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Beltrán de Heredia I, González-Gaya B, Zuloaga O, Garrido I, Acosta T, Etxebarria N, Ruiz-Romera E. Occurrence of emerging contaminants in three river basins impacted by wastewater treatment plant effluents: Spatio-seasonal patterns and environmental risk assessment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 946:174062. [PMID: 38917906 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
The concern on the fate and distribution of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) is a burning topic due to their widespread occurrence and potential harmful effects. Particularly, antibiotics have received great attention due to their implications in antimicrobial resistance occurrence. The impact of wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) is remarkable, being one of the main pathways for the introduction of CECs into aquatic systems. The combination of novel analytical methodologies and risk assessment strategies is a promising tool to find out environmentally relevant compounds posing major concerns in freshwater ecosystems impacted by those wastewater effluents. Within this context, a multi-target approach was applied in three Spanish river basins affected by different WWTP treated effluents for spatio-temporal monitoring of their chemical status. Solid phase extraction followed by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography were used for the quantification of a large panel of compounds (n = 270), including pharmaceuticals and other consumer products, pesticides and industrial chemicals. To this end, water samples were collected in four sampling campaigns at three locations in each basin: (i) upstream from the WWTPs; (ii) WWTP effluent discharge points (effluent outfall); and (iii) downstream from the WWTPs (500 m downriver from the effluent outfall). Likewise, 24-h composite effluent samples from each of the WWTPs were provided in all sampling periods. First the occurrence and distribution of these compounds were assessed. Diverse seasonal trends were observed depending on the group of emerging compounds, though COVID-19 outbreak affected variations of certain pharmaceuticals. Detection frequencies and concentrations in effluents generally exceeded those in river samples and concentrations measured upstream WWTPs were generally low or non-quantifiable. Finally, risks associated with maximum contamination levels were evaluated using two different approaches to account for antibiotic resistance selection as well. From all studied compounds, 89 evidenced environmental risk on at least one occasion in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Beltrán de Heredia
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Plaza Ingeniero Torres Quevedo 1, 48013 Bilbao, Spain.
| | - Belén González-Gaya
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Campus of Leioa, 48940 Leioa, Spain; Research Centre for Experimental Marine Biology and Biotechnology (PIE), University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Areatza Pasealekua 47, 48620 Plentzia, Basque Country, Spain
| | - Olatz Zuloaga
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Campus of Leioa, 48940 Leioa, Spain; Research Centre for Experimental Marine Biology and Biotechnology (PIE), University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Areatza Pasealekua 47, 48620 Plentzia, Basque Country, Spain
| | - Itziar Garrido
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Plaza Ingeniero Torres Quevedo 1, 48013 Bilbao, Spain; Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Campus of Leioa, 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Teresa Acosta
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Plaza Ingeniero Torres Quevedo 1, 48013 Bilbao, Spain; Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Campus of Leioa, 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Nestor Etxebarria
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Campus of Leioa, 48940 Leioa, Spain; Research Centre for Experimental Marine Biology and Biotechnology (PIE), University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Areatza Pasealekua 47, 48620 Plentzia, Basque Country, Spain
| | - Estilita Ruiz-Romera
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Plaza Ingeniero Torres Quevedo 1, 48013 Bilbao, Spain
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Cardenas Perez AS, Challis JK, Alcaraz AJ, Ji X, Ramirez AVV, Hecker M, Brinkmann M. Developing an Approach for Integrating Chemical Analysis and Transcriptional Changes to Assess Contaminants in Water, Sediment, and Fish. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2024. [PMID: 38801401 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Pharmaceuticals in aquatic environments pose threats to aquatic organisms because of their continuous release and potential accumulation. Monitoring methods for these contaminants are inadequate, with targeted analyses falling short in assessing water quality's impact on biota. The present study advocates for integrated strategies combining suspect and targeted chemical analyses with molecular biomarker approaches to better understand the risks posed by complex chemical mixtures to nontarget organisms. The research aimed to integrate chemical analysis and transcriptome changes in fathead minnows to prioritize contaminants, assess their effects, and apply this strategy in Wascana Creek, Canada. Analysis revealed higher pharmaceutical concentrations downstream of a wastewater-treatment plant, with clozapine being the most abundant in fathead minnows, showing notable bioavailability from water and sediment sources. Considering the importance of bioaccumulation factor and biota-sediment accumulation factor in risk assessment, these coefficients were calculated based on field data collected during spring, summer, and fall seasons in 2021. Bioaccumulation was classified as very bioaccumulative with values >5000 L kg-1, suggesting the ability of pharmaceuticals to accumulate in aquatic organisms. The study highlighted the intricate relationship between nutrient availability, water quality, and key pathways affected by pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and rubber components. Prioritization of these chemicals was done through suspect analysis, supported by identifying perturbed pathways (specifically signaling and cellular processes) using transcriptomic analysis in exposed fish. This strategy not only aids in environmental risk assessment but also serves as a practical model for other watersheds, streamlining risk-assessment processes to identify environmental hazards and work toward reducing risks from contaminants of emerging concern. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;00:1-22. © 2024 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Sharelys Cardenas Perez
- School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
- Global Institute for Water Security, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Jonathan K Challis
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Alper James Alcaraz
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Xiaowen Ji
- Division of Environmental Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Grossman School of Medicine, New York University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Alexis Valerio Valery Ramirez
- Grupo de investigación Agrícola y Ambiental, Universidad Nacional Experimental del Táchira, San Cristóbal, Venezuela
| | - Markus Hecker
- School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
- Global Institute for Water Security, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Markus Brinkmann
- School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
- Global Institute for Water Security, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
- Centre for Hydrology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
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Chiriac FL, Paun I, Iancu VI, Pirvu F, Dinu C, Niculescu M, Petre VA. Fate of pharmaceutical residue in two Romanian rivers receiving treated water: Occurrence, distribution and risk assessment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 923:171359. [PMID: 38438025 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171359] [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: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
This study presents the first set of data on the removal of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and histamine H2 receptor antagonists (HRAs) and their transformation products in two Romanian wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), as well as the impact of these organic pollutants on freshwater receiving effluents. The research investigated eight target pharmaceuticals and three metabolites using a newly developed and validated Liquid Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method. The combined determination had a range of quantification limits varying from 0.13 ng/L to 0.18 ng/L for surface water and from 0.28 ng/L to 0.43 ng/L for wastewater. All analytes except cimetidine and 5-hydroxy-omeprazole were identified in water samples. The study found similar overall removal efficiencies for both WWTPs (43.2 % for Galati and 51.7 % for Ramnicu-Valcea). The research also showed that ranitidine and omeprazole could pose a low to high ecological risk to aquatic organisms. The findings suggest that the treatment stages used in the two Romanian WWTPs are insufficient to remove the target analytes completely, leading to environmental risks associated with the occurrence of pharmaceutical compounds in effluents and freshwater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florentina Laura Chiriac
- National Research and Development Institute for Industrial Ecology-ECOIND, Drumul Podu, Dambovitei Street 57-73, 070762 Bucharest, Romania.
| | - Iuliana Paun
- National Research and Development Institute for Industrial Ecology-ECOIND, Drumul Podu, Dambovitei Street 57-73, 070762 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Vasile-Ion Iancu
- National Research and Development Institute for Industrial Ecology-ECOIND, Drumul Podu, Dambovitei Street 57-73, 070762 Bucharest, Romania.
| | - Florinela Pirvu
- National Research and Development Institute for Industrial Ecology-ECOIND, Drumul Podu, Dambovitei Street 57-73, 070762 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Cristina Dinu
- National Research and Development Institute for Industrial Ecology-ECOIND, Drumul Podu, Dambovitei Street 57-73, 070762 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Marcela Niculescu
- National Research and Development Institute for Industrial Ecology-ECOIND, Drumul Podu, Dambovitei Street 57-73, 070762 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Valentina Andreea Petre
- National Research and Development Institute for Industrial Ecology-ECOIND, Drumul Podu, Dambovitei Street 57-73, 070762 Bucharest, Romania
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Cannata C, Backhaus T, Bramke I, Caraman M, Lombardo A, Whomsley R, Moermond CTA, Ragas AMJ. Prioritisation of data-poor pharmaceuticals for empirical testing and environmental risk assessment. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 183:108379. [PMID: 38154319 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108379] [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: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
There are more than 3,500 active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) on the global market for human and veterinary use. Residues of these APIs eventually reach the aquatic environment. Although an environmental risk assessment (ERA) for marketing authorization applications of medicinal products is mandatory in the European Union since 2006, an ERA is lacking for most medicines approved prior to 2006 (legacy APIs). Since it is unfeasible to perform extensive ERA tests for all these legacy APIs, there is a need for prioritization of testing based on the limited data available. Prioritized APIs can then be further investigated to estimate their environmental risk in more detail. In this study, we prioritized more than 1,000 APIs used in Europe based on their predicted risk for aquatic freshwater ecosystems. We determined their risk by combining an exposure estimate (Measured or Predicted Environmental Concentration; MEC or PEC, respectively) with a Predicted No Effect Concentration (PNEC). We developed several procedures to combine the limited empirical data available with in silico data, resulting in multiple API rankings varying in data needs and level of conservativeness. In comparing empirical with in silico data, our analysis confirmed that the PEC estimated with the default parameters used by the European Medicines Agency often - but not always - represents a worst-case scenario. Comparing the ecotoxicological data for the three main taxonomic groups, we found that fish represents the most sensitive species group for most of the APIs in our list. We furthermore show that the use of in silico tools can result in a substantial underestimation of the ecotoxicity of APIs. After combining the different exposure and effect estimates into four risk rankings, the top-ranking APIs were further screened for availability of ecotoxicity data in data repositories. This ultimately resulted in the prioritization of 15 APIs for further ecotoxicological testing and/or exposure assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristiana Cannata
- Department of Environmental Science, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences (RIBES), Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
| | - Thomas Backhaus
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Irene Bramke
- Global Sustainability, AstraZeneca, Den Haag, the Netherlands
| | - Maria Caraman
- European Medicines Agency (EMA), Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Anna Lombardo
- Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Rhys Whomsley
- European Medicines Agency (EMA), Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Caroline T A Moermond
- Centre for Safety of Substances and Products (VSP), National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Ad M J Ragas
- Department of Environmental Science, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences (RIBES), Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
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