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Beeckman F, Drozdzecki A, De Knijf A, Corrochano-Monsalve M, Bodé S, Blom P, Goeminne G, González-Murua C, Lücker S, Boeckx P, Stevens CV, Audenaert D, Beeckman T, Motte H. Drug discovery-based approach identifies new nitrification inhibitors. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 346:118996. [PMID: 37725864 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
Nitrogen (N) fertilization is crucial to sustain global food security, but fertilizer N production is energy-demanding and subsequent environmental N losses contribute to biodiversity loss and climate change. N losses can be mitigated be interfering with microbial nitrification, and therefore the use of nitrification inhibitors in enhanced efficiency fertilizers (EEFs) is an important N management strategy to increase N use efficiency and reduce N pollution. However, currently applied nitrification inhibitors have limitations and do not target all nitrifying microorganisms. Here, to identify broad-spectrum nitrification inhibitors, we adopted a drug discovery-based approach and screened 45,400 small molecules on different groups of nitrifying microorganisms. Although a high number of potential nitrification inhibitors were identified, none of them targeted all nitrifier groups. Moreover, a high number of new nitrification inhibitors were shown to be highly effective in culture but did not reduce ammonia consumption in soil. One archaea-targeting inhibitor was not only effective in soil, but even reduced - when co-applied with a bacteria-targeting inhibitor - ammonium consumption and greenhouse gas emissions beyond what is achieved with currently applied nitrification inhibitors. This advocates for combining different types of nitrification inhibitors in EEFs to optimize N management practices and make agriculture more sustainable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Beeckman
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium; VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Andrzej Drozdzecki
- Ghent University Centre for Bioassay Development and Screening (C-BIOS), 9052, Ghent, Belgium; VIB Screening Core, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Alexa De Knijf
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium; VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Mario Corrochano-Monsalve
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, University of the Basque Country-UPV/EHU, Apdo. 644, Bilbao, E-48080, Spain
| | - Samuel Bodé
- Laboratory of Applied Physical Chemistry (ISOFYS), Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Pieter Blom
- Department of Microbiology, RIBES, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525, AJ, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Geert Goeminne
- VIB Metabolomics Core, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Carmen González-Murua
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, University of the Basque Country-UPV/EHU, Apdo. 644, Bilbao, E-48080, Spain
| | - Sebastian Lücker
- Department of Microbiology, RIBES, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525, AJ, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Pascal Boeckx
- Laboratory of Applied Physical Chemistry (ISOFYS), Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Christian V Stevens
- Synthesis, Bioresources and Bioorganic Chemistry Research Group (SynBioC), Department of Green Chemistry and Technology, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Dominique Audenaert
- Ghent University Centre for Bioassay Development and Screening (C-BIOS), 9052, Ghent, Belgium; VIB Screening Core, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Tom Beeckman
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium; VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Hans Motte
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium; VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium.
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2
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Sørensen L, Gomes T, Igartua A, Lyngstad IL, Almeida AC, Wagner M, Booth AM. Organic chemicals associated with rubber are more toxic to marine algae and bacteria than those of thermoplastics. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 458:131810. [PMID: 37336109 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
The current study investigated the chemical complexity of fifty plastic (36) and elastomer/rubber (14) methanol extracts from consumer products, focusing on the association with toxicity in two screening assays (bacteria luminescence and marine microalgae). The chemical composition varied considerably between the products and polymers. The most complex sample (car tire rubber) contained 2456 chemical features and the least complex (disposable water bottle) only 39 features, with a median of 386 features across all products. Individual extract toxicity also varied significantly across the products and polymers, with the two toxicity assays showing comparable results in terms of defining low and high toxicity extracts, and correlation between medium toxicity extracts. Chemical complexity and abundance both correlated with toxicity in both assays. However, there were strong differences in toxicity between plastic and elastomer extracts. Overall, 86-93 % of the 14 elastomer extracts and only 33-36 % of other polymer extracts (n = 36) were more toxic than the median. A range of compounds were tentatively identified across the sample set, with several concerning compounds being identified, mostly in the elastomers. While the current focus on plastic chemicals is towards thermoplastics, we show that elastomers may be of more concern from an environmental and human health perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisbet Sørensen
- SINTEF Ocean AS, Department of Climate and Environment, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Tânia Gomes
- Norwegian Institute of Water Research (NIVA), Section of Ecotoxicology and Risk Assessment, Oslo, Norway
| | - Amaia Igartua
- SINTEF Ocean AS, Department of Climate and Environment, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Inger Larsen Lyngstad
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Department of Biology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Ana Catarina Almeida
- Norwegian Institute of Water Research (NIVA), Section of Ecotoxicology and Risk Assessment, Oslo, Norway
| | - Martin Wagner
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Department of Biology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Andy M Booth
- SINTEF Ocean AS, Department of Climate and Environment, Trondheim, Norway.
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3
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Finlayson KA, Leusch FDL, van de Merwe JP. Review of ecologically relevant in vitro bioassays to supplement current in vivo tests for whole effluent toxicity testing - Part 1: Apical endpoints. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 851:157817. [PMID: 35970462 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157817] [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: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Whole effluent toxicity (WET) testing is commonly used to ensure that wastewater discharges do not pose an unacceptable risk to receiving environments. Traditional WET testing involves exposing animals to (waste)water samples to assess four major ecologically relevant apical endpoints: mortality, growth, development, and reproduction. Recently, with the widespread implementation of the 3Rs to replace, reduce and refine the use of animals in research and testing, there has been a global shift away from in vivo testing towards in vitro alternatives. However, prior to the inclusion of in vitro bioassays in regulatory frameworks, it is critical to establish their ecological relevance and technical suitability. This is part 1 of a two-part review that aims to identify in vitro bioassays that can be used in WET testing and relate them to ecologically relevant endpoints through toxicity pathways, providing the reader with a high-level overview of current capabilities. Part 1 of this review focuses on four apical endpoints currently included in WET testing: mortality, growth, development, and reproduction. For each endpoint, the link between responses at the molecular or cellular level, that can be measured in vitro, and the adverse outcome at the organism level were established through simplified toxicity pathways. Additionally, literature from 2015 to 2020 on the use of in vitro bioassays for water quality assessments was reviewed to identify a list of suitable bioassays for each endpoint. This review will enable the prioritization of relevant endpoints and bioassays for incorporation into WET testing.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Frederic D L Leusch
- Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Australia; School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
| | - Jason P van de Merwe
- Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Australia; School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
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4
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Wlodkowic D, Jansen M. High-throughput screening paradigms in ecotoxicity testing: Emerging prospects and ongoing challenges. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 307:135929. [PMID: 35944679 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.135929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The rapidly increasing number of new production chemicals coupled with stringent implementation of global chemical management programs necessities a paradigm shift towards boarder uses of low-cost and high-throughput ecotoxicity testing strategies as well as deeper understanding of cellular and sub-cellular mechanisms of ecotoxicity that can be used in effective risk assessment. The latter will require automated acquisition of biological data, new capabilities for big data analysis as well as computational simulations capable of translating new data into in vivo relevance. However, very few efforts have been so far devoted into the development of automated bioanalytical systems in ecotoxicology. This is in stark contrast to standardized and high-throughput chemical screening and prioritization routines found in modern drug discovery pipelines. As a result, the high-throughput and high-content data acquisition in ecotoxicology is still in its infancy with limited examples focused on cell-free and cell-based assays. In this work we outline recent developments and emerging prospects of high-throughput bioanalytical approaches in ecotoxicology that reach beyond in vitro biotests. We discuss future importance of automated quantitative data acquisition for cell-free, cell-based as well as developments in phytotoxicity and in vivo biotests utilizing small aquatic model organisms. We also discuss recent innovations such as organs-on-a-chip technologies and existing challenges for emerging high-throughput ecotoxicity testing strategies. Lastly, we provide seminal examples of the small number of successful high-throughput implementations that have been employed in prioritization of chemicals and accelerated environmental risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donald Wlodkowic
- The Neurotox Lab, School of Science, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, 3083, Australia.
| | - Marcus Jansen
- LemnaTec GmbH, Nerscheider Weg 170, 52076, Aachen, Germany
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5
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Fei S, Ren H. Determining the Dose-Response Curve of Exoelectrogens: A Microscale Microbial Fuel Cell Biosensor for Water Toxicity Monitoring. MICROMACHINES 2022; 13:1560. [PMID: 36295913 PMCID: PMC9609928 DOI: 10.3390/mi13101560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Nowadays, the development of real-time water quality monitoring sensors is critical. However, traditional water monitoring technologies, such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), liquid chromatography, mass spectroscopy, luminescence screening, surface plasma resonance (SPR), and analysis of living bioindicators, are either time consuming or require expensive equipment and special laboratories. Because of the low cost, self-sustainability, direct current output and real-time response, microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have been implemented as biosensors for water toxicity monitoring. In this paper, we report a microscale MFC biosensor to study the dose-response curve of exoelectrogen to toxic compounds in water. The microscale MFC biosensor has an anode chamber volume of 200 μL, which requires less sample consumption for water toxicity monitoring compared with macroscale or mesoscale MFC biosensors. For the first time, the MFC biosensor is exposed to a large formaldehyde concentration range of more than 3 orders of magnitudes, from a low concentration of 1 × 10-6 g/L to a high concentration of 3 × 10-3 g/L in water, while prior studies investigated limited formaldehyde concentration ranges, such as a small concentration range of 1 × 10-4 g/L to 2 × 10-3 g/L or only one high concentration of 0.1 g/L. As a result, for the first time, a sigmoid dose-response relationship of normalized dose-response versus formaldehyde concentration in water is observed, in agreement with traditional toxicology dose-response curve obtained by other measurement techniques. The biosensor has potential applications in determining dose-response curves for toxic compounds and detecting toxic compounds in water.
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6
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Franklin HM, Doederer K, Neale PA, Hayton JB, Fisher P, Maxwell P, Carroll AR, Burford MA, Leusch FDL. Terrestrial dissolved organic matter source affects disinfection by-product formation during water treatment and subsequent toxicity. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 283:117232. [PMID: 34034019 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117232] [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: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Restoring woody vegetation to riparian zones helps to protect waterways from excessive sediment and nutrient inputs. However, the associated leaf litter can be a major source of dissolved organic matter (DOM) leached into surface waters. DOM can lead to the formation of disinfection by-products (DBPs) during drinking water treatment. This study investigated the DBPs formed during chlorination of DOM leached from leaf litter and assessed the potential toxicity of DBPs generated. We compared the leachate of two native Australian riparian trees, Casuarina cunninghamiana and Eucalyptus tereticornis, and a reservoir water source from a catchment dominated by Eucalyptus species. Leachates were diluted to dissolved organic carbon concentrations equivalent to the reservoir (~9 mg L-1). E. tereticornis leachates produced more trihalomethanes (THMs), haloacetic acids (HAAs), and haloketones after chlorination, while C. cunninghamiana produced more chloral hydrate and haloacetonitriles. Leachate from both species produced less THMs and more HAAs per mole of carbon than reservoir water. This may be because reservoir water had more aromatic, humic characteristics while leaf leachates had relatively more protein-like components. Using in vitro bioassays to test the mixture effects of all chemicals, chlorinated E. tereticornis leachate induced oxidative stress in HepG2 liver cells and bacterial toxicity more frequently and at lower concentrations than C. cunninghamiana and reservoir water. Overall, this study has shown that the DOM leached from litter of these species has the potential to generate DBPs and each species has a unique DBP profile with differing bioassay responses. E. tereticornis may pose a relatively greater risk to drinking water than C. cunninghamiana as it showed greater toxicity in bioassays. This implies tree species should be considered when planning riparian zones to ensure the benefits of vegetation to waterways are not offset by unintended increased DBP production and associated toxicity following chlorination at downstream drinking water intakes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah M Franklin
- Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Nathan, 4111, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Katrin Doederer
- The University of Queensland, Advanced Water Management Centre, Gehrmann Building, St. Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Peta A Neale
- Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Nathan, 4111, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Joshua B Hayton
- School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Nathan, 4111, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, Southport, 4222, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
| | - Paul Fisher
- Seqwater, 117 Brisbane Street, Ipswich, 4305, Queensland, Australia
| | - Paul Maxwell
- Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Nathan, 4111, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Healthy Land and Water, Brisbane City, 4111, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Alluvium Consulting, Fortitude Valley, 4006, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; The University of Queensland, School of Chemical Engineering, Don Nicklin Building, St. Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Anthony R Carroll
- Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, Southport, 4222, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia; Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, 4111, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Michele A Burford
- Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Nathan, 4111, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Nathan, 4111, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Frederic D L Leusch
- Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Nathan, 4111, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Nathan, 4111, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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7
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Bergua JF, Álvarez-Diduk R, Hu L, Hassan AHA, Merkoçi A. Improved Aliivibrio fischeri based-toxicity assay: Graphene-oxide as a sensitivity booster with a mobile-phone application. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 406:124434. [PMID: 33307446 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Recently, many bioluminescence-based applications have arisen in several fields, such as biosensing, bioimaging, molecular biology, and human health diagnosis. Among all bioluminescent organisms, Aliivibrio fischeri (A. fischeri) is a bioluminescent bacterium used to carry out water toxicity assays since the late 1970s. Since then, several commercial A. fischeri-based products have been launched to the market, as these bacteria are considered as a gold standard for water toxicity assessment worldwide. However, the aforementioned commercial products rely on expensive equipment, requiring several reagents and working steps, as well as high-trained personnel to perform the assays and analyze the output data. For these reasons, in this work, we have developed for the first time a mobile-phone-based sensing platform for water toxicity assessment in just 5 min using two widespread pesticides as model analytes. To accomplish this, we have established new methodologies to enhance the bioluminescent signal of A. fischeri based on the bacterial culture in a solid media and/or using graphene oxide. Finally, we have addressed the biocompatibility of graphene oxide to A. fischeri, boosting the sensitivity of the toxicity assays and the bacterial growth of the lyophilized bacterial cultures for more user-friendly storage.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Francisco Bergua
- Nanobioelectronics & Biosensors Group, Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2), CSIC and BIST, Campus UAB, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ruslan Álvarez-Diduk
- Nanobioelectronics & Biosensors Group, Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2), CSIC and BIST, Campus UAB, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Liming Hu
- Nanobioelectronics & Biosensors Group, Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2), CSIC and BIST, Campus UAB, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Abdelrahim H A Hassan
- Department of Food Hygiene and Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef 62511, Egypt
| | - Arben Merkoçi
- Nanobioelectronics & Biosensors Group, Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2), CSIC and BIST, Campus UAB, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; ICREA, Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, Pg. Lluís Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain.
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8
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Shakerian F, Zhao J, Li SP. Recent development in the application of immobilized oxidative enzymes for bioremediation of hazardous micropollutants - A review. CHEMOSPHERE 2020; 239:124716. [PMID: 31521938 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.124716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Revised: 08/11/2019] [Accepted: 08/29/2019] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
During the past several years, abundant progresses has been made in the development of immobilized oxidative enzymes with focus on finding new support materials, improving the immobilization methods and their applications. Nowadays, immobilized oxidative enzymes are broadly accepted as a green way to face the challenge of high amounts of micropollutants in nature. Among all oxidative enzymes, laccases and horseradish peroxidase were used frequently in recent years as they are general oxidative enzymes with ability to oxidize various types of compounds. Immobilized laccase or horseradish peroxidase are showed better stability, and reusability as well as easy separation from reaction mixture that make them more favorable and economic in compared to free enzymes. However, additional improvements are still essential such as: development of the new materials for immobilization with higher capacity, easy preparation, and cheaper price. Moreover, immobilization methods are still need improving to become more efficient and avoid enzyme wasting during immobilization and enzyme leakage through working cycles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farid Shakerian
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China
| | - Jing Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China.
| | - Shao-Ping Li
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China.
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9
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Persulfate oxidation-assisted membrane distillation process for micropollutant degradation and membrane fouling control. Sep Purif Technol 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2019.04.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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10
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Neale PA, Leusch FDL. Assessing the role of different dissolved organic carbon and bromide concentrations for disinfection by-product formation using chemical analysis and bioanalysis. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2019; 26:17100-17109. [PMID: 31001769 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-05017-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2018] [Accepted: 03/27/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Concerns regarding disinfection by-product (DBP) formation during drinking water treatment have led water utilities to apply treatment processes to reduce the concentration of DBP precursor natural organic matter (NOM). However, these processes often do not remove bromide, leading to high bromide to dissolved organic carbon (DOC) ratios after treatment, which can increase the formation of more toxic brominated DBPs. In the current study, we investigated the formation and effect of DBPs in a matrix of synthetic water samples containing different concentrations of bromide and DOC after disinfection with chlorine. Trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids were analysed by chemical analysis, while effect was evaluated using in vitro bioassays indicative of the oxidative stress response and bacterial toxicity. While the addition of increasing bromide concentrations did not alter the sum molar concentration of DBPs formed, the speciation changed, with greater bromine incorporation with an increasing Br:DOC ratio. However, the observed effect did not correlate with the Br:DOC ratio, but instead, effect increased with increasing DOC concentration. Water samples with low DOC and high bromide did not exceed the available oxidative stress response effect-based trigger value (EBT), while all samples with high DOC, irrespective of the bromide concentration, exceeded the EBT. This suggests that treatment processes that remove NOM can improve drinking water quality, even if they are unable to remove bromide. Further, iceberg modelling showed that detected DBPs only explained a small fraction of the oxidative stress response, supporting the application of both chemical analysis and bioanalysis for monitoring DBP formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peta A Neale
- Australian Rivers Institute, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, 4222, Australia.
| | - Frederic D L Leusch
- Australian Rivers Institute, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, 4222, Australia
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11
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Alharbi SK, Nghiem LD, van de Merwe JP, Leusch FDL, Asif MB, Hai FI, Price WE. Degradation of diclofenac, trimethoprim, carbamazepine, and sulfamethoxazole by laccase from Trametes versicolor: Transformation products and toxicity of treated effluent. BIOCATAL BIOTRANSFOR 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/10242422.2019.1580268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sultan K. Alharbi
- Strategic Water Infrastructure Laboratory, School of Chemistry, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australian
- Department of Chemistry, Taibah University, Madinah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Long D. Nghiem
- Strategic Water Infrastructure Laboratory, School of Civil, Mining and Environmental Engineering, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NWS, Australia
| | - Jason P. van de Merwe
- Australian Rivers Institute and School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Frederic D. L. Leusch
- Australian Rivers Institute and School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Muhammad B. Asif
- Strategic Water Infrastructure Laboratory, School of Civil, Mining and Environmental Engineering, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Faisal I. Hai
- Strategic Water Infrastructure Laboratory, School of Civil, Mining and Environmental Engineering, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - William E. Price
- Strategic Water Infrastructure Laboratory, School of Chemistry, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australian
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12
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Daniels KD, VanDervort D, Wu S, Leusch FDL, van de Merwe JP, Jia A, Snyder SA. Downstream trends of in vitro bioassay responses in a wastewater effluent-dominated river. CHEMOSPHERE 2018; 212:182-192. [PMID: 30144679 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.07.190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2017] [Revised: 07/18/2018] [Accepted: 07/31/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Surface waters are becoming increasingly influenced by wastewater effluents due to drought conditions, growing populations, and urbanization. These effluents contain mixtures of trace organic compounds (TOrCs), including bioactive constituents, which are not fully attenuated by conventional wastewater treatment systems. This study investigated the occurrence of glucocorticoid receptor (GR), aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), and estrogen receptor (ER) activity, as well as the overall toxicity to bacteria (BLT-Screen), in the effluent of two wastewater reclamation facilities (WRF) and downstream of the Lower Santa Cruz River, Pima County, Arizona USA, which is dominated by the WRF effluents. The GR, AhR, and ER activities and toxicity to bacteria were determined by in vitro bioassays during four seasons. Bioassay results showed the highest activities at the wastewater outfalls, with activities decreasing downstream of the river. Biological equivalent concentrations ranged from 9 to 170 ng/L dexamethasone-equivalents (DexEQ), 0.1-0.8 ng/L 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin-equivalents (TCDDEQ), and <0.005-0.8 ng/L estradiol equivalents (EEQ) for GR-, AhR- and ER-mediated activity, respectively. This level of biological activity at times exceeded the relevant effects-based trigger value for environmental effects, indicating a potential risk to the receiving environment. Toxicity to bacteria was low at all sites, well below the trigger value of 1.0 TUIC20, which represents an undiluted water sample causing 20% toxicity in the assay. The potential inducing glucocorticoid agonists were further analysed by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. Analytical results reveal triamcinolone acetonide as the most abundant glucocorticoid with concentrations up to 38 ng/L. Similar results for DexEQ concentrations calculated from both chemical and bioassay data indicate a successful mass balance for glucocorticoids. This mass balance illustrated lower DexEQ during summer months, which could be due to an increased attenuation from photodegradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin D Daniels
- University of Arizona, Department of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, 1133 E. James E. Rogers Way, Harshbarger108, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Darcy VanDervort
- University of Arizona, Department of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, 1133 E. James E. Rogers Way, Harshbarger108, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Shimin Wu
- University of Arizona, Department of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, 1133 E. James E. Rogers Way, Harshbarger108, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Frederic D L Leusch
- Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith School of Environment, Griffith University, Southport, Qld 4222, Australia
| | - Jason P van de Merwe
- Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith School of Environment, Griffith University, Southport, Qld 4222, Australia
| | - Ai Jia
- University of Arizona, Department of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, 1133 E. James E. Rogers Way, Harshbarger108, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Shane A Snyder
- University of Arizona, Department of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, 1133 E. James E. Rogers Way, Harshbarger108, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA; Nanyang Technological University Singapore, Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute (NEWRI), 1 CleanTech Loop, CleanTech One, #06-08, 637141 Singapore.
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13
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Bodini SF, Malizia M, Tortelli A, Sanfilippo L, Zhou X, Arosio R, Bernasconi M, Di Lucia S, Manenti A, Moscetta P. Evaluation of a novel automated water analyzer for continuous monitoring of toxicity and chemical parameters in municipal water supply. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2018; 157:335-342. [PMID: 29627418 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2018.03.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2018] [Revised: 03/16/2018] [Accepted: 03/23/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
A novel tool, the DAMTA analyzer (Device for Analytical Monitoring and Toxicity Assessment), designed for fully automated toxicity measurements based on luminescent bacteria as well as for concomitant determination of chemical parameters, was developed and field-tested. The instrument is a robotic water analyzer equipped with a luminometer and a spectrophotometer, integrated on a thermostated reaction plate which contains a movable carousel with 80 cuvettes. Acute toxicity is measured on-line using a wild type Photobacterium phosphoreum strain with measurable bioluminescence and unaltered sensitivity to toxicants lasting up to ten days. The EC50 values of reference compounds tested were consistent with A. fischeri and P. phosphoreum international standards and comparable to previously published data. Concurrently, a laboratory trial demonstrated the feasibility of use of the analyzer for the determination of nutrients and metals in parallel to the toxicity measurements. In a prolonged test, the system was installed only in toxicity mode at the premises of the World Fair "Expo Milano-2015″, a high security site to ensure the quality of the supplied drinking water. The monitoring program lasted for six months during which ca. 2400 toxicity tests were carried out; the results indicated a mean non-toxic outcome of -5.5 ± 6.2%. In order to warrant the system's robustness in detecting toxic substances, Zn was measured daily with highly reproducible inhibition results, 70.8 ± 13.6%. These results assure that this novel toxicity monitor can be used as an early warning system for protection of drinking water sources from emergencies involving low probability/high impact contamination events in source water or treated water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio F Bodini
- SYSTEA SpA, Via Fratta Rotonda Vado Largo 2/A, 03012 Anagni, Italy.
| | - Marzio Malizia
- SYSTEA SpA, Via Fratta Rotonda Vado Largo 2/A, 03012 Anagni, Italy
| | | | - Luca Sanfilippo
- SYSTEA SpA, Via Fratta Rotonda Vado Largo 2/A, 03012 Anagni, Italy
| | - Xingpeng Zhou
- Focused Photonics Inc., Water Research Department, No. 760, Bin'an Road, Bin Jiang District, 310052 Hangzhou, China
| | - Roberta Arosio
- Metropolitana Milanese SpA, Servizio Idrico Integrato - Divisione Acquedotto, via Meda 44, 20141 Milano, Italy
| | - Marzia Bernasconi
- Metropolitana Milanese SpA, Servizio Idrico Integrato - Divisione Acquedotto, via Meda 44, 20141 Milano, Italy
| | - Stefano Di Lucia
- Metropolitana Milanese SpA, Servizio Idrico Integrato - Divisione Acquedotto, via Meda 44, 20141 Milano, Italy
| | - Angela Manenti
- Metropolitana Milanese SpA, Servizio Idrico Integrato - Divisione Acquedotto, via Meda 44, 20141 Milano, Italy
| | - Pompeo Moscetta
- SYSTEA SpA, Via Fratta Rotonda Vado Largo 2/A, 03012 Anagni, Italy
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14
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van de Merwe JP, Neale PA, Melvin SD, Leusch FDL. In vitro bioassays reveal that additives are significant contributors to the toxicity of commercial household pesticides. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2018; 199:263-268. [PMID: 29677588 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2018.03.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2017] [Revised: 03/26/2018] [Accepted: 03/27/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Pesticides commonly used around households can contain additives of unknown concentrations and toxicity. Given the likelihood of these chemicals washing into urban waterways, it is important to understand the effects that these additives may have on aquatic organisms. The aim of this study was to compare the toxicity of commercially available household pesticides to that of the active ingredient(s) alone. The toxicity of five household pesticides (three herbicides and two insecticides) was investigated using a bacterial cytotoxicity bioassay and an algal photosynthesis bioassay. The commercial products were up to an order of magnitude more toxic than the active ingredient(s) alone. In addition, two commercial products with the same listed active ingredients in the same ratio had a 600× difference in potency. These results clearly demonstrate that additives in commercial formulations are significant contributors to the toxicity of household pesticides. The toxicity of pesticides in aquatic systems is therefore likely underestimated by conventional chemical monitoring and risk assessment when only the active ingredients are considered. Regulators and customers should require more clarity from pesticide manufacturers about the nature and concentrations of not only the active ingredients, but also additives used in commercial formulations. In addition, monitoring programmes and chemical risk assessments schemes should develop a structured approach to assessing the toxic effects of commercial formulations, including additives, rather than simply those of the listed active ingredients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason P van de Merwe
- Australian Rivers Institute, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Qld 4222, Australia.
| | - Peta A Neale
- Australian Rivers Institute, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Qld 4222, Australia
| | - Steven D Melvin
- Australian Rivers Institute, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Qld 4222, Australia
| | - Frederic D L Leusch
- Australian Rivers Institute, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Qld 4222, Australia
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15
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Degradation of Trace Organic Contaminants by a Membrane Distillation—Enzymatic Bioreactor. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2017. [DOI: 10.3390/app7090879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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16
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Costenaro D, Bisio C, Carniato F, Katsev AM, Safronyuk SL, Starodub N, Tiozzo C, Guidotti M. Tungsten oxide: a catalyst worth studying for the abatement and decontamination of chemical warfare agents. GLOBAL SECURITY: HEALTH, SCIENCE AND POLICY 2017. [DOI: 10.1080/23779497.2017.1330662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Costenaro
- Nano-SiSTeMI Interdisciplinary Centre, University of Eastern Piedmont, Alessandria, Italy
| | - Chiara Bisio
- Nano-SiSTeMI Interdisciplinary Centre, University of Eastern Piedmont, Alessandria, Italy
- CNR – Institute of Molecular Sciences and Technology, Milano, Italy
| | - Fabio Carniato
- Nano-SiSTeMI Interdisciplinary Centre, University of Eastern Piedmont, Alessandria, Italy
| | - Andrey M. Katsev
- Medical Academy, V.I. Vernadsky Crimean Federal University, Simferopol, Crimea
| | - Sergey L. Safronyuk
- Medical Academy, V.I. Vernadsky Crimean Federal University, Simferopol, Crimea
| | - Nickolaj Starodub
- National University of Life and Environmental Sciences, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Cristina Tiozzo
- CNR – Institute of Molecular Sciences and Technology, Milano, Italy
| | - Matteo Guidotti
- CNR – Institute of Molecular Sciences and Technology, Milano, Italy
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17
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Neale PA, Leusch FDL, Escher BI. Applying mixture toxicity modelling to predict bacterial bioluminescence inhibition by non-specifically acting pharmaceuticals and specifically acting antibiotics. CHEMOSPHERE 2017; 173:387-394. [PMID: 28129616 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.01.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2016] [Revised: 12/23/2016] [Accepted: 01/03/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Pharmaceuticals and antibiotics co-occur in the aquatic environment but mixture studies to date have mainly focused on pharmaceuticals alone or antibiotics alone, although differences in mode of action may lead to different effects in mixtures. In this study we used the Bacterial Luminescence Toxicity Screen (BLT-Screen) after acute (0.5 h) and chronic (16 h) exposure to evaluate how non-specifically acting pharmaceuticals and specifically acting antibiotics act together in mixtures. Three models were applied to predict mixture toxicity including concentration addition, independent action and the two-step prediction (TSP) model, which groups similarly acting chemicals together using concentration addition, followed by independent action to combine the two groups. All non-antibiotic pharmaceuticals had similar EC50 values at both 0.5 and 16 h, indicating together with a QSAR (Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship) analysis that they act as baseline toxicants. In contrast, the antibiotics' EC50 values decreased by up to three orders of magnitude after 16 h, which can be explained by their specific effect on bacteria. Equipotent mixtures of non-antibiotic pharmaceuticals only, antibiotics only and both non-antibiotic pharmaceuticals and antibiotics were prepared based on the single chemical results. The mixture toxicity models were all in close agreement with the experimental results, with predicted EC50 values within a factor of two of the experimental results. This suggests that concentration addition can be applied to bacterial assays to model the mixture effects of environmental samples containing both specifically and non-specifically acting chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peta A Neale
- Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith School of Environment, Griffith University, Southport, QLD 4222, Australia; The University of Queensland, National Research Centre for Environmental Toxicology (Entox), Brisbane, QLD 4108, Australia
| | - Frederic D L Leusch
- Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith School of Environment, Griffith University, Southport, QLD 4222, Australia.
| | - Beate I Escher
- The University of Queensland, National Research Centre for Environmental Toxicology (Entox), Brisbane, QLD 4108, Australia; UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Cell Toxicology, 04318 Leipzig, Germany; Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Environmental Toxicology, Center for Applied Geoscience, 72074 Tübingen, Germany
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18
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Phan HV, Hai FI, McDonald JA, Khan SJ, van de Merwe JP, Leusch FDL, Zhang R, Price WE, Broeckmann A, Nghiem LD. Impact of hazardous events on the removal of nutrients and trace organic contaminants by an anoxic-aerobic membrane bioreactor receiving real wastewater. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2015; 192:192-201. [PMID: 26038323 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2015.05.059] [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: 04/18/2015] [Revised: 05/15/2015] [Accepted: 05/16/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The impacts of four simulated hazardous events, namely, aeration failure, power loss, and chemical shocks (ammonia or bleach) on the performance of an anoxic-aerobic membrane bioreactor (MBR) receiving real wastewater were investigated. Hazardous events could alter pH and/or oxidation reduction potential of the mixed liquor and inhibit biomass growth, thus affecting the removal of bulk organics, nutrients and trace organic contaminants (TrOC). Chemical shocks generally exerted greater impact on MBR performance than aeration/power failure events, with ammonia shock exerting the greatest impact. Compared to total organic carbon, nutrient removal was more severely affected. Removal of the hydrophilic TrOCs that are resistant and/or occur at high concentrations in wastewater was notably affected. The MBR effectively reduced estrogenicity and toxicity from wastewater, but chemical shocks could temporarily increase the endocrine activity of the effluent. Depending on the chemical shock-dose and the membrane flux, hazardous events can exacerbate membrane fouling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hop V Phan
- Strategic Water Infrastructure Lab, School of Civil, Mining and Environmental Engineering, University of Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
| | - Faisal I Hai
- Strategic Water Infrastructure Lab, School of Civil, Mining and Environmental Engineering, University of Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
| | - James A McDonald
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Stuart J Khan
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Jason P van de Merwe
- Smart Water Research Centre, Australian Rivers Institute, School of Environment, Griffith University, QLD 4222, Australia
| | - Frederic D L Leusch
- Smart Water Research Centre, Australian Rivers Institute, School of Environment, Griffith University, QLD 4222, Australia
| | - Ren Zhang
- Molecular Biology Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
| | - William E Price
- Strategic Water Infrastructure Lab, School of Chemistry, University of Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
| | | | - Long D Nghiem
- Strategic Water Infrastructure Lab, School of Civil, Mining and Environmental Engineering, University of Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
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