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Fang Y, Lin G, Liu Y, Zhang J. Contaminant removal performance and lipid productivity of a cyanobacteria-bacteria consortium containing exogenous phytohormones during the treatment of antibiotic-polluted wastewater. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 361:142473. [PMID: 38810810 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142473] [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: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 05/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
In this study, a cyanobacteria-bacteria consortium containing native wastewater bacteria and immobilized Synechococcus sp. was constructed. The cyanobacterial cellular responses (including growth, biomass and lipid productivity) and contaminant removal ability (for TN, TP, COD and antibiotics) in the consortium were evaluated during the advanced treatment of wastewater containing 10-50 μg/L of mixed antibiotics (amoxicillin, tetracycline, erythromycin, sulfadiazine and ciprofloxacin) with the addition of a certain phytohormone (indole-3-acetic acid, gibberellin A3 or 6-benzylaminopurine) at trace level within a period of four days. Each phytohormone promoted the growth of Synechococcus sp. and increased the tolerance of Synechococcus sp. to mixed antibiotics. Indole-3-acetic acid coupled to moderate antibiotic stress could elevate lipid productivity and lipid content of Synechococcus sp. to 33.50 mg/L/day and 43.75%, respectively. Phytohormones increased the pollutant removal performance of the cyanobacteria-bacteria consortium through the stimulation of cyanobacterial growth and the regulation of cyanobacteria-bacteria interaction, which increased the abundances of microalgae-associated bacteria including Flavobacterium, Allorhizobium-Neorhizobium-Pararhizobium-Rhizobium, Bosea, Sphingomonas and Emticicia. Up to 80.83%, 98.06%, 83.26%, 99.84%, 99.50%, 89.41%, 65.61% and 60.65% of TN, TP, COD, amoxicillin, tetracycline, erythromycin, sulfadiazine and ciprofloxacin were removed by the consortium with the addition of phytohormones. In general, indole-3-acetic acid was the optimal phytohormone for enhancing lipid production and contaminant removal performance of the cyanobacteria-bacteria consortium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youshuai Fang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, PR China.
| | - Guannan Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, PR China
| | - Ying Liu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, PR China.
| | - Jian Zhang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, PR China
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Rodrigues-Silva F, Santos CS, Marrero JA, Montes R, Quintana JB, Rodil R, Nunes OC, Starling MCVM, Amorim CC, Gomes AI, Vilar VJP. Continuous UV-C/H 2O 2 and UV-C/Chlorine applied to municipal secondary effluent and nanofiltration retentate: Removal of contaminants of emerging concern, ecotoxicity, and reuse potential. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 361:142355. [PMID: 38768787 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142355] [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: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
As global effects of water scarcity raise concerns and environmental regulations evolve, contemporary wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) face the challenge of effectively removing a diverse range of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) from municipal effluents. This study focuses on the assessment of advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), specifically UV-C/H2O2 and UV-C/Chlorine, for the removal of 14 target CECs in municipal secondary effluent (MSE, spiked with 10 μg L-1 of each CEC) or in the subsequent MSE nanofiltration retentate (NFR, no spiking). Phototreatments were carried out in continuous mode operation, with a hydraulic retention time of 3.4 min, using a tube-in-tube membrane photoreactor. For both wastewater matrices, UV-C photolysis (3.3 kJ L-1) exhibited high efficacy in removing CECs susceptible to photolysis, although lower treatment performance was observed for NFR. In MSE, adding 10 mg L-1 of H2O2 or Cl2 enhanced treatment efficiency, with UV-C/H2O2 outperforming UV-C/Chlorine. Both UV-C/AOPs eliminated the chronic toxicity of MSE toward Chlorella vulgaris. In the NFR, not only was the degradation of target CECs diminished, but chronic toxicity to C. vulgaris persisted after both UV-C/AOPs, with UV-C/Chlorine increasing toxicity due to potential toxic by-products. Nanofiltration permeate (NFP) exhibited low CECs and microbial content. A single chlorine addition effectively controlled Escherichia coli regrowth for 3 days, proving NFP potential for safe reuse in crop irrigation (<1 CFU/100 mL for E. coli; <1 mg L-1 for free chlorine). These findings provide valuable insights into the applications and limitations of UV-C/H2O2 and UV-C/Chlorine for distinct wastewater treatment scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Rodrigues-Silva
- Research Group on Environmental Applications of Advanced Oxidation Processes (GruPOA), Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, The Federal University of Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Carla S Santos
- Laboratory of Separation and Reaction Engineering-Laboratory of Catalysis and Materials (LSRE-LCM), Faculty of Engineering University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal; Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering (ALiCE), Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal
| | - Joaquín A Marrero
- Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering (ALiCE), Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal; Laboratory for Process and Reaction Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy (LEPABE), Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal
| | - Rosa Montes
- Aquatic One Health Research Center (ARCUS) & Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Food Chemistry. R. Constantino Candeira S/N, IIAA building. Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - José Benito Quintana
- Aquatic One Health Research Center (ARCUS) & Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Food Chemistry. R. Constantino Candeira S/N, IIAA building. Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Rosario Rodil
- Aquatic One Health Research Center (ARCUS) & Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Food Chemistry. R. Constantino Candeira S/N, IIAA building. Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Olga C Nunes
- Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering (ALiCE), Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal; Laboratory for Process and Reaction Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy (LEPABE), Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal
| | - Maria Clara V M Starling
- Research Group on Environmental Applications of Advanced Oxidation Processes (GruPOA), Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, The Federal University of Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Camila C Amorim
- Research Group on Environmental Applications of Advanced Oxidation Processes (GruPOA), Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, The Federal University of Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
| | - Ana I Gomes
- Laboratory of Separation and Reaction Engineering-Laboratory of Catalysis and Materials (LSRE-LCM), Faculty of Engineering University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal; Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering (ALiCE), Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal.
| | - Vítor J P Vilar
- Laboratory of Separation and Reaction Engineering-Laboratory of Catalysis and Materials (LSRE-LCM), Faculty of Engineering University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal; Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering (ALiCE), Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal.
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Manyepa P, Gani KM, Seyam M, Banoo I, Genthe B, Kumari S, Bux F. Removal and risk assessment of emerging contaminants and heavy metals in a wastewater reuse process producing drinkable water for human consumption. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 361:142396. [PMID: 38777194 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142396] [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: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
This study focuses on the removal and risk assessment of twenty emerging contaminants (ECs) and heavy metals in a REMIX water treatment plant (RWTP) that produces drinking water from combination of wastewater reuse and desalination. The membrane biological reactor (MBR) exhibit removal rates exceeding 95% of pharmaceuticals like acetaminophen, trimethoprim, diclofenac, naproxen, and emtricitabine. The efficiency of brackish reverse osmosis (BWRO) in removing ECs is highlighted, showing substantial efficacy with reduction rates of 99.5%, 75.5%, and 51.2% for sulfamethoxazole, venlafaxine, and benzotriazole, respectively. The advanced oxidation process based on Fenton process reveals removal (>95%) of emtricitabine, efavirenz, and carbamazepine. The study confirms that the combination of treatment units within the RWTP effectively removes heavy metals (>90%), complying with acceptable limits. Risk quotient (RQ) calculations indicate the efficiency of the RWTP in EC removal, serving as benchmarks for public acceptance of reclaimed water. In the context of heavy metals, the study concludes negligible cancer risks associated with reclaimed water consumption over a lifetime. Quantitative structure-activity relationship and occurrence, persistence, bioaccumulation and toxicity (OPBT) models were used to assess EC risk. The study screened and identified potential persistant, bio accumulating and toxic PBT ECs. Critical control points (CCPs) in the RWTP are identified, with brackish and seawater reverse osmosis (BWRO and SWRO) and advanced oxidation process (AOP) recognized as pivotal in hazard management. The study provides valuable insights on the removal of ECs and heavy metals in a wastewater reuse process and demonstrates potential of adopted process configuration in supplying safe drinking water from wastewater recycling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prince Manyepa
- Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology, Durban University of Technology, PO Box 1334, Durban, 4000, South Africa; Department of Civil Engineering and Geomatics, Durban University of Technology, PO Box 1334, Durban, 4000, South Africa
| | - Khalid Muzamil Gani
- Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology, Durban University of Technology, PO Box 1334, Durban, 4000, South Africa; Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Mahomed Seyam
- Department of Civil Engineering and Geomatics, Durban University of Technology, PO Box 1334, Durban, 4000, South Africa
| | - Ismail Banoo
- Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology, Durban University of Technology, PO Box 1334, Durban, 4000, South Africa
| | - Bettina Genthe
- Department of Microbiology, University of Stellensbosch, Svate Bag X1 Matieland 7602, South Africa
| | - Sheena Kumari
- Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology, Durban University of Technology, PO Box 1334, Durban, 4000, South Africa
| | - Faizal Bux
- Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology, Durban University of Technology, PO Box 1334, Durban, 4000, South Africa.
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Cui E, Fan X, Cui B, Li S, Chen T, Gao F, Li J, Zhou Z. The introduction of influent sulfamethoxazole loads induces changes in the removal pathways of sulfamethoxazole in vertical flow constructed wetlands featuring hematite substrate. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 469:133964. [PMID: 38452680 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133964] [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: 12/24/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
High frequent detection of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) in wastewater cannot be effectively removed by constructed wetlands (CWs) with a traditional river sand substrate. The role of emerging substrate of hematite in promoting SMX removal and the effect of influent SMX loads remain unclear. The removal efficiency of SMX in hematite CWs was significantly higher than that in river sand CWs by 12.7-13.8% by improving substrate adsorption capacity, plant uptake and microbial degradation. With increasing influent SMX load, the removal efficiency of SMX in hematite CWs slightly increased, and the removal pathways varied significantly. The contribution of plant uptake was relatively small (< 0.1%) under different influent SMX loads. Substrate adsorption (37.8%) primarily contributed to SMX removal in hematite CWs treated with low-influent SMX. Higher influent SMX loads decreased the contribution of substrate adsorption, and microbial degradation (67.0%) became the main removal pathway. Metagenomic analyses revealed that the rising influent load increased the abundance of SMX-degrading relative bacteria and the activity of key enzymes. Moreover, the abundance of high-risk ARGs and sulfonamide resistance genes in hematite CWs did not increase with the increasing influent load. This study elucidates the potential improvements in CWs with hematite introduction under different influent SMX loads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erping Cui
- Institute of Farmland Irrigation of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xinxiang 453002, China; Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Xiangyang Fan
- Institute of Farmland Irrigation of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xinxiang 453002, China
| | - Bingjian Cui
- Institute of Farmland Irrigation of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xinxiang 453002, China
| | - Shengshu Li
- Institute of Farmland Irrigation of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xinxiang 453002, China; Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Taotao Chen
- Institute of Farmland Irrigation of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xinxiang 453002, China; Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Feng Gao
- Institute of Farmland Irrigation of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xinxiang 453002, China.
| | - Jianan Li
- School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Qingdao University of Technology, Qingdao 266520, China
| | - Zhenchao Zhou
- Department of Environmental Engineering, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
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Castaño-Trias M, Rodríguez-Mozaz S, Verlicchi P, Buttiglieri G. Selection of pharmaceuticals of concern in reclaimed water for crop irrigation in the Mediterranean area. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 466:133538. [PMID: 38290335 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133538] [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: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
The reuse of reclaimed water in agriculture is being fostered in areas suffering from water scarcity. However, water pollutants can compromise food safety and pose a risk for the environment. This study aims to select the pharmaceutical compounds worth monitoring and investigating when reclaimed water is used for tomato and lettuce irrigation. A comprehensive study was first conducted to identify the pharmaceuticals frequently detected in secondary wastewater effluents in Catalonia (Northeast Spain). Priority pharmaceuticals were further selected based on their occurrence in secondary effluents, persistence (removal in conventional treatment), bioaccumulation potential, toxicity for aquatic organisms, and the risks they pose to the terrestrial environment and human health (through the consumption of crops). Out of the 47 preselected priority compounds, six could pose a risk to organisms living in soil irrigated with reclaimed water and seven could be potentially taken up by the crops. Nonetheless, no risk for human consumption was foreseen.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Castaño-Trias
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA-CERCA), C/Emili Grahit 101, 17003 Girona, Spain; University of Girona, Spain
| | - S Rodríguez-Mozaz
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA-CERCA), C/Emili Grahit 101, 17003 Girona, Spain; University of Girona, Spain.
| | - P Verlicchi
- Department of Engineering, University of Ferrara, Via Saragat 1, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - G Buttiglieri
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA-CERCA), C/Emili Grahit 101, 17003 Girona, Spain; University of Girona, Spain.
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Gutierrez M, Mutavdžić Pavlović D, Stipaničev D, Repec S, Avolio F, Zanella M, Verlicchi P. A thorough analysis of the occurrence, removal and environmental risks of organic micropollutants in a full-scale hybrid membrane bioreactor fed by hospital wastewater. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 914:169848. [PMID: 38190908 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169848] [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: 10/14/2023] [Revised: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
The Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive recent draft issued last October 2022 pays attention to contaminants of emerging concern including organic micropollutants (OMPs) and requires the removal of some of them at large urban wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) calling for their upgrading. Many investigations to date have reported the occurrence of a vast group of OMPs in the influent and many technologies have been tested for their removal at a lab- or pilot-scale. Moreover, it is well-known that hospital wastewater (HWW) contains specific OMPs at high concentration and therefore its management and treatment deserves attention. In this study, a 1-year investigation was carried out at a full-scale membrane bioreactor (MBR) treating mainly HWW. To promote the removal of OMPs, powdered activated carbon (PAC) was added to the bioreactor at 0.1 g/L and 0.2 g/L which resulted in the MBR operating as a hybrid MBR. Its performance was tested for 232 target and 90 non-target OMPs, analyzed by UHPLC-QTOF-MS using a direct injection method. A new methodology was defined to select the key compounds in order to evaluate the performance of the treatments. It was based on their frequency, occurrence, persistence to removal, bioaccumulation and toxicity. Finally, an environmental risk assessment of the OMP residues was conducted by means of the risk quotient approach. The results indicate that PAC addition increased the removal of most of the key OMPs (e.g., sulfamethoxazole, diclofenac, lidocaine) and OMP classes (e.g., antibiotics, psychiatric drugs and stimulants) with the highest loads in the WWTP influent. The hybrid MBR also reduced the risk in the receiving water as the PAC dosage increased mainly for spiramycin, lorazepam, oleandomycin. Finally, uncertainties and issues related to the investigation being carried out at full-scale under real conditions are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Gutierrez
- Department of Engineering, University of Ferrara, Via Saragat 1, 44122 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Dragana Mutavdžić Pavlović
- University of Zagreb, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Department of Analytical Chemistry, Marulićev trg 20, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Draženka Stipaničev
- Josip Juraj Strossmayer Water Institut, Central Water Laboratory, Ulica grada Vukovara 220, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Siniša Repec
- Josip Juraj Strossmayer Water Institut, Central Water Laboratory, Ulica grada Vukovara 220, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Francesco Avolio
- HERA S.p.A., Direzione Acqua, Via Cesare Razzaboni 80, 41122 Modena, Italy
| | - Marcello Zanella
- HERA S.p.A., Direzione Acqua, Via Cesare Razzaboni 80, 41122 Modena, Italy
| | - Paola Verlicchi
- Department of Engineering, University of Ferrara, Via Saragat 1, 44122 Ferrara, Italy.
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Xingchun J, Wei Z, Jing P, Guohui L, Dian C, Zhaohe Z, Yiran Z. The occurrence, spatial distribution, and well-depth dependence of PFASs in groundwater from a reclaimed water irrigation area. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 901:165904. [PMID: 37527708 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023]
Abstract
With the growing development of modern agriculture and industry, groundwater is facing more and more complex contaminants. One such contaminant is per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), which pose a potential risk to human health, particularly for those who rely on groundwater as their primary source of drinking water. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive investigation on the occurrence, spatial distribution, and source apportionment of PFASs in shallow (<60 m) and deep (>80 m) groundwater samples from a reclaimed water irrigation area in Beijing's suburbs. Our results showed that the average total PFAS concentration (∑10PFAS) for all samples was 10.55 ± 7.77 ng/L, ranging from 1.05 to 34.28 ng/L. The dominant congeners were PFBA, PFOA, and PFBS. No significant linear relationship was observed between PFAS concentrations and the well depth. However, the averaged ΣPFASs in groundwater were highest in the uppermost layer and declined sharply to a few ng/L in the deep aquifer below 80 m. PFASs showed elevated concentration in shallow aquifers in 9 out of 11 paired wells, indicating an overall descending trend of PFASs with increasing aquifer depth. The spatial distribution of PFASs was highly heterogeneous and showed different patterns in shallow and deep groundwater, which may be related to the complicated attenuation behavior of PFAS compounds when they transport and diffuse through overlapping aquifer layers. The influence of the landfill on groundwater PFASs was most pronounced within a 5 km radius. Source apportionment results indicated that reclaimed water irrigation is the main non-point source of PFASs in shallow groundwater. In contrast, deep groundwater is primarily subject to point sources and lateral recharge flow. This investigation of PFASs in shallow and deep wells provides a foundation for further exploration of PFASs transportation and risk prevention in regions where groundwater is a major water resource for domestic and industrial development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiao Xingchun
- National Research Center for Geoanalysis, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, China.
| | - Zhao Wei
- Beijing Institute of Geological Environment Monitoring, China
| | - Pan Jing
- Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, China
| | - Lu Guohui
- National Research Center for Geoanalysis, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, China
| | - Chen Dian
- School of Earth Sciences and Resources, China University of Geosciences Beijing, China
| | - Zhang Zhaohe
- School of Earth Sciences and Resources, China University of Geosciences Beijing, China
| | - Zhao Yiran
- National Research Center for Geoanalysis, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, China
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Verlicchi P, Lacasa E, Grillini V. Quantitative and qualitative approaches for CEC prioritization when reusing reclaimed water for irrigation needs - A critical review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 900:165735. [PMID: 37495137 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165735] [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: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
The use of reclaimed water for irrigation is an option that is becoming increasingly widespread to alleviate water scarcity and to cope with drought. However, reclaimed water, if used for irrigation, may introduce Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs) into the agroecosystems, which may be taken up by the crops and subsequently enter the food chain. The number of CECs is steadily increasing due to their continuous introduction on the market for different uses. There is an urgent need to draw up a short list of potential high priority CECs, which are substances that could be taken up by plants and accumulated in food produce, and/or that could have negative effects on human health and the environment. This review presents and discusses the approaches developed to prioritize CECs when reclaimed water is (re-)used for irrigation. They are divided into quantitative methodologies, which estimate the risk for environmental compartments (soil and water), predators and humans through equations, and qualitative methodologies, which are instead conceptual frameworks or procedures based on the simultaneous combination of data/information/practices with the judgment of experts. Three antibiotics (erythromycin, sulfamethoxazole and ciprofloxacin), one estrogen (17-α ethinylestradiol) and one analgesic (ibuprofen) were found on at least two priority lists, although comparison among studies is still difficult. The review remarks that it is advisable to harmonize the different methodologies in order to identify the priority CECs to include in monitoring programs in reclaimed water reuse projects and to ensure a high level of protection for humans and the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Verlicchi
- Department of Engineering, University of Ferrara, Via Saragat 1, Ferrara 44122, Italy.
| | - Engracia Lacasa
- Department of Engineering, University of Ferrara, Via Saragat 1, Ferrara 44122, Italy; Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Campus Universitario s/n, Albacete 02071, Spain.
| | - Vittoria Grillini
- Department of Engineering, University of Ferrara, Via Saragat 1, Ferrara 44122, Italy.
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