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Harriage S, Harasheh A, Schultz N, Long B. Bioconcentration of pharmaceuticals by aquatic flora in an Australian river system. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 946:174361. [PMID: 38960202 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174361] [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: 05/05/2024] [Revised: 06/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
Pharmaceuticals are emerging contaminants in the environment and are a ubiquitous presence in rivers downstream of wastewater treatment plant outfalls. Questions remain about the persistence of pharmaceuticals in rivers, and the uptake and bioconcentration of pharmaceuticals by aquatic plants. Our study took place in the Yarrowee/Leigh/Barwon River system in southeastern Australia. We quantified the concentrations of five pharmaceuticals (carbamazepine, primidone, propranolol, tramadol, and venlafaxine) in surface water at five sites along a 144-km stretch of river, downstream of the presumed primary point source (a wastewater treatment plant outfall). We quantified pharmaceuticals in the leaves of two aquatic plant species (Phragmites australis and Vallisneria australis) sampled at each site, and calculated bioconcentration factors. All five pharmaceuticals were detected in surface waters, and the highest detected concentration exceeded 500 ng.L-1 (tramadol). Four of the pharmaceuticals (all except tramadol) were detected and quantified at all sites, including the furthest site from the outfall (144 km). Carbamazepine showed less attenuation with distance from the outfall than the other pharmaceuticals. Carbamazepine and venlafaxine were quantified in the leaves of both aquatic plant species (range: 10-31 ng.g-1), and there was evidence that bioconcentration factors increased with decreasing surface water concentrations. The study demonstrates the potential long-distance persistence of pharmaceuticals in river systems, and the bioconcentration of pharmaceuticals by aquatic plants in natural ecosystems. These phenomena deserve greater attention as aquatic plants are a potential point of transfer of pharmaceuticals from aquatic ecosystems to terrestrial food webs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Harriage
- Future Regions Research Centre, Federation University Australia, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ahmad Harasheh
- Future Regions Research Centre, Federation University Australia, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia; Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan
| | - Nick Schultz
- Future Regions Research Centre, Federation University Australia, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia
| | - Benjamin Long
- Future Regions Research Centre, Federation University Australia, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia
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Zhang J, Yan Q, Bai G, Guo D, Chi Y, Li B, Yang L, Ren Y. Inducing root redundant development to release oxygen: An efficient natural oxygenation approach for subsurface flow constructed wetland. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 239:117377. [PMID: 37832770 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
Dissolved oxygen (DO) is a limiting factor affecting the purification efficiency of subsurface flow (SSF) constructed wetlands (CWs). To clarify the causes of oxygen environments and the response characteristics of plant oxygen release (POR) in SSF CWs, this study set three oxygen source treatments by limiting atmospheric reaeration (AR) and influent oxygen (IO) and compared the differences in plant physiological metabolism, DO distribution characteristics, and the purification effect of the SSF CWs at different depths. The results showed that limiting exogenous oxygen stimulated root redundancy of the wetland plants. The root volume and proportion of fibrous roots of the wetland plants increased significantly (p < 0.05). When only the POR existed, the root zone DO increased significantly to 2.05-4.37 mg/L (p < 0.05), and was positively correlated with the TN and TP removal rates (p < 0.05). Additionally, in the presence of POR only, the average removal rates of TN and TP in the top layer were 86.5% and 76.9%, respectively. The proportion of fibrous roots, root zone DO, and root-shoot ratio were key factors promoting the purification effect of the SSF CWs under limited exogenous oxygen sources. Enhancing POR by inducing root redundancy enhanced nitrification (hao, pmoABC-amoABC), plant absorption, and assimilation-related functional genes (nrtABC, nifKDH), and enriched nitrogen and phosphorus removal bacteria, such as Flavobacterium and Zoogloea. This consequently improved pollutant removal efficiency. Inducing root redundancy to strengthen POR produced an aerobic environment in the SSF CWs. This ensures the efficient and stable operation of the SSF CW and is an effective approach for natural oxygenation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingying Zhang
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China; Key Lab of Northwest Water Resource, Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China
| | - Qiuhui Yan
- Xi'an High-tech Zone CITY CORE Development & Construction Co., Ltd, Xi'an, 710117, China
| | - Ge Bai
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China; Key Lab of Northwest Water Resource, Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China
| | - Dun Guo
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China; Key Lab of Northwest Water Resource, Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China
| | - Yanbin Chi
- School of Metallurgical and Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China
| | - Bin Li
- Xi'an Botanical Garden of Shaanxi Province, Botanical Institute of Shaanxi Province, Xi'an, 710061, China
| | - Lei Yang
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China; Key Lab of Northwest Water Resource, Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China
| | - Yongxiang Ren
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China; Key Lab of Northwest Water Resource, Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China.
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Salah M, Zheng Y, Wang Q, Li C, Li Y, Li F. Insight into pharmaceutical and personal care products removal using constructed wetlands: A comprehensive review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 885:163721. [PMID: 37116812 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) were regarded as emerging environmental pollutants due to their ubiquitous appearance and high environmental risks. The wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) became the hub of PPCPs receiving major sources of PPCPs used by humans. Increasing concern has been focused on promoting cost-effective ways to eliminate PPCPs within WWTPs for blocking their route into the environment through effluent discharging. Among all advanced technologies, constructed wetlands (CWs) with a combination of plants, substrates, and microbes attracted attention due to their cost-effectiveness and easier maintenance during long-term operation. This study offers baseline data for risk control and future treatment by discussing the extent and dispersion of PPCPs in surface waters over the past ten years and identifying the mechanisms of PPCPs removal in CWs based on the up-to-present research, with a special focus on the contribution of sediments, vegetation, and the interactions of microorganisms. The significant role of wetland plants in the removal of PPCPs was detailed discussed in identifying the contribution of direct uptake, adsorption, phytovolatilization, and biodegradation. Meanwhile, the correlation between the physical-chemical characteristics of PPCPs, the configuration operation of wetlands, as well as the environmental conditions with PPCP removal were also further estimated. Finally, the critical issues and knowledge gaps before the real application were addressed followed by promoted future works, which are expected to provide a comprehensive foundation for study on PPCPs elimination utilizing CWs and drive to achieve large-scale applications to treat PPCPs-contaminated surface waters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohomed Salah
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China; Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Yu Zheng
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China; Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Qian Wang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China; Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China.
| | - Chenguang Li
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China; Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Yuanyuan Li
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China; Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Fengmin Li
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China; Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China; Sanya Oceanographic Institution, Ocean University of China, Sanya 572000, China.
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