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Bydalek F, Webster G, Barden R, Weightman AJ, Kasprzyk-Hordern B, Wenk J. Microbial community and antimicrobial resistance niche differentiation in a multistage, surface flow constructed wetland. Water Res 2024; 254:121408. [PMID: 38442607 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Free-living (FL) and particulate-associated (PA) communities are distinct bacterioplankton lifestyles with different mobility and dissemination routes. Understanding spatio-temporal dynamics of PA and FL fractions will allow improvement to wastewater treatment processes including pathogen and AMR bacteria removal. In this study, PA, FL and sediment community composition and antimicrobial resistance gene (ARG; tetW, ermB, sul1, intI1) dynamics were investigated in a full-scale municipal wastewater free-water surface polishing constructed wetland. Taxonomic composition of PA and FL microbial communities shifted towards less diverse communities (Shannon, Chao1) at the CW effluent but retained a distinct fraction-specific composition. Wastewater treatment plant derived PA communities introduced the bulk of AMR load (70 %) into the CW. However, the FL fraction was responsible for exporting over 60 % of the effluent AMR load given its high mobility and the effective immobilization (1-3 log removal) of PA communities. Strong correlations (r2>0.8, p < 0.05) were observed between the FL fraction, tetW and emrB dynamics, and amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) of potentially pathogenic taxa, including Bacteroides, Enterobacteriaceae, Aeromonadaceae, and Lachnospiraceae. This study reveals niche differentiation of microbial communities and associated AMR in CWs and shows that free-living bacteria are a primary escape route of pathogenic and ARG load from CWs under low-flow hydraulic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franciszek Bydalek
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, UK; Water Innovation and Research Centre (WIRC), University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK; GW4 NERC CDT in Freshwater Biosciences and Sustainability, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK; Organisms and Environment Division, School of Biosciences, Microbiomes, Microbes and Informatics Group, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Gordon Webster
- Organisms and Environment Division, School of Biosciences, Microbiomes, Microbes and Informatics Group, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
| | | | - Andrew J Weightman
- Organisms and Environment Division, School of Biosciences, Microbiomes, Microbes and Informatics Group, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Barbara Kasprzyk-Hordern
- Water Innovation and Research Centre (WIRC), University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK; Department of Chemistry, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
| | - Jannis Wenk
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, UK; Water Innovation and Research Centre (WIRC), University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK.
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Bydalek F, Webster G, Barden R, Weightman AJ, Kasprzyk-Hordern B, Wenk J. Microplastic biofilm, associated pathogen and antimicrobial resistance dynamics through a wastewater treatment process incorporating a constructed wetland. Water Res 2023; 235:119936. [PMID: 37028211 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.119936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 03/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics in wastewater are colonized by biofilms containing pathogens and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes that can be exported into receiving water bodies. This study investigated establishment and changes in microplastic-associated biofilm and AMR during a conventional full-scale 2100 population equivalent wastewater treatment process combined with a free water surface polishing constructed wetland. Sequential microplastic colonization experiments were conducted at different stages of the wastewater treatment process, including in raw sewage, treated effluent and the constructed wetland. Two scenarios were tested in which the constructed wetland served as either (i) a polishing step or (ii) as primary recipient of sewage inoculated microplastics. Bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequencing was carried out for qualitative bacterial community analysis. qPCR was applied for quantitative analysis of AMR genes (sul1, ermB, tetW, intiI1), bacterial biomass (16S rRNA) and a human fecal marker (HF183). Microbial diversity on microplastics increased with incubation time. The initial sewage-derived biofilm composition changed more significantly in the wastewater effluent compared to the constructed wetland. Pathogen and AMR load decreased by up to two orders of magnitude after coupled conventional and constructed wetland treatment, while less impact was observed when sewage-inoculated microplastic material was directly transferred into the constructed wetland. Aeromonas, Klebsiella, and Streptococcus were key pathogenic genera correlated with AMR in microplastic-associated biofilms. Despite decreasing trends on human pathogens and AMR load along the treatment process, microplastic-associated biofilms were a considerable potential hotspot for AMR (intI1 gene) and accommodated Cyanobacteria and fish pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franciszek Bydalek
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, UK; Water Innovation and Research Centre (WIRC), University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK; GW4 NERC CDT in Freshwater Biosciences and Sustainability, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK; Microbiomes, Microbes and Informatics Group, Organisms and Environment Division, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Gordon Webster
- Microbiomes, Microbes and Informatics Group, Organisms and Environment Division, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
| | | | - Andrew J Weightman
- Microbiomes, Microbes and Informatics Group, Organisms and Environment Division, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Barbara Kasprzyk-Hordern
- Water Innovation and Research Centre (WIRC), University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK; Department of Chemistry, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
| | - Jannis Wenk
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, UK; Water Innovation and Research Centre (WIRC), University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK.
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Bydalek F, Ifayemi D, Reynolds L, Barden R, Kasprzyk-Hordern B, Wenk J. Microplastic dynamics in a free water surface constructed wetland. Sci Total Environ 2023; 858:160113. [PMID: 36370791 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2022] [Revised: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
This study investigates microplastic (MPs) dynamics of a recently established surface flow 2100 population equivalent polishing constructed wetland (CW) receiving 1.4 ML per day of secondary treated wastewater. MPs type, size ranges and concentrations were measured along the CW at a 2-months sampling campaign. The CW received an average of 5·106 MPs per day (6 MPs per liter), mostly 100-1000 μm-sized synthetic fibers followed by fragments in the same size range. 95 % of MPs were retained, resulting in 0.30 ± 0.09 MPs per liter in CW effluent. Most MPs (97 %) were trapped within the first 20 % of the CW which consisted of a settling pond and shallow vegetated treatment cells and provided an areal removal rate > 4000 MP m-2 d-1. Data and microscopic analysis indicate MPs erosion and fragmentation in the CW. Turbidity and suspended solids were no indicator for MP removal due to water fowl activity, algal growth, and preferential flow conditions. This is the first study on MP dynamics in an independently operating full scale free water surface CW incorporated into a municipal wastewater treatment scheme. Surface flow CWs can retain MPs effectively but accumulation in CW sediments and substrate needs to be considered when further utilized or recycled.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franciszek Bydalek
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, United Kingdom; Water Innovation and Research Centre (WIRC), University of Bath, BA2 7AY, United Kingdom; GW4 NERC Centre for Doctoral Training in Freshwater Biosciences and Sustainability, Museum Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3AX, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel Ifayemi
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Barbara Kasprzyk-Hordern
- Water Innovation and Research Centre (WIRC), University of Bath, BA2 7AY, United Kingdom; Department of Chemistry, University of Bath, BA2 7AY, United Kingdom
| | - Jannis Wenk
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, United Kingdom; Water Innovation and Research Centre (WIRC), University of Bath, BA2 7AY, United Kingdom.
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MacDonnell C, Bydalek F, Osborne TZ, Beard A, Barbour S, Leonard D, Makinia J, Inglett PW. Use of a wastewater recovery product (struvite) to enhance subtropical seagrass restoration. Sci Total Environ 2022; 838:155717. [PMID: 35525357 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Seagrasses are in decline worldwide, and their restoration is relatively expensive and unsuccessful compared to other coastal systems. Fertilization can improve seagrass growth in restoration but can also release nutrients and pollute the surrounding ecosystem. A slow-release fertilizer may reduce excessive nutrient discharge while still providing resources to the seagrass's rhizosphere. In this study, struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate), a relatively insoluble, sustainable compound harvested in wastewater treatment plants, was compared to Osmocote™(14:14:14 Nitrogen: Phosphorus: Potassium, N:P:K), a popular polymer coated controlled release fertilizer commonly used in seagrass restoration. Two experiments compared the effectiveness of both fertilizers in a subtropical flow-through mesocosm setup. In the first experiment, single 0.5 mg of P per g dry weight (DW) doses of Osmocote™and struvite fertilizers were added to seagrass plots. Seagrass shoot counts were significantly higher in plots fertilized with struvite than both the Osmocote™and unfertilized controls (p< 0.0001). A significant difference in total P concentration was observed in porewater samples of Osmocote™vs struvite and controls (p< 0.0001), with struvite fertilized plots emitting more than controls (p ≤ 0.0001), but less than 2% of the total dissolved P (TDP) of Osmocote™fertilized plots (100+ mg/L versus x > 5 mg/L). A subsequent experiment, using smaller doses (0.01 and 0.025 mg of P per gram DW added), also found that the struvite treatments performed better than Osmocote™, with 16-114% more aboveground biomass (10-60% higher total biomass) while releasing less N and P. These results indicate the relatively rapid dissolution of Osmocote™may pose problems to restoration efforts, especially in concentrated doses and possibly leading to seagrass stress. In contrast, struvite may function as a slow-release fertilizer applicable in seagrass and other coastal restoration efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- C MacDonnell
- University of Florida, Department of Soil, Water and Ecosystem Sciences, 1692 McCarty Drive, Gainesville, FL 32603, United States of America
| | - F Bydalek
- Department of Sanitary Engineering, Gdańsk University of Technology, 80-233 Gdansk, Poland
| | - T Z Osborne
- University of Florida, Department of Soil, Water and Ecosystem Sciences, 1692 McCarty Drive, Gainesville, FL 32603, United States of America; Whitney Laboratory for Biosciences, 9505 N Ocean Shore Blvd, St. Augustine, FL 32080, United States of America
| | - A Beard
- Whitney Laboratory for Biosciences, 9505 N Ocean Shore Blvd, St. Augustine, FL 32080, United States of America
| | - S Barbour
- University of Florida, Department of Soil, Water and Ecosystem Sciences, 1692 McCarty Drive, Gainesville, FL 32603, United States of America
| | - D Leonard
- University of Florida, Department of Soil, Water and Ecosystem Sciences, 1692 McCarty Drive, Gainesville, FL 32603, United States of America
| | - J Makinia
- Department of Sanitary Engineering, Gdańsk University of Technology, 80-233 Gdansk, Poland
| | - P W Inglett
- University of Florida, Department of Soil, Water and Ecosystem Sciences, 1692 McCarty Drive, Gainesville, FL 32603, United States of America.
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