery of Earth's secrets is not only a historical curiosity; it's a necessary step towards a sustainable and peaceful cohabitation with our home planet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gautham Devendrapandi
- Department of Computational Biology, Institute of Bioinformatics, Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Tamil Nadu, Thandalam, Chennai 602 105, India.
| | - Ranjith Balu
- Research and Development Cell, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, 144411, India.
| | - K Ayyappan
- School of Maritime Studies of Vels Institute of Science, Technology & Advanced Studies, Chennai, India
| | - Ramamoorthy Ayyamperumal
- Key Laboratory of Western China's Environmental System, College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou 13 University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Salh Alhammadi
- School of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, 280 Daehak-ro, Gyeongsan-si, Gyongsanbuk-do, 38541, Republic of Korea.
| | - Mahimaluru Lavanya
- Institute of Research and Development, Duy Tan University, Da Nang, 550000, Viet Nam; Faculty of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Duy Tan University, Da Nang, 550000, Viet Nam.
| | - R Senthilkumar
- Department of Naval Architecture and Offshore Engineering, AMET University, Chennai, India
| | - P C Karthika
- Department of Physics and Nanotechnology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Chennai, 603203, Tamil Nadu, India.
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3
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Lin ZW, Shapiro EF, Barajas-Rodriguez FJ, Gaisin A, Ateia M, Currie J, Helbling DE, Gwinn R, Packman AI, Dichtel WR. Trace Organic Contaminant Removal from Municipal Wastewater by Styrenic β-Cyclodextrin Polymers. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:19624-19636. [PMID: 37934073 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c04233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
Trace organic contaminants (TrOCs) present major removal challenges for wastewater treatment. TrOCs, such as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), are associated with chronic toxicity at ng L-1 exposure levels and should be removed from wastewater to enable safe reuse and release of treated effluents. Established adsorbents, such as granular activated carbon (GAC), exhibit variable TrOC removal and fouling by wastewater constituents. These shortcomings motivate the development of selective novel adsorbents that also maintain robust performance in wastewater. Cross-linked β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) polymers are promising adsorbents with demonstrated TrOC removal efficacy. Here, we report a simplified and potentially scalable synthesis of a porous polymer composed of styrene-linked β-CD and cationic ammonium groups. Batch adsorption experiments demonstrate that the polymer is a selective adsorbent exhibiting complete removal for six out of 13 contaminants with less adsorption inhibition than GAC in wastewater. The polymer also exhibits faster adsorption kinetics than GAC and ion exchange (IX) resin, higher adsorption affinity for PFAS than GAC, and is regenerable by solvent wash. Rapid small-scale column tests show that the polymer exhibits later breakthrough times compared to GAC and IX resin. These results demonstrate the potential for β-CD polymers to remediate TrOCs from complex water matrices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Wei Lin
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Emma F Shapiro
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | | | - Arsen Gaisin
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Mohamed Ateia
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | | | - Damian E Helbling
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Rosa Gwinn
- AECOM, Dallas, Texas 75240, United States
| | - Aaron I Packman
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - William R Dichtel
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
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4
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He J, Xia S, Li W, Deng J, Lin Q, Zhang L. Resource recovery and valorization of food wastewater for sustainable development: An overview of current approaches. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 347:119118. [PMID: 37769472 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119118] [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: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
The food processing industry is one of the world's largest consumers of potable water. Agri-food wastewater systems consume about 70% of the world's fresh water and cause at least 80% of deforestation. Food wastewater is characterized by complex composition, a wide range of pollutants, and fluctuating water quality, which can cause huge environmental pollution problems if discharged directly. In recent years, food wastewater has attracted considerable attention as it is considered to have great prospects for resource recovery and reuse due to its rich residues of nutrients and low levels of harmful substances. This review explored and compared the sources and characteristics of different types of food wastewater and methods of wastewater treatment. Particular attention was paid to the different methods of resource recovery and reuse of food wastewater. The diversity of raw materials in the food industry leads to different compositional characteristics of wastewater, which determine the choice and efficiency of wastewater treatment methods. Physicochemical methods, and biological methods alone or in combination have been used for the efficient treatment of food wastewater. Current approaches for recycling and reuse of food wastewater include culture substrates, agricultural irrigation, and bio-organic fertilizers, recovery of high-value products such as proteins, lipids, biopolymers, and bioenergy to alleviate the energy crisis. Food wastewater is a promising substrate for resource recovery and reuse, and its valorization meets the current international policy requirements regarding food waste and environment protection, follows the development trend of the food industry, and is also conducive to energy conservation, emission reduction, and economic development. However, more innovative biotechnologies are necessary to advance the effectiveness of food wastewater treatment and the extent of resource recovery and valorization.
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Affiliation(s)
- JinTao He
- National Engineering Research Center of Rice and Byproduct Deep Processing, Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Edible Forestry Resources Safety and Processing Utilization, College of Food Science and Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, 410004, Hunan, China
| | - SuXuan Xia
- National Engineering Research Center of Rice and Byproduct Deep Processing, Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Edible Forestry Resources Safety and Processing Utilization, College of Food Science and Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, 410004, Hunan, China
| | - Wen Li
- National Engineering Research Center of Rice and Byproduct Deep Processing, Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Edible Forestry Resources Safety and Processing Utilization, College of Food Science and Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, 410004, Hunan, China; Hunan Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Seasonings Green Manufacturing, China; College of Food Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Finance and Economics/Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Grain Circulation and Safety, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Jing Deng
- National Engineering Research Center of Rice and Byproduct Deep Processing, Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Edible Forestry Resources Safety and Processing Utilization, College of Food Science and Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, 410004, Hunan, China
| | - QinLu Lin
- National Engineering Research Center of Rice and Byproduct Deep Processing, Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Edible Forestry Resources Safety and Processing Utilization, College of Food Science and Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, 410004, Hunan, China; College of Food Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Finance and Economics/Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Grain Circulation and Safety, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Lin Zhang
- National Engineering Research Center of Rice and Byproduct Deep Processing, Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Edible Forestry Resources Safety and Processing Utilization, College of Food Science and Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, 410004, Hunan, China
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5
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Yalin D, Craddock HA, Assouline S, Ben Mordechay E, Ben-Gal A, Bernstein N, Chaudhry RM, Chefetz B, Fatta-Kassinos D, Gawlik BM, Hamilton KA, Khalifa L, Kisekka I, Klapp I, Korach-Rechtman H, Kurtzman D, Levy GJ, Maffettone R, Malato S, Manaia CM, Manoli K, Moshe OF, Rimelman A, Rizzo L, Sedlak DL, Shnit-Orland M, Shtull-Trauring E, Tarchitzky J, Welch-White V, Williams C, McLain J, Cytryn E. Mitigating risks and maximizing sustainability of treated wastewater reuse for irrigation. WATER RESEARCH X 2023; 21:100203. [PMID: 38098886 PMCID: PMC10719582 DOI: 10.1016/j.wroa.2023.100203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Scarcity of freshwater for agriculture has led to increased utilization of treated wastewater (TWW), establishing it as a significant and reliable source of irrigation water. However, years of research indicate that if not managed adequately, TWW may deleteriously affect soil functioning and plant productivity, and pose a hazard to human and environmental health. This review leverages the experience of researchers, stakeholders, and policymakers from Israel, the United-States, and Europe to present a holistic, multidisciplinary perspective on maximizing the benefits from municipal TWW use for irrigation. We specifically draw on the extensive knowledge gained in Israel, a world leader in agricultural TWW implementation. The first two sections of the work set the foundation for understanding current challenges involved with the use of TWW, detailing known and emerging agronomic and environmental issues (such as salinity and phytotoxicity) and public health risks (such as contaminants of emerging concern and pathogens). The work then presents solutions to address these challenges, including technological and agronomic management-based solutions as well as source control policies. The concluding section presents suggestions for the path forward, emphasizing the importance of improving links between research and policy, and better outreach to the public and agricultural practitioners. We use this platform as a call for action, to form a global harmonized data system that will centralize scientific findings on agronomic, environmental and public health effects of TWW irrigation. Insights from such global collaboration will help to mitigate risks, and facilitate more sustainable use of TWW for food production in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Yalin
- A Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Hillary A. Craddock
- Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Shmuel Assouline
- Institute of Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences, Agriculture Research Organization (ARO) – The Volcani Institute, Rishon LeZion, Israel
| | - Evyatar Ben Mordechay
- The Robert H Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Alon Ben-Gal
- Institute of Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization (ARO) – The Volcani Institute, Gilat Reseach Center, Israel
| | - Nirit Bernstein
- Institute of Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences, Agriculture Research Organization (ARO) – The Volcani Institute, Rishon LeZion, Israel
| | | | - Benny Chefetz
- The Robert H Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Despo Fatta-Kassinos
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, NIREAS-International Water Research Center, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Bernd M. Gawlik
- Ocean and Water Unit, Joint Research Centre, European Commission, Ispra, Italy
| | - Kerry A. Hamilton
- The School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment and The Biodesign Institute Center for Environmental Health Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Leron Khalifa
- Institute of Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences, Agriculture Research Organization (ARO) – The Volcani Institute, Rishon LeZion, Israel
| | - Isaya Kisekka
- Department of Land Air and Water Resources, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Iftach Klapp
- Institute of Agricultural engineering, Agriculture Research Organization (ARO) – The Volcani Institute, Rishon LeZion, Israel
| | | | - Daniel Kurtzman
- Institute of Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences, Agriculture Research Organization (ARO) – The Volcani Institute, Rishon LeZion, Israel
| | - Guy J. Levy
- Institute of Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences, Agriculture Research Organization (ARO) – The Volcani Institute, Rishon LeZion, Israel
| | - Roberta Maffettone
- Ocean and Water Unit, Joint Research Centre, European Commission, Ispra, Italy
| | - Sixto Malato
- CIEMAT-Plataforma Solar de Almería, Ctra. Sen´es km 4, 04200 Tabernas, Almería, Spain
| | - Célia M. Manaia
- Universidade Católica Portuguesa, CBQF - Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina – Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Porto, Portugal
| | - Kyriakos Manoli
- NIREAS-International Water Research Center, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Orah F. Moshe
- Department of Soil Conservation, Soil Erosion Research Center, Ministry of Agriculture, Rishon LeZion, Israel
| | - Andrew Rimelman
- PG Environmental. 1113 Washington Avenue, Suite 200. Golden, CO 80401, USA
| | - Luigi Rizzo
- Water Science and Technology (WaSTe) Group, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084 Fisciano, SA, Italy
| | - David L. Sedlak
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
| | - Maya Shnit-Orland
- Extension Service, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Israel
| | - Eliav Shtull-Trauring
- Institute of Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences, Agriculture Research Organization (ARO) – The Volcani Institute, Rishon LeZion, Israel
| | - Jorge Tarchitzky
- The Robert H Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | | | - Clinton Williams
- US Arid-Land Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Maricopa, AZ, USA
| | - Jean McLain
- Department of Environmental Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Eddie Cytryn
- Institute of Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences, Agriculture Research Organization (ARO) – The Volcani Institute, Rishon LeZion, Israel
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Menacherry SPM, Kodešová R, Fedorova G, Sadchenko A, Kočárek M, Klement A, Fér M, Nikodem A, Chroňáková A, Grabic R. Dissipation of twelve organic micropollutants in three different soils: Effect of soil characteristics and microbial composition. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 459:132143. [PMID: 37531764 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132143] [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: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
The dissipation kinetics and half-lives of selected organic micropollutants, including pharmaceuticals and others, were systematically investigated and compared among different soil types. While some pollutants (e.g., atorvastatin, valsartan, and bisphenol S) disappeared rapidly in all the tested soils, many of them (e.g., telmisartan, memantine, venlafaxine, and azithromycin) remained persistent. Irrespective of the soil characteristics, venlafaxine showed the lowest dissipation kinetics and the longest half-lives (250 to approximately 500 days) among the stable compounds. The highest first and second-order kinetics were, however, recorded for valsartan (k1; 0.262 day-1) and atorvastatin (k2; 33.8 g μg-1 day-1) respectively. Nevertheless, more than 90% (i.e., DT90) of all the rapidly dissipated compounds (i.e., atorvastatin, bisphenol S, and valsartan) disappeared from the tested soils within a short timescale (i.e., 5-36 days). Dissipation of pollutants that are more susceptible to microbial degradation (e.g., atorvastatin, bisphenol S, and valsartan) seems to be slower for soils possessing the lowest microbial biomass C (Cmic) and total phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAtotal), which also found statistically significant. Our results revealing the persistence of several organic pollutants in agricultural soils, which might impact the quality of these soils, the groundwater, and eventually on the related biota, is of high environmental significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunil Paul M Menacherry
- Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Dept. of Soil Science and Soil Protection, Kamýcká 129, CZ-16500 Prague 6, Czech Republic.
| | - Radka Kodešová
- Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Dept. of Soil Science and Soil Protection, Kamýcká 129, CZ-16500 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Ganna Fedorova
- University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, Zátiší 728/II, CZ-38925 Vodňany, Czech Republic
| | - Alina Sadchenko
- University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, Zátiší 728/II, CZ-38925 Vodňany, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Kočárek
- Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Dept. of Soil Science and Soil Protection, Kamýcká 129, CZ-16500 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Aleš Klement
- Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Dept. of Soil Science and Soil Protection, Kamýcká 129, CZ-16500 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Miroslav Fér
- Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Dept. of Soil Science and Soil Protection, Kamýcká 129, CZ-16500 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Antonín Nikodem
- Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Dept. of Soil Science and Soil Protection, Kamýcká 129, CZ-16500 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Alica Chroňáková
- Institute of Soil Biology, Biology Centre CAS, Na Sádkách 7, CZ-37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Roman Grabic
- University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, Zátiší 728/II, CZ-38925 Vodňany, Czech Republic
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7
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Chacon-Aparicio S, Villamil JA, Martinez F, Melero JA, Molina R, Puyol D. Achieving Discharge Limits in Single-Stage Domestic Wastewater Treatment by Combining Urban Waste Sources and Phototrophic Mixed Cultures. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2324. [PMID: 37764168 PMCID: PMC10536668 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11092324] [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] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
This work shows the potential of a new way of co-treatment of domestic wastewater (DWW) and a liquid stream coming from the thermal hydrolysis of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) mediated by a mixed culture of purple phototrophic bacteria (PPB) capable of assimilating carbon and nutrients from the medium. The biological system is an open single-step process operated under microaerophilic conditions at an oxidative reduction potential (ORP) < 0 mV with a photoperiod of 12/24 h and fed during the light stage only so the results can be extrapolated to outdoor open pond operations by monitoring the ORP. The effluent mostly complies with the discharge values of the Spanish legislation in COD and p-values (<125 mg/L; <2 mg/L), respectively, and punctually on values in N (<15 mg/L). Applying an HRT of 3 d and a ratio of 100:7 (COD:N), the presence of PPB in the mixed culture surpassed 50% of 16S rRNA gene copies, removing 78% of COD, 53% of N, and 66% of P. Furthermore, by increasing the HRT to 5 d, removal efficiencies of 83% of COD, 65% of N, and 91% of P were achieved. In addition, the reactors were further operated in a membrane bioreactor, thus separating the HRT from the SRT to increase the specific loading rate. Very satisfactory removal efficiencies were achieved by applying an HRT and SRT of 2.3 and 3 d, respectively: 84% of COD, 49% of N, and 93% of P despite the low presence of PPB due to more oxidative conditions, which step-by-step re-colonized the mixed culture until reaching >20% of 16S rRNA gene copies after 49 d of operation. These results open the door to scaling up the process in open photobioreactors capable of treating urban wastewater and municipal solid waste in a single stage and under microaerophilic conditions by controlling the ORP of the system.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Daniel Puyol
- Chemical and Environmental Engineering Group, University Rey Juan Carlos, 28933 Madrid, Spain; (S.C.-A.); (F.M.); (J.A.M.); (R.M.)
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8
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Menacherry SPM, Kodešová R, Švecová H, Klement A, Fér M, Nikodem A, Grabic R. Selective accumulation of pharmaceutical residues from 6 different soils by plants: a comparative study on onion, radish, and spinach. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:54160-54176. [PMID: 36869956 PMCID: PMC10119051 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-26102-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The accumulation of six pharmaceuticals of different therapeutic uses has been thoroughly investigated and compared between onion, spinach, and radish plants grown in six soil types. While neutral molecules (e.g., carbamazepine (CAR) and some of its metabolites) were efficiently accumulated and easily translocated to the plant leaves (onion > radish > spinach), the same for ionic (both anionic and cationic) molecules seems to be minor to moderate. The maximum accumulation of CAR crosses 38,000 (onion), 42,000 (radish), and 7000 (spinach) ng g-1 (dry weight) respectively, in which the most majority of them happened within the plant leaves. Among the metabolites, the accumulation of carbamazepine 10,11-epoxide (EPC - a primary CAR metabolite) was approximately 19,000 (onion), 7000 (radish), and 6000 (spinach) ng g-1 (dry weight) respectively. This trend was considerably similar even when all these pharmaceuticals applied together. The accumulation of most other molecules (e.g., citalopram, clindamycin, clindamycin sulfoxide, fexofenadine, irbesartan, and sulfamethoxazole) was restricted to plant roots, except for certain cases (e.g., clindamycin and clindamycin sulfoxide in onion leaves). Our results clearly demonstrated the potential role of this accumulation process on the entrance of pharmaceuticals/metabolites into the food chain, which eventually becomes a threat to associated living biota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunil Paul M Menacherry
- Department of Soil Science and Soil Protection, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 16500, Prague 6, Czech Republic.
| | - Radka Kodešová
- Department of Soil Science and Soil Protection, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 16500, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Helena Švecová
- South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Zátiší 728/II, 38925, Vodňany, Czech Republic
| | - Aleš Klement
- Department of Soil Science and Soil Protection, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 16500, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Miroslav Fér
- Department of Soil Science and Soil Protection, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 16500, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Antonín Nikodem
- Department of Soil Science and Soil Protection, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 16500, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Roman Grabic
- South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Zátiší 728/II, 38925, Vodňany, Czech Republic
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9
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Liu X, Zhang L, Yang F, Zhou W. Determining reclaimed water quality thresholds and farming practices to improve food crop yield: A meta-analysis combined with random forest model. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 862:160774. [PMID: 36513233 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160774] [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: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Irrigated agricultural systems with reclaimed water (RW) play a crucial role in alleviating global water scarcity and increased food demand. However, appropriate reclaimed water quality thresholds and farming practices to improve food crop yield is virtually unclear. Therefore, for the first time, this study made a large compilation of previous studies using meta-analysis combined with a random forest (RF) model and analyzed the impact of RW versus freshwater (FW) on the yield of food crops (cereals, vegetables, and fruits). It was found that magnesium ion (Mg2+), calcium ion (Ca2+), electrical conductivity (EC), total nitrogen (TN), and potential of hydrogen (pH) were the most important factors for RW quality indicators. Based on the results, water managers should establish more conservative RW quality thresholds to promote food crop production, especially for salts and pollutants in RW. Compared to international water quality standards, it could be slightly relaxed the restrictions of TN in RW. The optimal farming practices obtained that irrigation amount of the mixed RW and FW (RW + FW) was from 1000 m3 ha-1 to 5000 m3 ha-1, and the cultivation period was no more than three years. Flood irrigation (FI) and drip irrigation (DI) for cereals were also recommended. Finally, a comparison of the determined results from this method with other scenarios published, finding a good agreement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xufei Liu
- College of Water Resources and Architecture Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China
| | - Lin Zhang
- Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China.
| | - Fuhui Yang
- College of Water Resources and Architecture Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China
| | - Wei Zhou
- College of Water Resources and Architecture Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China
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10
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Xiong Y, Shi Q, Sy ND, Dennis NM, Schlenk D, Gan J. Influence of methylation and demethylation on plant uptake of emerging contaminants. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 170:107612. [PMID: 36347118 PMCID: PMC9988749 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) as well as their transformation products (TPs) are often found in treated wastewater and biosolids, raising concerns about their environmental risks. Small changes in chemical structure, such as the addition or loss of a methyl group, as the result of methylation or demethylation reaction, may significantly alter a chemical's physicochemical properties. In this study, we evaluated the difference in accumulation and translocation between four CECs and their respective methylated or demethylated derivatives in plant models. Suspended Arabidopsis thaliana cell culture and wheat seedlings were cultivated in nutrient solutions containing individual compounds at 1 mg/L. The methylated counterparts were generally more hydrophobic and showed comparative or greater accumulation in both plant models. For example, after 1 h incubation, methylparaben was found in A. thaliana cells at levels two orders of magnitude greater than demethylated methylparaben. In contrast, the demethylated counterparts, especially those with the addition of a hydroxyl group after demethylation, showed decreased plant uptake and limited translocation. For example, acetaminophen and demethylated naproxen were not detected in the shoots of wheat seedlings after hydroponic exposure. Results from this study suggest that common transformations such as methylation and demethylation may affect the environmental fate of CECs, and should be considered to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of risks of CECs in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaxin Xiong
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Qingyang Shi
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Nathan D Sy
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Nicole M Dennis
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Daniel Schlenk
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Jay Gan
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
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11
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Goh PS, Ahmad NA, Lim JW, Liang YY, Kang HS, Ismail AF, Arthanareeswaran G. Microalgae-Enabled Wastewater Remediation and Nutrient Recovery through Membrane Photobioreactors: Recent Achievements and Future Perspective. MEMBRANES 2022; 12:1094. [PMID: 36363649 PMCID: PMC9699475 DOI: 10.3390/membranes12111094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The use of microalgae for wastewater remediation and nutrient recovery answers the call for a circular bioeconomy, which involves waste resource utilization and ecosystem protection. The integration of microalgae cultivation and wastewater treatment has been proposed as a promising strategy to tackle the issues of water and energy source depletions. Specifically, microalgae-enabled wastewater treatment offers an opportunity to simultaneously implement wastewater remediation and valuable biomass production. As a versatile technology, membrane-based processes have been increasingly explored for the integration of microalgae-based wastewater remediation. This review provides a literature survey and discussion of recent progressions and achievements made in the development of membrane photobioreactors (MPBRs) for wastewater treatment and nutrient recovery. The opportunities of using microalgae-based wastewater treatment as an interesting option to manage effluents that contain high levels of nutrients are explored. The innovations made in the design of membrane photobioreactors and their performances are evaluated. The achievements pave a way for the effective and practical implementation of membrane technology in large-scale microalgae-enabled wastewater remediation and nutrient recovery processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Sean Goh
- Advanced Membrane Technology Research Centre (AMTEC), Faculty of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai 81310, Johor, Malaysia
| | - Nor Akalili Ahmad
- Advanced Membrane Technology Research Centre (AMTEC), Faculty of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai 81310, Johor, Malaysia
| | - Jun Wei Lim
- HICoE-Centre for Biofuel and Biochemical Research, Institute of Self-Sustainable Building, Department of Fundamental and Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Seri Iskandar 32610, Perak Darul Ridzuan, Malaysia
- Department of Biotechnology, Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai 602105, India
| | - Yong Yeow Liang
- Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Lebuhraya Tun Razak, Gambang, Kuantan 26300, Pahang, Malaysia
| | - Hooi Siang Kang
- Marine Technology Centre, Institute for Vehicle System & Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai 81310, Johor, Malaysia
| | - Ahmad Fauzi Ismail
- Advanced Membrane Technology Research Centre (AMTEC), Faculty of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai 81310, Johor, Malaysia
| | - Gangasalam Arthanareeswaran
- Membrane Research Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli 620015, India
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12
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Deemter D, Oller I, Amat AM, Malato S. Advances in membrane separation of urban wastewater effluents for (pre)concentration of microcontaminants and nutrient recovery: A mini review. CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL ADVANCES 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ceja.2022.100298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
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13
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Effect of irrigation with treated wastewater on bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.) production and soil characteristics and estimation of plant nutritional input. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0271481. [PMID: 35839230 PMCID: PMC9286233 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0271481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, climate change has greatly affected rainfall and air temperature levels leading to a reduction in water resources in Southern Europe. This fact has emphasized the need to focus on the use of non-conventional water resources for agricultural irrigation. The reuse of treated wastewater (TWW) can represent a sustainable solution, reducing the consumption of freshwater (FW) and the need for mineral fertilisers. The main aim of this study was to assess, in a three-year period, the effects of TWW irrigation compared to FW on the biomass production of bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] plants and soil characteristics and to estimate the nutritional input provided by TWW irrigation. TWW was obtained by a constructed wetland system (CWs) which was used to treat urban wastewater. The system had a total surface area of 100 m2. An experimental field of bermudagrass was set up close to the system in a Sicilian location (Italy), using a split-plot design for a two-factor experiment with three replications. Results highlighted a high organic pollutant removal [five days biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5): 61%, chemical oxygen demand (COD): 65%] and a good efficiency in nutrients [total nitrogen (TN): 50%, total phosphorus (TP): 42%] of the CWs. Plants irrigated with TWW showed higher dry aboveground dry-weight (1259.3 kg ha-1) than those irrigated with FW (942.2 kg ha-1), on average. TWW irrigation approximately allowed a saving of 50.0 kg TN ha-1 year-1, 24.0 kg TP ha-1 year-1 and 29.0 kg K ha-1 year-1 on average with respect to commonly used N-P-K fertilisation programme for bermudagrass in the Mediterranean region. Soil salinity increased significantly (p ≤ 0.01) over the years and was detected to be higher in TWW-irrigated plots (+6.34%) in comparison with FW-irrigated plots. Our findings demonstrate that medium-term TWW irrigation increases the biomass production of bermudagrass turf and contributes to save significant amounts of nutrients, providing a series of agronomic and environmental benefits.
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14
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Baskar AV, Bolan N, Hoang SA, Sooriyakumar P, Kumar M, Singh L, Jasemizad T, Padhye LP, Singh G, Vinu A, Sarkar B, Kirkham MB, Rinklebe J, Wang S, Wang H, Balasubramanian R, Siddique KHM. Recovery, regeneration and sustainable management of spent adsorbents from wastewater treatment streams: A review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 822:153555. [PMID: 35104528 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
Adsorption is the most widely adopted, effective, and reliable treatment process for the removal of inorganic and organic contaminants from wastewater. One of the major issues with the adsorption-treatment process for the removal of contaminants from wastewater streams is the recovery and sustainable management of spent adsorbents. This review focuses on the effectiveness of emerging adsorbents and how the spent adsorbents could be recovered, regenerated, and further managed through reuse or safe disposal. The critical analysis of both conventional and emerging adsorbents on organic and inorganic contaminants in wastewater systems are evaluated. The various recovery and regeneration techniques of spent adsorbents including magnetic separation, filtration, thermal desorption and decomposition, chemical desorption, supercritical fluid desorption, advanced oxidation process and microbial assisted adsorbent regeneration are discussed in detail. The current challenges for the recovery and regeneration of adsorbents and the methodologies used for solving those problems are covered. The spent adsorbents are managed through regeneration for reuse (such as soil amendment, capacitor, catalyst/catalyst support) or safe disposal involving incineration and landfilling. Sustainable management of spent adsorbents, including processes involved in the recovery and regeneration of adsorbents for reuse, is examined in the context of resource recovery and circular economy. Finally, the review ends with the current drawbacks in the recovery and management of the spent adsorbents and the future directions for the economic and environmental feasibility of the system for industrial-scale application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arun V Baskar
- The Global Innovative Centre for Advanced Nanomaterials, College of Engineering, Science and Environment, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
| | - Nanthi Bolan
- School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6001, Australia; The UWA Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6001, Australia
| | - Son A Hoang
- The Global Innovative Centre for Advanced Nanomaterials, College of Engineering, Science and Environment, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; Division of Urban Infrastructural Engineering, Mientrung University of Civil Engineering, Phu Yen 56000, Viet Nam
| | - Prasanthi Sooriyakumar
- The Global Innovative Centre for Advanced Nanomaterials, College of Engineering, Science and Environment, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
| | - Manish Kumar
- CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), Nehru Marg, Nagpur 440020, Maharashtra, India
| | - Lal Singh
- CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), Nehru Marg, Nagpur 440020, Maharashtra, India
| | - Tahereh Jasemizad
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | - Lokesh P Padhye
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | - Gurwinder Singh
- The Global Innovative Centre for Advanced Nanomaterials, College of Engineering, Science and Environment, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
| | - Ajayan Vinu
- The Global Innovative Centre for Advanced Nanomaterials, College of Engineering, Science and Environment, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
| | - Binoy Sarkar
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, United Kingdom
| | - M B Kirkham
- Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | - Jörg Rinklebe
- University of Wuppertal, Germany, Faculty of Architecture und Civil Engineering, Institute of Soil Engineering, Waste- and Water Science, Laboratory of Soil- and Groundwater-Management, Germany; Department of Environment, Energy and Geoinformatics, Sejong University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Shengsen Wang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225127, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Hailong Wang
- Biochar Engineering Technology Research Center of Guangdong Province, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong 528000, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Soil Contamination Bioremediation of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311300, People's Republic of China
| | | | - Kadambot H M Siddique
- The UWA Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6001, Australia
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15
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Lyu S, Wu L, Wen X, Wang J, Chen W. Effects of reclaimed wastewater irrigation on soil-crop systems in China: A review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 813:152531. [PMID: 34953828 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Reclaimed wastewater (RW) use represents a substantial opportunity to alleviate the growing scarcity of water for irrigation of agricultural crops in China. However, insufficient understanding of the effects and fates of possible contaminants in RW promotes concerns over crop safety and prevents the extensive incorporation of RW in agriculture. We reviewed the characteristics of contaminants in RW, the fate of contaminants in soil-crop systems, and the effects of RW irrigation on soil quality and crop growth in China. We found that concentrations of heavy metals in RW were higher than the permissible limits in some areas. The total concentrations and main categories of emerging contaminants and pathogens in RW varied markedly among municipal wastewater treatment plants, and the greatest risks of contamination were posed by ofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole, and erythromycin, the most frequently observed compounds with risk quotients >1. The negative effects of salts and nutrients in RW on soil quality and crop growth were minor and manageable. The accumulation of heavy metals and emerging contaminants in soils irrigated with RW did not pose an immediate risk to soils and crops. Changes in soil microbial populations, diversity, and activity caused by RW irrigation increased crop yields and protected crops against contaminants. However, attention is necessary to the risks of bioaccumulation in soils and crops of heavy metals, emerging contaminants, intermediate metabolites, and pathogens, and their effects on human health with long-term RW irrigation. We recommend irrigation practices, crop screening, soil treatments, prioritizing the risks of contaminants, and comprehensive management to increase safety in RW used for agricultural irrigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sidan Lyu
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Laosheng Wu
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, USA
| | - Xuefa Wen
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Weiping Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
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16
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Estévez S, González-García S, Feijoo G, Moreira MT. How decentralized treatment can contribute to the symbiosis between environmental protection and resource recovery. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 812:151485. [PMID: 34742805 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Challenges associated with the sustainability of the water cycle pose new opportunities for resource recovery and greater environmental protection. While centralized wastewater treatment plants must evolve in their design and operation to adapt to a scenario of increasing demand for water, resources and energy, the decentralized approach emerges as an option to be considered in small communities or developing residential areas where bioenergy production can be improved through the recovery of organic matter in segregated streams or where the investment in the sewer network for connection to a centralized facility may be technologically or economically unfeasible. The main objective of this work is to evaluate the environmental and economic profile of a hybrid-decentralized configuration for the purpose of efficient wastewater management and resource recovery and its comparative evaluation with the centralized treatment scenario. Beyond water reclamation, decentralized treatment offers the possibility of valorization of digestate streams as nutrient sources for horticultural or ornamental crops in the vicinity of the plant. Based on the results of the environmental profile, this manuscript shows that the decentralized treatment approach is in line with the philosophy and guidelines of the circular economy, as it allows the use of reclaimed water and biofertilizers under safe and environmental-friendly conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofía Estévez
- Department of Chemical Engineering, CRETUS, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
| | - Sara González-García
- Department of Chemical Engineering, CRETUS, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Gumersindo Feijoo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, CRETUS, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - María Teresa Moreira
- Department of Chemical Engineering, CRETUS, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
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17
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Domingo-Echaburu S, Dávalos LM, Orive G, Lertxundi U. Drug pollution & Sustainable Development Goals. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 800:149412. [PMID: 34391154 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The United Nations set "The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," which includes the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a collection of 17 global goals designed to be a "blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all". Although only mentioned in one of the seventeen goals (goal 3), we argue that drugs in general, and growing drug pollution in particular, affects the SDGs in deeper, not readily apparent ways. So far, the emerging problem of drug pollution has not been sufficiently addressed. Here, we outline and discuss how drug pollution can affect SDGs and even threaten their achievement.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Domingo-Echaburu
- Pharmacy Service, Alto Deba-Integrated Health Care Organization, Arrasate, Gipuzkoa, Spain
| | - L M Dávalos
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Stony Brook University, 626 Life Sciences Building, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA; Consortium for Inter-Disciplinary Environmental Research, School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, 129 Dana Hall, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - G Orive
- NanoBioCel Group, Laboratory of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Paseo de la Universidad 7, Vitoria-Gasteiz 01006, Spain; Biomedical Research Networking Centre in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain; University Institute for Regenerative Medicine and Oral Implantology - UIRMI (UPV/EHU-Fundación Eduardo Anitua), Vitoria, Spain; Singapore Eye Research Institute, The Academia, 20 College Road, Discovery Tower, Singapore; Bioaraba, NanoBioCel Research Group, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
| | - U Lertxundi
- Bioaraba Health Research Institute, Osakidetza Basque Health Service, Araba Mental Health Network, Araba Psychiatric Hospital, Pharmacy Service, c/Alava 43, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Alava, Spain.
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18
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Yadav G, Mishra A, Ghosh P, Sindhu R, Vinayak V, Pugazhendhi A. Technical, economic and environmental feasibility of resource recovery technologies from wastewater. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 796:149022. [PMID: 34280638 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
An enormous amount of wastewater is generated across the world from different industrial or municipal sectors. Traditional wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) have primarily focused on the treatment of wastewater rather than the recovery of valuable resources. A shift from a linear to a circular economy may offer a unique platform for recovering valuable resources including energy, nutrients, and high-value goods from wastewater. However, transitioning from conventional frameworks to sustainable WWT systems remains a significant challenge. Thus, this review paper focuses on the avenues of resource recovery from WWTPs, by evaluating the potential for nutrients, water, and energy recovery from different types of wastewaters and sewage sludge. It discusses in detail a variety of available and advanced technologies for resource recovery. Further, the feasibility of these technologies from a sustainable standpoint is discussed, covering the technical, economic, and environmental facets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geetanjali Yadav
- Department of Chemical Engineering, École Polytechnique de Montreal, H3C 3A7, Canada.
| | - Arpit Mishra
- Cryogenic Engineering Centre, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal 721302, India.
| | - Parthasarathi Ghosh
- Cryogenic Engineering Centre, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal 721302, India.
| | - Raveendran Sindhu
- Microbial Processes and Technology Division, CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, Trivandrum 695 019, Kerala, India
| | - Vandana Vinayak
- Diatom Nanoengineering and Metabolism Lab (DNM), School of Applied Sciences, Dr. Harisingh Gour Central University, Sagar, MP 470003, India
| | - Arivalagan Pugazhendhi
- School of Renewable Energy, Maejo University, Chiang Mai 50290, Thailand; College of Medical and Health Science, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan.
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19
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Argaluza J, Domingo-Echaburu S, Orive G, Medrano J, Hernandez R, Lertxundi U. Environmental pollution with psychiatric drugs. World J Psychiatry 2021; 11:791-804. [PMID: 34733642 PMCID: PMC8546762 DOI: 10.5498/wjp.v11.i10.791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Among all contaminants of emerging interest, drugs are the ones that give rise to the greatest concern. Any of the multiple stages of the drug's life cycle (production, consumption and waste management) is a possible entry point to the different environmental matrices. Psychiatric drugs have received special attention because of two reasons. First, their use is increasing. Second, many of them act on phylogenetically highly conserved neuroendocrine systems, so they have the potential to affect many non-target organisms. Currently, wastewater is considered the most important source of drugs to the environment. Furthermore, the currently available wastewater treatment plants are not specifically prepared to remove drugs, so they reach practically all environmental matrices, even tap water. As drugs are designed to produce pharmacological effects at low concentrations, they are capable of producing ecotoxicological effects on microorganisms, flora and fauna, even on human health. It has also been observed that certain antidepressants and antipsychotics can bioaccumulate along the food chain. Drug pollution is a complicated and diffuse problem characterized by scientific uncertainties, a large number of stakeholders with different values and interests, and enormous complexity. Possible solutions consist on acting at source, using medicines more rationally, eco-prescribing or prescribing greener drugs, designing pharmaceuticals that are more readily biodegraded, educating both health professionals and citizens, and improving coordination and collaboration between environmental and healthcare sciences. Besides, end of pipe measures like improving or developing new purification systems (biological, physical, chemical, combination) that eliminate these residues efficiently and at a sustainable cost should be a priority. Here, we describe and discuss the main aspects of drug pollution, highlighting the specific issues of psychiatric drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julene Argaluza
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Bioaraba Health Research Institute, Vitoria-Gasteiz 01002, Spain
| | - Saioa Domingo-Echaburu
- Department of Pharmacy, Alto Deba Integrated Health Care Organization, Arrasate 20500, Spain
| | - Gorka Orive
- NanoBioCel Group, Laboratory of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Paseo de la Universidad 7, Vitoria-Gasteiz 01006, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Centre in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Vitoria-Gasteiz 01006, Spain
- Bioaraba, NanoBioCel Research Group, Vitoria-Gasteiz 01006, Spain
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, Discovery Tower, Singapore 168751, Singapore
| | - Juan Medrano
- Department of Psychiatry, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Mental Health Network Research Group, Osakidetza, Portugalete 48920, Spain
| | - Rafael Hernandez
- Department of Internal Medicine, Araba Mental Health Network, Vitoria-Gasteiz 01006, Spain
| | - Unax Lertxundi
- Bioaraba Health Research Institute; Osakidetza Basque Health Service, Araba Mental Health Network, Araba Psychiatric Hospital, Pharmacy Service, Vitoria-Gasteiz 01006, Alava, Spain
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Thapa U, Sharma P, Hanigan D. Quantification of pharmaceuticals in the sealant fluids of actively used waterless urinals. WATER ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH : A RESEARCH PUBLICATION OF THE WATER ENVIRONMENT FEDERATION 2021; 93:1837-1845. [PMID: 34153156 PMCID: PMC8863497 DOI: 10.1002/wer.1600] [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: 04/11/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Prior measurements at bench scale revealed that waterless urinal cartridges containing oily sealant fluids are capable of partitioning pharmaceuticals from urine and therefore reducing their concentration in wastewater. We sought to measure pharmaceutical removal from in-use waterless urinals. We developed a method to quantify pharmaceuticals in the sealant phase, which resulted in 79 ± 30% and 71 ± 30% recovery of eight pharmaceuticals from two sealant fluids, respectively. The method was applied to sealant samples collected over three weeks from in-use waterless urinals on a university campus. Six of eight pharmaceuticals were present in the sealant samples from 1.4 µg/L to 241 µg/L. Loads of the six pharmaceuticals detected in the sealants were removed from the receiving wastewater from 0.02 µg/day to 3.4 µg/day across the sampling period. The concentration of the pharmaceuticals were similar over time, indicating rapid saturation and washout of the sealant. We also observed relatively rapid loss of sealant at maintenance intervals consistent with the manufacturer's instructions. These findings indicate that while waterless urinals do remove some pharmaceuticals from the wastewater stream, meaningful changes to wastewater concentrations will only result if the sealant fluid and/or the urinal cartridge are significantly modified. PRACTITIONER POINTS: We developed a quantification method for pharmaceuticals in oily waterless urinal sealants. Pharmaceuticals were present at relatively low concentrations in the sealant phase of two in-use waterless urinals. We identify engineering challenges that must be overcome to meaningfully reduce pharmaceutical loads in wastewater with waterless urinals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Utsav Thapa
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557-0258
| | - Priyamvada Sharma
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557-0258
| | - David Hanigan
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557-0258
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Cheng K, Xu X, Cui L, Li Y, Zheng J, Wu W, Sun J, Pan G. The role of soils in regulation of freshwater and coastal water quality. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2021; 376:20200176. [PMID: 34365829 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2020.0176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Water quality regulation is an important ecosystem service function of soil. In this study, the mechanism by which soil regulates water quality was reviewed, and the effects of soil management on water quality were explored. A scientometrics analysis was also conducted to explore the research fields and hotspots of water quality regulation of soil in the past 5 years. This review found that the pollutants entering the soil can be mitigated by precipitation, adsorption and desorption, ion exchange, redox and metabolic decomposition. As an optimal substrate, soil in constructed wetlands has perfect performance in the adsorption and passivation of pollutants such as nitrogen, phosphorus and heavy metals in water, and degradation of pesticides and emerging contaminants. Mangrove wetlands play an important role in coastal zone protection and coastal water quality restoration. However, the excessive application of agricultural chemicals causes soil overload, which leads to the occurrence of agricultural non-point source pollution. Under the dual pressures of climate change and food insecurity in the future, developing environmentally friendly and economically feasible sustainable soil management measures is crucial for maintaining the water purification function of soil by relying on the accurate quantification of soil function based on big data and modelling. This article is part of the theme issue 'The role of soils in delivering Nature's Contributions to People'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Cheng
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Jiangsu 210095, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiangrui Xu
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Jiangsu 210095, People's Republic of China
| | - Liqiang Cui
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Yancheng Institute of Technology, Jiangsu 224003, People's Republic of China
| | - Yunpeng Li
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Jiangsu 210095, People's Republic of China
| | - Jufeng Zheng
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Jiangsu 210095, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenao Wu
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Jiangsu 210095, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianfei Sun
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Jiangsu 210095, People's Republic of China
| | - Genxing Pan
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Jiangsu 210095, People's Republic of China
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Shahriar A, Tan J, Sharma P, Hanigan D, Verburg P, Pagilla K, Yang Y. Modeling the fate and human health impacts of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in reclaimed wastewater irrigation for agriculture. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 276:116532. [PMID: 33676149 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater reclamation and reuse for agriculture have attracted a great deal of interest, due to water stress caused by rapid increase in human population and agricultural water demand as well as climate change. However, the application of treated wastewater for irrigation can lead to the accumulation of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in the agricultural crops, grazing animals, and consequently to human dietary exposure. In this study, a model was developed to simulate the fate of five PPCPs; triclosan (TCS), carbamazepine (CBZ), naproxen (NPX), gemfibrozil (GFB), and fluoxetine (FXT) during wastewater reuse for agriculture, and potential human dietary exposure and health risk. In a reclaimed wastewater-irrigated grazing farm growing alfalfa, it took 100-535 days for PPCPs to achieve the steady-state concentrations of 1.43 × 10-6, 4.73 × 10-5, 1.17 × 10-6, 1.53 × 10-5, and 7.38 × 10-6 mg/kg for TCS, CBZ, NPX, GFB, and FXT in soils, respectively. The accumulated concentration of PPCPs in the plant (alfalfa) and grazing animals (beef) ranged 2.86 × 10-7- 4.02 × 10-3 and 4.39 × 10-15- 6.27 × 10-7 mg/kg, respectively. Human dietary exposure to these compounds through beef consumption was calculated to be 1.67 × 10-18- 1.74 × 10-10 mg/kg bodyweight/d, much lower than the acceptable daily intake (ADI). Similar results were obtained for a 'typical' reclaimed wastewater irrigated farm based on the typical setup using our model. Screening analysis showed that PPCPs with relatively high LogD value and lower ratios of degradation rate (in soils) to plant uptake have a greater potential to be transferred to humans and cause potential health risks. We established a modeling method for evaluating the fate and human health effects of PPCPs in reclaimed wastewater reuse for the agricultural system and developed an index for screening PPCPs with high potential to accumulate in agricultural products. The model and findings are valuable for managing water reuse for irrigation and mitigating the harmful effects of PPCPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abrar Shahriar
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, 1664 N Virginia St, Reno, NV, 89557, USA
| | - Junwei Tan
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, 1664 N Virginia St, Reno, NV, 89557, USA
| | - Priyamvada Sharma
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, 1664 N Virginia St, Reno, NV, 89557, USA
| | - David Hanigan
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, 1664 N Virginia St, Reno, NV, 89557, USA
| | - Paul Verburg
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno, 1664 N Virginia St, Reno, NV, 89557, USA
| | - Krishna Pagilla
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, 1664 N Virginia St, Reno, NV, 89557, USA
| | - Yu Yang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, 1664 N Virginia St, Reno, NV, 89557, USA.
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Knisz J, Shetty P, Wirth R, Maróti G, Karches T, Dalkó I, Bálint M, Vadkerti E, Bíró T. Genome-level insights into the operation of an on-site biological wastewater treatment unit reveal the importance of storage time. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 766:144425. [PMID: 33418265 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144425] [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: 10/22/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
On-site wastewater treatment systems are gaining popularity in areas where centralized wastewater treatment is not available. In the current case study a domestic activated sludge system was investigated, where treated effluent was stored in a short-term (1 week turn-over time) and a long-term (over 2-3 months) storage tank and was then used for irrigation. This design provided a unique opportunity to assess the chemical and microbial changes of the effluent upon storage. Long-term storage greatly improved both the chemical quality and the degradation efficiency of most organic micropollutants examined, including petroleum hydrocarbons and the pesticide diethyltoluamide. Taxonomic profile of the core microbiome of the effluent was also influenced upon storage. Relative abundance values of the members of Azoarcus and Thauera genera, which are important in degrading polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons compounds, clearly indicated the biodegrading activity of these microbes across samples. The abundance of xenobiotics degradation functions correlated with the observed organic micropollutant degradation values indicating efficient microbial decomposition of these contaminants. Functions related to infectious diseases also had the highest abundance in the short-term storage tank corresponding well with the relative abundance of indicator organisms and implying to the significance of storage time in the elimination of pathogens. Based on these results, small, on-site wastewater treatment systems could benefit from long-term storage of wastewater effluent.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Knisz
- Faculty of Water Sciences, National University of Public Service, Bajcsy-Zsilinszky u. 12-14., 6500 Baja, Hungary
| | - P Shetty
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Center, Temesvári krt. 62, 6726 Szeged, Hungary
| | - R Wirth
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Center, Temesvári krt. 62, 6726 Szeged, Hungary
| | - G Maróti
- Faculty of Water Sciences, National University of Public Service, Bajcsy-Zsilinszky u. 12-14., 6500 Baja, Hungary; Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Center, Temesvári krt. 62, 6726 Szeged, Hungary
| | - T Karches
- Faculty of Water Sciences, National University of Public Service, Bajcsy-Zsilinszky u. 12-14., 6500 Baja, Hungary
| | - I Dalkó
- Faculty of Water Sciences, National University of Public Service, Bajcsy-Zsilinszky u. 12-14., 6500 Baja, Hungary
| | - M Bálint
- Bálint Analitika Ltd, Fehérvári út 144, 1116 Budapest, Hungary
| | - E Vadkerti
- Faculty of Water Sciences, National University of Public Service, Bajcsy-Zsilinszky u. 12-14., 6500 Baja, Hungary
| | - T Bíró
- Faculty of Water Sciences, National University of Public Service, Bajcsy-Zsilinszky u. 12-14., 6500 Baja, Hungary.
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Sustainable Production of Reclaimed Water by Constructed Wetlands for Combined Irrigation and Microalgae Cultivation Applications. HYDROLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/hydrology8010030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Considering the increasing pressure on freshwater resources due to the constant increase in water consumption and insufficient wastewater control and treatment, recovering wastewater is a path to overcoming water scarcity. The present work describes the potential of reusing treated wastewater (reclaimed water) for irrigation and production of microalgae biomass in an integrated way, through experimental evaluation of plant and microalgae growth, and creation of an application model. First, two parallel experiments were conducted to evaluate the use of reclaimed water produced by a constructed wetland filled with a mix of solid waste: the irrigation of a set of small pots filled with soil and planted with Tagetes patula L., and the cultivation of microalgae Chlorella sp. and a mixed microalgae population with predominant species of the genus Scenedesmus sp. in shaken flasks and tubular bubble column photobioreactors. Results indicated no negative effects of using the reclaimed water on the irrigated plants and in the cultivated microalgae. The growth indicators of plants irrigated with reclaimed water were not significantly different from plants irrigated with fertilized water. The growth indicators of the microalgae cultivated with reclaimed water are within the range of published data. Second, to apply the results to a case study, the seasonal variability of irrigation needs in an academic campus was used to propose a conceptual model for wastewater recovery. The simulation results of the model point to a positive combination of using reclaimed water for the irrigation of green spaces and microalgae production, supported by a water storage strategy. Water abstraction for irrigation purposes can be reduced by 89%, and 2074 kg dry weight microalgae biomass can be produced annually. Besides the need for future work to optimize the model and to add economical evaluation criteria, the model shows the potential to be applied to non-academic communities in the perspective of smarter and greener cities.
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Sharma P, Poustie A, Verburg P, Pagilla K, Yang Y, Hanigan D. Trace organic contaminants in field-scale cultivated alfalfa, soil, and pore water after 10 years of irrigation with reclaimed wastewater. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 744:140698. [PMID: 32693273 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Several studies have assessed the presence of trace organic contaminants (TrOCs) in reclaimed wastewater and their uptake into crops but there are limited data from field-scale studies. In this research, we studied the fate of 12 TrOCs in wastewater samples, 11 in plants and in soil pore water, and 10 in soil at an agricultural research farm, which was irrigated with reclaimed wastewater for more than 10 years. First, we examined the presence of the compounds in the primary, secondary, and treated effluent of a regional water reclamation facility which provides the irrigation water. The agricultural field produced alfalfa, and we measured the contaminants in the alfalfa, soil, and pore water. Reclaimed wastewater contained 11 of 12 TrOCs, with concentrations ranging from 26 ± 9 ng/L (DEET) to 1539 ± 1899 ng/L (trimethoprim). Atrazine was not detected. Pore water collected during non-irrigating periods contained all analyzed TrOCs, from 3 ± 0.1 ng/L (diphenhydramine) to 343 ± 360 ng/L (primidone). TrOCs measured in pore water samples indicated that they may leach to shallow groundwater even when fields are not being irrigated. Soils from 0 to 60 cm contained nine TrOCs from below the reporting limit (fluoxetine) to 329 ng/g (carbamazepine). Atrazine was not detected. TrOC concentrations decreased with increasing soil depth, except carbamazepine, which was more recalcitrant. Nine TrOCs were present in the shoots and leaves of alfalfa grown in the reclaimed wastewater irrigated plots, at concentrations ranging from <1 ng/g (diphenhydramine and fluoxetine) to 49 ng/g dry weight (carbamazepine). Atrazine and caffeine were not detected. We estimated that a maximum of 14% of DEET from the reclaimed wastewater was accumulated in alfalfa. Overall, despite some accumulation of TrOCs in the soil, alfalfa uptake was limited, which results in low exposure to foraging animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyamvada Sharma
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557-0258, United States of America
| | - Andrew Poustie
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557-0258, United States of America
| | - Paul Verburg
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557-0258, United States of America
| | - Krishna Pagilla
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557-0258, United States of America
| | - Yu Yang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557-0258, United States of America
| | - David Hanigan
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557-0258, United States of America.
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