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Yuan Y, Gao J, Wang Z, Xu H, Zeng L, Fu X, Zhao Y. Exposure to zinc and dialkyldimethyl ammonium compound alters bacterial community structure and resistance gene levels in partial sulfur autotrophic denitrification coupled with the Anammox process. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 476:135070. [PMID: 38944986 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135070] [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: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 06/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Dialkyldimethyl ammonium compound (DADMAC) is widely used in daily life as a typical disinfectant and often co-exists with the heavy metal zinc in sewage environments. This study investigated the effects of co-exposure to zinc (1 mg/L) and DADMAC (0.2-5 mg/L) on the performance, bacterial community, and resistance genes (RGs) in a partial sulfur autotrophic denitrification coupled with anaerobic ammonium oxidation (PSAD-Anammox) system in a sequencing batch moving bed biofilm reactor for 150 days. Co-exposure to zinc and low concentration (0.2 mg/L) DADMAC did not affect the nitrogen removal ability of the PASD-Anammox system, but increased the abundance and transmission risk of free RGs in water. Co-exposure to zinc and medium-to-high (2-5 mg/L) DADMAC led to fluctuations in and inhibition of nitrogen removal, which might be related to the enrichment of heterotrophic denitrifying bacteria dominated by Denitratisoma. Co-exposure to zinc and high concentration DADMAC (5 mg/L) stimulated the secretion of extracellular polymeric substances and increased the proliferation risk of intracellular RGs in sludge. This study provided insights into the application of PSAD-Anammox system and the ecological risks of wastewater containing zinc and DADMAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukun Yuan
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Department of Environmental Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Jingfeng Gao
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Department of Environmental Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China.
| | - Zhiqi Wang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Department of Environmental Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China; Institute of NBC Defense, P.O. Box 1048, Beijing 102205, China
| | - Hongxin Xu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Department of Environmental Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Liqin Zeng
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Department of Environmental Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Xiaoyu Fu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Department of Environmental Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Yifan Zhao
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Department of Environmental Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
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2
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Fundneider-Kale S, Kerres J, Engelhart M. Impact of benzalkonium chloride on anaerobic granules and its long-term effects on reactor performance. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 476:135183. [PMID: 39024763 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2024] [Revised: 07/06/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
This study assessed the inhibitory and performance-degrading effects induced by the cationic surfactant benzalkonium chloride (BAC) on anaerobic granules during the long-term operation of a laboratory-scale expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB) reactor. To address the critical scientific problem of how BAC affects the efficiency of EGSB reactors, this research uniquely evaluated the long-term stress response to BAC by systematically comparing continuous and discontinuous inhibitor exposure scenarios. The novel comparison demonstrated that inhibitor concentration is of minor relevance compared to the biomass-specific cumulative inhibitor load in the reactor. After exceeding a critical biomass-specific cumulative inhibitor load of 6.1-6.5 mg BAC/g VS, continuous and discontinuous exposure to BAC caused comparable significant deterioration in reactor performance, including accumulation of volatile fatty acids (VFA), decreased removal efficiency, reduced methane production, as well as the wash-out, flotation, and disintegration of anaerobic granules. BAC exposures had a more detrimental effect on methanogenesis than on acidogenesis. Moreover, long-term stress by BAC led to an inhibition of protein production, resulting in a decreased protein-to-polysaccharide ratio of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) that promoted destabilizing effects on the granules. Finally, hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis was triggered. Reactor performance could not be restored due to the severe loss of granular sludge.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Fundneider-Kale
- Technical University of Darmstadt, Institute IWAR, Chair of Wastewater Technology, Franziska-Braun-Straße 7, D-64287 Darmstadt, Germany.
| | - J Kerres
- Technical University of Darmstadt, Institute IWAR, Chair of Wastewater Technology, Franziska-Braun-Straße 7, D-64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - M Engelhart
- Technical University of Darmstadt, Institute IWAR, Chair of Wastewater Technology, Franziska-Braun-Straße 7, D-64287 Darmstadt, Germany
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3
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Wang Y, Gao J, Wang Z, Zhao Y, Yuan Y, Sun L, Zeng L, Wang H. Effects of polyvinyl chloride microplastics and benzylalkyldimethylethyl compounds on system performance, microbial community and resistance genes in sulfur autotrophic denitrification system. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 476:135197. [PMID: 39018601 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2024] [Revised: 06/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024]
Abstract
Benzylalkyldimethylethyl ammonium compounds (BAC) and polyvinyl chloride microplastics (PVC MPs), as the frequently detected pollutants in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), have attracted more concerns on their ecosystem risks. Therefore, this study investigated how the sulfur autotrophic denitrification (SAD) system responded to the single and joint stress of PVC MPs (1, 10 and 100 mg/L) and BAC (0.5, 5 and 10 mg/L). After 100 days of operation, the presence of 10 mg/L BAC led to obviously inhibitory effects on system performance and microbial metabolic activity. And the additions of PVC MPs or/and BAC stimulated the proliferation of intracellular resistance genes (RGs), whereas exposure to BAC increased the abundances of extracellular RGs and free RGs in water more significantly. Compared to the joint stress, BAC single stress resulted in higher abundances of free RGs in water, which further increased the risk of RGs propagation. Moreover, the interaction between mobile genetic elements and extracellular polymeric substances further increased the spread of RGs. Pathogens might be the potential hosts of RGs and enriched in SAD system and plastisphere, thereby leading to more serious ecological risks. This study will broaden the understanding of the environmental hazards posed by PVC MPs and BAC in WWTPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxuan Wang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Department of Environmental Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Jingfeng Gao
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Department of Environmental Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China.
| | - Zhiqi Wang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Department of Environmental Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China; Institute of NBC Defense, P.O. Box 1048, Beijing 102205, China
| | - Yifan Zhao
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Department of Environmental Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Yukun Yuan
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Department of Environmental Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Lixin Sun
- D·smart Environmental Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd., China
| | - Liqin Zeng
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Department of Environmental Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Hanyi Wang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Department of Environmental Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
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4
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Roux C, Madru C, Millan Navarro D, Jan G, Mazzella N, Moreira A, Vedrenne J, Carassou L, Morin S. Impact of urban pollution on freshwater biofilms: Oxidative stress, photosynthesis and lipid responses. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 472:134523. [PMID: 38723485 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134523] [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: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
Urban ecosystems are subjected to multiple anthropogenic stresses, which impact aquatic communities. Artificial light at night (ALAN) for instance can significantly alter the composition of algal communities as well as the photosynthetic cycles of autotrophic organisms, possibly leading to cellular oxidative stress. The combined effects of ALAN and chemical contamination could increase oxidative impacts in aquatic primary producers, although such combined effects remain insufficiently explored. To address this knowledge gap, a one-month experimental approach was implemented under controlled conditions to elucidate effects of ALAN and dodecylbenzyldimethylammonium chloride (DDBAC) on aquatic biofilms. DDBAC is a biocide commonly used in virucidal products, and is found in urban aquatic ecosystems. The bioaccumulation of DDBAC in biofilms exposed or not to ALAN was analyzed. The responses of taxonomic composition, photosynthetic activity, and fatty acid composition of biofilms were examined. The results indicate that ALAN negatively affects photosynthetic yield and chlorophyll production of biofilms. Additionally, exposure to DDBAC at environmental concentrations induces lipid peroxidation, with an increase of oxylipins. This experimental study provides first insights on the consequences of ALAN and DDBAC for aquatic ecosystems. It also opens avenues for the identification of new biomarkers that could be used to monitor urban pollution impacts in natural environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Roux
- INRAE, UR EABX, 50 avenue de Verdun, 33612 Cestas cedex, France.
| | - Cassandre Madru
- INRAE, UR EABX, 50 avenue de Verdun, 33612 Cestas cedex, France
| | | | - Gwilherm Jan
- INRAE, UR EABX, 50 avenue de Verdun, 33612 Cestas cedex, France
| | - Nicolas Mazzella
- INRAE, UR EABX, 50 avenue de Verdun, 33612 Cestas cedex, France; Bordeaux Metabolome, MetaboHUB, PHENOME-EMPHASIS, Villenave d'Ornon 33140, France
| | - Aurélie Moreira
- INRAE, UR EABX, 50 avenue de Verdun, 33612 Cestas cedex, France; Bordeaux Metabolome, MetaboHUB, PHENOME-EMPHASIS, Villenave d'Ornon 33140, France
| | - Jacky Vedrenne
- INRAE, UR EABX, 50 avenue de Verdun, 33612 Cestas cedex, France
| | - Laure Carassou
- INRAE, UR EABX, 50 avenue de Verdun, 33612 Cestas cedex, France
| | - Soizic Morin
- INRAE, UR EABX, 50 avenue de Verdun, 33612 Cestas cedex, France
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5
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Vrba R, Lavoie I, Creusot N, Eon M, Millan-Navarro D, Feurtet-Mazel A, Mazzella N, Moreira A, Planas D, Morin S. Experimental testing of two urban stressors on freshwater biofilms. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2024; 272:106972. [PMID: 38815346 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2024.106972] [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: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Aquatic ecosystems and their communities are exposed to numerous stressors of various natures (chemical and physical), whose impacts are often poorly documented. In urban areas, the use of biocides such as dodecyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride (DDBAC) and their subsequent release in wastewater result in their transfer to urban aquatic ecosystems. DDBAC is known to be toxic to most aquatic organisms. Artificial light at night (ALAN) is another stressor that is increasing globally, especially in urban areas. ALAN may have a negative impact on photosynthetic cycles of periphytic biofilms, which in turn may result in changes in their metabolic functioning. Moreover, studies suggest that exposure to artificial light could increase the biocidal effect of DDBAC on biofilms. The present study investigates the individual and combined effects of DDBAC and/or ALAN on the functioning and structure of photosynthetic biofilms. We exposed biofilms in artificial channels to a nominal concentration of 30 mg.L-1 of DDBAC and/or ALAN for 10 days. ALAN modified DDBAC exposure, decreasing concentrations in the water but not accumulation in biofilms. DDBAC had negative impacts on biofilm functioning and structure. Photosynthetic activity was inhibited by > 90% after 2 days of exposure, compared to the controls, and did not recover over the duration of the experiment. Biofilm composition was also impacted, with a marked decrease in green algae and the disappearance of microfauna under DDBAC exposure. The integrity of algal cells was compromised where DDBAC exposure altered the chloroplasts and chlorophyll content. Impacts on autotrophs were also observed through a shift in lipid profiles, in particular a strong decrease in glycolipid content was noted. We found no significant interactive effect of ALAN and DDBAC on the studied endpoints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romain Vrba
- INRAE, UR EABX, 50 avenue de Verdun, 33612 Cestas cedex, France; INRS-ETE, 490 rue de la Couronne, Québec, QC G1K 9A9, Canada
| | - Isabelle Lavoie
- INRS-ETE, 490 rue de la Couronne, Québec, QC G1K 9A9, Canada
| | - Nicolas Creusot
- INRAE, UR EABX, 50 avenue de Verdun, 33612 Cestas cedex, France
| | - Mélissa Eon
- INRAE, UR EABX, 50 avenue de Verdun, 33612 Cestas cedex, France
| | | | | | | | - Aurélie Moreira
- INRAE, UR EABX, 50 avenue de Verdun, 33612 Cestas cedex, France
| | - Dolors Planas
- UQAM, GRIL-Département des sciences biologiques, 141 Avenue du Président-Kennedy, Montréal, QC H2 × 1Y4, Canada
| | - Soizic Morin
- INRAE, UR EABX, 50 avenue de Verdun, 33612 Cestas cedex, France.
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6
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Monteil-Rivera F, Locke S, Ye M, Smyth SA, Sullivan K, Okonski A, Jagla M, Gutzman D. Quantification of quaternary ammonium compounds by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry: Minimizing losses from the field to the laboratory. J Chromatogr A 2024; 1723:464905. [PMID: 38640882 DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2024.464905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 04/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (QACs) are widely used in household, medical and industrial settings. As a consequence, they are ubiquitously found in the environment. Although significant efforts have been put into the development of sensitive and reproducible analytical methods, much less effort has been dedicated to the monitoring of QACs upon sample storage and sample preparation. Here we studied the effect of storage, concentration, and extraction procedures on the concentrations of QACs in samples. Thirteen QACs selected amongst benzalkonium compounds (BACs), dialkyldimethylammonium compounds (DADMACs) and alkyltrimethylammonium compounds (ATMACs) were quantified in aqueous and solid samples using LC-MS/MS. Most QACs adsorbed on container walls could be recovered using a short washing step with MeOH containing 2 % v/v formic acid. Concentrations of QACs from aqueous solutions using solid phase extraction (SPE) with Strata-X cartridges and elution with acidified MeOH utilized to wash the emptied containers gave highly satisfactory recoveries (101-111 %). Good recoveries (89-116 %) were also obtained when extracting a spiked organic-rich synthetic soil using accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) with acidified MeOH at low solid/solvent ratio (0.4 g/20 mL). Applying the recommended methodologies to real samples collected from a Canadian wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) gave QAC concentrations in the ranges of 0.01-30 µg/L, < 1.2 µg/L, and 0.05-27 mg/kg for the influent, effluent and biosolids samples, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanny Monteil-Rivera
- National Research Council of Canada, Aquatic and Crop Resource Development Research Center, 6100 Royalmount Avenue, Montreal, QC, H4P 2R2, Canada.
| | - Steven Locke
- National Research Council of Canada, Aquatic and Crop Resource Development Research Center, 550 University Avenue, Charlottetown, PE, C1A 4P3, Canada
| | - Mengwei Ye
- National Research Council of Canada, Aquatic and Crop Resource Development Research Center, 6100 Royalmount Avenue, Montreal, QC, H4P 2R2, Canada
| | - Shirley Anne Smyth
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Science and Technology Branch, Regulatory Operations, Policy and Emerging Science Division, 867 Lakeshore Rd., Burlington, ON, L7S 1A1, Canada
| | - Katrina Sullivan
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Science and Technology Branch, Substance Prioritization, Assessment and Coordination Division, 351St. Joseph Blvd., Gatineau, QC, K1A 0H3, Canada
| | - Alexander Okonski
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Science and Technology Branch, Substance Prioritization, Assessment and Coordination Division, 351St. Joseph Blvd., Gatineau, QC, K1A 0H3, Canada
| | - Magdalena Jagla
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Science and Technology Branch, Substance Prioritization, Assessment and Coordination Division, 351St. Joseph Blvd., Gatineau, QC, K1A 0H3, Canada
| | - Don Gutzman
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Science and Technology Branch, Substance Prioritization, Assessment and Coordination Division, 351St. Joseph Blvd., Gatineau, QC, K1A 0H3, Canada
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7
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Sparham C, Ledbetter M, Cubberley R, Gore D, Sheffield D, Teixeira A, Hodges G. Method validation and environmental monitoring of triethanolamine ester quaternary ammonium compounds. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 346:140529. [PMID: 37914048 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140529] [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: 07/15/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
In this study water and sediment samples, collected from the River Nene (Northamptonshire) at several sites in the vicinity of the Great Billing sewage treatment plant (STP), were analysed for triethanolamine quaternary compounds (TEAQ, ester quats). A method was developed using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) with a electrospray ionisation source (ESI). Ten components were determined using a characterised commercial sample of Tallow TEAQ as a standard. To our knowledge this is the first time environmental concentrations of a wide spectrum of individual homologues of TEAQ have been reliably quantified covering a broad range of environmental matrices (STP influent, STP effluent, surface waters and sediments), due to the challenging nature of the analytical method. The method featured novel solutions for the determination of long and multiple chain length alkyl quats, controlling loss processes, background contamination and chromatographic performance. TEAQ compounds were found to be highly removed in the sewage treatment plant resulting in low effluent concentrations. Low concentrations in both river water and sediment samples were found also. In many cases levels were below the Method Detection Limit (MDL). In river water samples, mean values of TEAQ compounds found were 210-398 ng/L for C16:0/C18:0 TEAQ diester and 126-287 ng/L for C18:0/C18:0 TEAQ diester. River sediment was found to contain mean TEAQ levels of 7.07-12.5, 19.7 to 40.3 and 7.04-35.1 μg/kg dry weight for C16:0/C16:0, C16:0/C18:0, and C18:0/C18:0 TEAQ, respectively. At Great Billing STP monoesters and diesters of TEAQ were shown to be efficiently removed (>97 and 99 %, respectively), although limited samples were taken on this occasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris Sparham
- Safety & Environmental Assurance Centre, Unilever, Colworth Science Park, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, MK44 1LQ, United Kingdom.
| | - Moira Ledbetter
- Safety & Environmental Assurance Centre, Unilever, Colworth Science Park, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, MK44 1LQ, United Kingdom
| | - Richard Cubberley
- Safety & Environmental Assurance Centre, Unilever, Colworth Science Park, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, MK44 1LQ, United Kingdom
| | - Dave Gore
- Safety & Environmental Assurance Centre, Unilever, Colworth Science Park, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, MK44 1LQ, United Kingdom
| | - David Sheffield
- Safety & Environmental Assurance Centre, Unilever, Colworth Science Park, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, MK44 1LQ, United Kingdom
| | - Alex Teixeira
- Safety & Environmental Assurance Centre, Unilever, Colworth Science Park, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, MK44 1LQ, United Kingdom
| | - Geoff Hodges
- Safety & Environmental Assurance Centre, Unilever, Colworth Science Park, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, MK44 1LQ, United Kingdom
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8
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Flanjak L, Lypirou L, Sakkas V, Roslev P. Ecotoxicity and rapid degradation of quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) subjected to combined vacuum UV and UV-C treatment. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 346:140584. [PMID: 37925031 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140584] [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: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023]
Abstract
Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are active ingredients in a palette of commercially available disinfectants, sanitizers, and biocides. QACs are widely used because of their broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties but the ubiquitous uses have resulted in frequent detection in aquatic and terrestrial matrices including domestic wastewater, surface waters, urban soils and sediments. An increased domestic QACs consumption has increased the environmental occurrence, and investigation of mitigation methods and effects on non-target organisms are in demand. In this study, we examined the potential ecotoxicity of six QACs and investigated the effect of combined vacuum UV (185 nm) and UV-C (254 nm) irradiation (VUV/UVC) on degradation and mitigation of ecotoxicity of QACs. The study showed that combined VUV/UVC irradiation facilitated rapid degradation of benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium chloride, didecyldimethylammonium chloride, dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride, and hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride. The estimated half-lives varied between 2 and 7 min, and degradation was affected by the initial QAC concentrations, the UV fluence, and the water matrix. The potential ecotoxicity of QACs and VUV/UVC treated QACs was examined using a battery of test organisms that included the luminescent bacterium Aliivibrio fischeri, the gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria Escherichiacoli and Enterococcus faecalis, the freshwater microalga Raphidocelis subcapitata, and the crustacean Daphia magna. The potential for trophic transfer of QACs was investigated in a simplified aquatic food web. Test organisms from different trophic levels were included to assess adverse effects of bioactive compounds in VUV/UVC treated samples including transformation products. The study showed that several QACs were highly toxic to aquatic test organisms with EC50 and/or EC20 values < 1 μM. VUV/UVC treatment of QACs resulted in substantial photolysis of the parent compounds and comprehensive mitigation of the ecotoxicity potential. VUV/UVC represent an attractive oxidation technology for abatement QACs in contaminated water because the process does not require addition of catalysts or precursors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lana Flanjak
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Loukia Lypirou
- Department of Chemistry, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Vasilios Sakkas
- Department of Chemistry, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Peter Roslev
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.
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9
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Mahony AK, McNamara PJ, Arnold WA. Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (QACs) in Wastewater Influent and Effluent Throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:20148-20158. [PMID: 37934083 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c04413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are used in consumer and industrial products, including disinfectants. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, disinfectant use has increased, purportedly increasing loads to wastewater treatment plants and the environment. To understand how the increased usage has affected QAC loadings to treatment plants and to determine how effectively plants remove QACs from liquid effluent that is discharged to surface and groundwaters, influent and effluent wastewater samples were collected from four treatment plants (treatment capacities < 5 MGD to > 100 MGD) for 21 months beginning in May 2020. Influent QAC concentrations were hundreds of μg/L and effluent QAC concentrations were < 1 μg/L, corresponding to an average removal of 98% from all four plants. The most prevalent QACs in influent were those used most commonly in disinfectants, specifically benzylalkyldimethylammonium compounds (BACs) and short-chain dialkyldimethylammonium compounds (DADMACs), and influent levels of these compounds were correlated with QAC sales. Prior to this study, ethylbenzylalkyldimethylammonium compounds (EtBACs) had not been studied, and they comprised 13 ± 6% of QACs in influent. While removal was high at all plants, low μg/L concentrations were still continuously discharged into the environment. For QACs with equivalent alkyl chain lengths, those with aromatic substituents (BACs and EtBACs) appear to be removed more effectively than those with only alkyl chains (DADMACs).
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna K Mahony
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Geo-Engineering, University of Minnesota, 500 Pillsbury Dr. SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Patrick J McNamara
- Department of Civil, Construction, Environmental Engineering, Marquette University, 1515 West Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233 United States
| | - William A Arnold
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Geo-Engineering, University of Minnesota, 500 Pillsbury Dr. SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
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10
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Davies K, Allan MG, Nagarajan S, Townsend R, Asokan V, Watson T, Godfrey AR, Maroto-Valer MM, Kuehnel MF, Pitchaimuthu S. Photoelectrocatalytic Surfactant Pollutant Degradation and Simultaneous Green Hydrogen Generation. Ind Eng Chem Res 2023; 62:19084-19094. [PMID: 38020790 PMCID: PMC10655085 DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.3c00840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
For the first time, we demonstrate a photoelectrocatalysis technique for simultaneous surfactant pollutant degradation and green hydrogen generation using mesoporous WO3/BiVO4 photoanode under simulated sunlight irradiation. The materials properties such as morphology, crystallite structure, chemical environment, optical absorbance, and bandgap energy of the WO3/BiVO4 films are examined and discussed. We have tested the anionic type (sodium 2-naphthalenesulfonate (S2NS)) and cationic type surfactants (benzyl alkyl dimethylammonium compounds (BAC-C12)) as model pollutants. A complete removal of S2NS and BAC-C12 surfactants at 60 and 90 min, respectively, by applying 1.75 V applied potential vs RHE to the circuit, under 1 sun was achieved. An interesting competitive phenomenon for photohole utilization was observed between surfactants and adsorbed water. This led to the formation of H2O2 from water alongside surfactant degradation (anode) and hydrogen evolution (cathode). No byproducts were observed after the direct photohole mediated degradation of surfactants, implying its advantage over other AOPs and biological processes. In the cathode compartment, 82.51 μmol/cm2 and 71.81 μmol/cm2 of hydrogen gas were generated during the BAC-C12 and S2NS surfactant degradation process, respectively, at 1.75 V RHE applied potential.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michael G. Allan
- Department
of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea University, Singleton Park, SA2 8PP Swansea, Wales
| | - Sanjay Nagarajan
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, U.K.
| | - Rachel Townsend
- Swansea
University Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Science,
Singleton Park, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, U.K.
| | - Vijayshankar Asokan
- Environmental
Inorganic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Kemivägen 10, S-412 96 Göthenburg, Sweden
| | - Trystan Watson
- SPECIFIC,
Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea
University, Swansea SA2 8PP, Wales
| | - A. Ruth Godfrey
- Swansea
University Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Science,
Singleton Park, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, U.K.
| | - M. Mercedes Maroto-Valer
- Research
Centre for Carbon Solutions (RCCS), Institute of Mechanical, Processing
and Energy Engineering, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, U.K.
| | - Moritz F. Kuehnel
- Department
of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea University, Singleton Park, SA2 8PP Swansea, Wales
- Fraunhofer
Institute for Wind Energy Systems IWES, Am Haupttor 4310, 06237 Leuna, Germany
| | - Sudhagar Pitchaimuthu
- SPECIFIC,
Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea
University, Swansea SA2 8PP, Wales
- Research
Centre for Carbon Solutions (RCCS), Institute of Mechanical, Processing
and Energy Engineering, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, U.K.
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11
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Yoshii S, Hiki K, Watanabe H, Yamamoto H, Endo S. Freely dissolved concentration profile and Hyalella azteca toxicity of cationic surfactant C 12-benzalkonium in spiked-sediment toxicity test. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 866:161226. [PMID: 36586690 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.161226] [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: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The freely dissolved concentrations (Cfree) have been considered a useful metric for exposure of aquatic organisms to organic contaminants. However, Cfree for cationic surfactants has rarely been measured, and its use in sediment toxicity tests has not been evaluated. In this study, Cfree of the cationic surfactant benzyldodecyldimethylammonium (C12-benzalkonium; C12-BAC) in water-only and spiked-sediment toxicity tests with the amphipod Hyalella azteca was analyzed using a passive sampling method. Polyacrylate-coated glass fibers were adopted as the passive sampler. Sorption isotherms of C12-BAC to the polyacrylate fibers were measured in chemical conditions comparable to those of the toxicity tests and used for Cfree calculation in both tests. Detailed concentration analysis in the sediment toxicity test demonstrated a high concentration gradient of C12-BAC between sediment and overlying water; Cfree in pore water was 17-78 times higher than Cfree in overlying water and was 7.2-13 times higher than Cfree at the sediment-water interface. The 50 % lethal concentration and bioconcentration factor of H. azteca obtained in the water-only test (23 μg/L and 140 ± 70 L/kg-wet, respectively) agreed with those calculated based on Cfree in pore water in the sediment test (49 μg/L and 140 ± 90 L/kg-wet, respectively), indicating that H. azteca is exposed mainly to the freely dissolved fraction in pore water. We concluded that Cfree in pore water is a useful exposure metric for H. azteca to cationic surfactants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sakura Yoshii
- Health and Environmental Risk Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 305-8506 Onogawa 16-2, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
| | - Kyoshiro Hiki
- Health and Environmental Risk Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 305-8506 Onogawa 16-2, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Haruna Watanabe
- Health and Environmental Risk Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 305-8506 Onogawa 16-2, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Yamamoto
- Health and Environmental Risk Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 305-8506 Onogawa 16-2, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Satoshi Endo
- Health and Environmental Risk Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 305-8506 Onogawa 16-2, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
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12
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Mohapatra S, Yutao L, Goh SG, Ng C, Luhua Y, Tran NH, Gin KYH. Quaternary ammonium compounds of emerging concern: Classification, occurrence, fate, toxicity and antimicrobial resistance. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 445:130393. [PMID: 36455328 PMCID: PMC9663149 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 49.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Amplified hygiene and precautionary measures are of utmost importance to control the spread of COVID-19 and future infection; however, these changes in practice are projected to trigger a rise in the purchase, utilisation and hence, discharge of many disinfectants into the environment. While alcohol-based, hydrogen peroxide-based, and chlorine-based compounds have been used widely, quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) based disinfectants are of significant concern due to their overuse during this pandemic. This review presents the classification of disinfectants and their mechanism of action, focusing on QACs. Most importantly, the occurrence, fate, toxicity and antimicrobial resistance due to QACs are covered in this paper. Here we collated evidence from multiple studies and found rising trends of concern, including an increase in the mass load of QACs at a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) by 331% compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as an increases in the concentration of 62% in residential dust, resulting in high concentrations of QACs in human blood and breast milk and suggesting that these could be potential sources of persistent QACs in infants. In addition to increased toxicity to human and aquatic life, increased use of QACs and accelerated use of antibiotics and antimicrobials during the COVID-19 pandemic could multiply the threat to antimicrobial resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjeeb Mohapatra
- NUS Environmental Research Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411, Singapore; Energy and Environmental Sustainability for Megacities (E2S2) Phase II, Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE), 1 Create Way, Singapore 138602, Singapore
| | - Lin Yutao
- NUS Environmental Research Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411, Singapore
| | - Shin Giek Goh
- NUS Environmental Research Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411, Singapore; Energy and Environmental Sustainability for Megacities (E2S2) Phase II, Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE), 1 Create Way, Singapore 138602, Singapore
| | - Charmaine Ng
- NUS Environmental Research Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411, Singapore; Energy and Environmental Sustainability for Megacities (E2S2) Phase II, Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE), 1 Create Way, Singapore 138602, Singapore
| | - You Luhua
- NUS Environmental Research Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411, Singapore; Energy and Environmental Sustainability for Megacities (E2S2) Phase II, Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE), 1 Create Way, Singapore 138602, Singapore
| | - Ngoc Han Tran
- NUS Environmental Research Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411, Singapore; Energy and Environmental Sustainability for Megacities (E2S2) Phase II, Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE), 1 Create Way, Singapore 138602, Singapore
| | - Karina Yew-Hoong Gin
- NUS Environmental Research Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411, Singapore; Energy and Environmental Sustainability for Megacities (E2S2) Phase II, Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE), 1 Create Way, Singapore 138602, Singapore; Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, Engineering Drive 2, Singapore 117576, Singapore.
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13
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Zhao M, Gao J, Zhang H, Cui Y, Wang Z, Zhao Y, Zhang Y, Liu Y. Quaternary ammonium compounds promoted anoxic sludge granulation and altered propagation risk of intracellular and extracellular antibiotic resistance genes. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 445:130464. [PMID: 36444811 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Surfactants could influence sludge morphology and disinfectants were linked to antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Thus, the response of activated sludge and ARGs to long-term quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) exposure required further investigation, which is a popular surfactant and disinfectant. Here, three sequencing batch reactors were fed with 5 mg/L most frequently detected QACs (dodecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (ATMAC C12), dodecyl benzyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (BAC C12) and didodecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (DADMAC C12)) for 180 d. The long-term inhibitory effect on denitrification ranked: DADMAC C12 > BAC C12 > ATMAC C12. Besides, obvious granular sludge promoted by the increase of α-Helix/(β-Sheet + Random coil) appeared in DADMAC C12 system. Moreover, intracellular ARGs increased when denitrification systems encountered QACs acutely but decreased in systems chronically exposed to QACs. Although replication and repair metabolism in ATMAC C12 system was higher, ATMAC C12 significantly promoted proliferation of extracellular ARGs. It was noteworthy that the propagation risk of extracellular ARGs in sludge increased significantly during sludge granulation process, and intracellular sul2 genes in sludge and water both increased with the granular diameter in DADMAC C12 system. The universal utilization of QACs may enhance antibiotic resistance of bacteria in wastewater treatment plants, deserving more attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingyan Zhao
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Faculty of Environment and Life, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Jingfeng Gao
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Faculty of Environment and Life, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China.
| | - Haoran Zhang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Faculty of Environment and Life, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Yingchao Cui
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Faculty of Environment and Life, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Zhiqi Wang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Faculty of Environment and Life, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Yifan Zhao
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Faculty of Environment and Life, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Faculty of Environment and Life, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Ying Liu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Faculty of Environment and Life, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
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14
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Köppe T, Jewell KS, Ehlig B, Wick A, Koschorreck J, Ternes TA. Identification and trend analysis of organic cationic contaminants via non-target screening in suspended particulate matter of the German rivers Rhine and Saar. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 229:119304. [PMID: 36459896 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.119304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Non-target screening of suspended particulate matter (SPM), collected from the German rivers Rhine and Saar, was conducted with the goal of identifying organic, permanent cationic contaminants and of estimating their temporal trends over an extended period. Therefore, annual composite samples of SPM, provided by the German Environmental Specimen Bank, were extracted and analyzed with high resolution LC-QToF-MS/MS. To facilitate the identification of substances belonging to the class "permanent cations", prioritization methods were applied utilizing the physicochemical properties of these compounds. These methods include both interactions of the analyte molecules with cation exchange resins and analyzing mass deviations when changing from non-deuterated to deuterated mobile phase solvents during LC-MS analysis. By applying both methods in a combined approach, 123 of the initially detected 2695 features were prioritized, corresponding to a 95% data reduction. This led to the identification of 22 permanent cationic species. The organic dyes Basic Yellow 28 and Fluorescent Brightener 363 as well as two quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) were detected in environmental samples for the first time to best of or knowledge. The other compounds include additional QACs, as well as quaternary tri-phenylphosphonium compounds (QPC/TPP). In addition to identification, we determined temporal trends of all compounds over a period of 13 years and assessed their ecotoxicological relevance based on estimated concentrations. The two QACs oleyltrimethylammonium and eicosyltrimethylammonium show significant increasing trends in the Rhine SPM and maximum concentrations in the Saar SPM of about 900 and 1400 µg/kg, respectively. In the case of the dyes, constant trends have been observed at the end of the studied period, but also maximum concentrations of 400 µg/kg for Basic Yellow 28 in 2006 and 1000 µg/kg for Fluorescent Brightener 363 in 2015, potentially indicating a strong ecotoxicological risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toni Köppe
- Federal Institute of Hydrology, Am Mainzer Tor 1, 56068 Koblenz, Germany
| | - Kevin S Jewell
- Federal Institute of Hydrology, Am Mainzer Tor 1, 56068 Koblenz, Germany
| | - Björn Ehlig
- Federal Institute of Hydrology, Am Mainzer Tor 1, 56068 Koblenz, Germany
| | - Arne Wick
- Federal Institute of Hydrology, Am Mainzer Tor 1, 56068 Koblenz, Germany
| | - Jan Koschorreck
- Federal Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt), Colditzstraße 34, 14193, Berlin, Germany
| | - Thomas A Ternes
- Federal Institute of Hydrology, Am Mainzer Tor 1, 56068 Koblenz, Germany.
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15
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Jansen K, Mohr C, Lügger K, Heller C, Siemens J, Mulder I. Widespread occurrence of quaternary alkylammonium disinfectants in soils of Hesse, Germany. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 857:159228. [PMID: 36208753 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Quaternary alkylammonium compounds (QAACs) are cationic organic compounds with amphiphilic properties that are widely used as surfactants and disinfectants in industry, households and agriculture. Several studies suggest that QAACs co-select for antibiotic resistant microorganisms and thus may contribute to the spread of antibiotic resistance in the environment. Data on QAAC occurrence in soil are scarce and limited to soils that are prone to direct exposure to QAACs. Therefore, we conducted a comprehensive study on the occurrence of QAACs in soils of Hesse, a federal state in Germany, covering an area of 21,115 km2. Sixty-five soil samples that comprised different land uses (arable, grassland, forest, vineyard) and area types (rural, agglomeration) were analysed for concentrations of alkyltrimethylammonium (ATMACs, with alkyl chain lengths C8-C16), benzylalkyldimethylammonium (BACs, C8-C18) and dialkyldimethylammonium compounds (DADMACs, C8-C18) via HPLC-MS/MS after ultrasonic-assisted extraction with acidified acetonitrile. QAACs were detected in 97 % of the soil samples irrespective of land use and area type. The most abundant QAAC homologues were DADMACs > BACs > ATMACs. The highest total QAAC concentrations were detected in alluvial soils influenced by the deposition of suspended particles during flood events, with DADMAC-C16 and -C18 as the dominant homologues. The high abundance of long-chain DADMACs suggests that legacy pollution and accumulation govern QAAC concentrations in soils. The presence of QAACs in forest soils points to a potential input via atmospheric deposition. Our work highlights the widespread occurrence of QAACs in soils of Hesse and the need for more research on their entry paths and fate in the soil ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Jansen
- Institute of Soil Science and Soil Conservation, iFZ Research Center for BioSystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32, 35392 Giessen, Germany.
| | - Christian Mohr
- Institute of Soil Science and Soil Conservation, iFZ Research Center for BioSystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32, 35392 Giessen, Germany.
| | - Katrin Lügger
- Hessian Agency for Nature Conservation, Environment and Geology, Rheingaustrasse 186, 65203 Wiesbaden, Germany.
| | - Christian Heller
- Hessian Agency for Nature Conservation, Environment and Geology, Rheingaustrasse 186, 65203 Wiesbaden, Germany.
| | - Jan Siemens
- Institute of Soil Science and Soil Conservation, iFZ Research Center for BioSystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32, 35392 Giessen, Germany.
| | - Ines Mulder
- Institute of Soil Science and Soil Conservation, iFZ Research Center for BioSystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32, 35392 Giessen, Germany.
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16
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Wang S, Basijokaite R, Murphy BL, Kelleher CA, Zeng T. Combining Passive Sampling with Suspect and Nontarget Screening to Characterize Organic Micropollutants in Streams Draining Mixed-Use Watersheds. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:16726-16736. [PMID: 36331382 PMCID: PMC9730844 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c02938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Organic micropollutants (OMPs) represent an anthropogenic stressor on stream ecosystems. In this work, we combined passive sampling with suspect and nontarget screening enabled by liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry to characterize complex mixtures of OMPs in streams draining mixed-use watersheds. Suspect screening identified 122 unique OMPs for target quantification in polar organic chemical integrative samplers (POCIS) and grab samples collected from 20 stream sites in upstate New York over two sampling seasons. Hierarchical clustering established the co-occurrence profiles of OMPs in connection with watershed attributes indicative of anthropogenic influences. Nontarget screening leveraging the time-integrative nature of POCIS and the cross-site variability in watershed attributes prioritized and confirmed 11 additional compounds that were ubiquitously present in monitored streams. Field sampling rates for 37 OMPs that simultaneously occurred in POCIS and grab samples spanned the range of 0.02 to 0.22 L/d with a median value of 0.07 L/d. Comparative analyses of the daily average loads, cumulative exposure-activity ratios, and multi-substance potentially affected fractions supported the feasibility of complementing grab sampling with POCIS for OMP load estimation and screening-level risk assessments. Overall, this work demonstrated a multi-watershed sampling and screening approach that can be adapted to assess OMP contamination in streams across landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiru Wang
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Syracuse University, 151 Link Hall, Syracuse, New York 13244, United
States
| | - Ruta Basijokaite
- Department
of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Syracuse
University, 204 Heroy Geology Laboratory, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
| | - Bethany L. Murphy
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Syracuse University, 151 Link Hall, Syracuse, New York 13244, United
States
| | - Christa A. Kelleher
- Department
of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Syracuse
University, 204 Heroy Geology Laboratory, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
| | - Teng Zeng
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Syracuse University, 151 Link Hall, Syracuse, New York 13244, United
States
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17
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Li Q, Xue X, Qi S, Zhao L, Zhang W, Fan M, Wu L, Wang M. Disinfectant dodecyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (DDBAC) disrupts gut microbiota, phospholipids, and calcium signaling in honeybees (Apis mellifera) at an environmentally relevant level. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 170:107639. [PMID: 36402032 PMCID: PMC9664769 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
One of the impacts of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been a profound increase in the application amounts of disinfectants. Dodecyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (DDBAC) is a widely used disinfectant, yet its hazards to non-target species remain largely unknown. We are unaware of any studies assessing DDBAC's impacts on honeybee, a pollinator species that is a useful indicator of environmental pollution essential for many forms of agricultural production. Here, we assessed the potentially negative effects of DDBAC on honeybees. After conducting a formal toxicity evaluation of DDBAC on honeybee mortality, we detected an accumulation of DDBAC in the honeybee midgut. We subsequently studied the midgut tissues of honeybees exposed to sub-lethal concentrations of DDBAC: histopathological examination revealed damage to midgut tissue upon DDBAC exposure, microbiome analysis showed a decreased abundance of beneficial midgut microbiota, lipidomics analysis revealed a significant reduction in cell membrane phospholipids with known functions in signal transduction, and a transcriptome analysis detected altered expression of genes involved in calcium signaling pathways (that variously function in calcium absorption, muscle contraction, and neurotransmission). Thus, our study establishes that DDBAC impacts honeybee midgut functions at multiple levels. Our study represents an early warning about the hazards of DDBAC and appeals for the proper stewardship of DDBAC to ensure the protection of our ecological environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiangqiang Li
- Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100093, China
| | - Xiaofeng Xue
- Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100093, China
| | - Suzhen Qi
- Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100093, China
| | - Liuwei Zhao
- Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100093, China
| | - Wenwen Zhang
- College of Life and Health Sciences, Anhui Science and Technology University, Bengbu 233100, China
| | - Man Fan
- Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100093, China
| | - Liming Wu
- Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100093, China.
| | - Miao Wang
- Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100093, China.
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18
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Nowak-Lange M, Niedziałkowska K, Lisowska K. Cosmetic Preservatives: Hazardous Micropollutants in Need of Greater Attention? Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:14495. [PMID: 36430973 PMCID: PMC9692320 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232214495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, personal care products (PCPs) have surfaced as a novel class of pollutants due to their release into wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and receiving environments by sewage effluent and biosolid-augmentation soil, which poses potential risks to non-target organisms. Among PCPs, there are preservatives that are added to cosmetics for protection against microbial spoilage. This paper presents a review of the occurrence in different environmental matrices, toxicological effects, and mechanisms of microbial degradation of four selected preservatives (triclocarban, chloroxylenol, methylisothiazolinone, and benzalkonium chloride). Due to the insufficient removal from WWTPs, cosmetic preservatives have been widely detected in aquatic environments and sewage sludge at concentrations mainly below tens of µg L-1. These compounds are toxic to aquatic organisms, such as fish, algae, daphnids, and rotifers, as well as terrestrial organisms. A summary of the mechanisms of preservative biodegradation by micro-organisms and analysis of emerging intermediates is also provided. Formed metabolites are often characterized by lower toxicity compared to the parent compounds. Further studies are needed for an evaluation of environmental concentrations of preservatives in diverse matrices and toxicity to more species of aquatic and terrestrial organisms, and for an understanding of the mechanisms of microbial degradation. The research should focus on chloroxylenol and methylisothiazolinone because these compounds are the least understood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Nowak-Lange
- Department of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, 12/16 Banacha Street, 90-237 Łódź, Poland
| | | | - Katarzyna Lisowska
- Department of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, 12/16 Banacha Street, 90-237 Łódź, Poland
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19
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Yang CX, He ZW, Liu WZ, Wang AJ, Wang L, Liu J, Liu BL, Ren NQ, Yu SP, Guo ZC. Chronic effects of benzalkonium chlorides on short chain fatty acids and methane production in semi-continuous anaerobic digestion of waste activated sludge. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 847:157619. [PMID: 35901877 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
As an emerging pollutant, benzalkonium chlorides (BACs) potentially enriched in waste activated sludge (WAS). However, the microbial response mechanism under chronic effects of BACs on acidogenesis and methanogenesis in anaerobic digestion (AD) has not been clearly disclosed. This study investigated the AD (by-)products and microbial evolution under low to high BACs concentrations from bioreactor startup to steady running. It was found that BACs can lead to an increase of WAS hydrolysis and fermentation, but a disturbance to acidogenic bacteria also occurred at low BACs concentration. A noticeable inhibition to methanogenesis occurred when BAC concentration was up to 15 mg/g TSS. Metagenomic analysis revealed the key genes involved in acetic acid (HAc) biosynthesis (i.e. phosphate acetyltransferase, PTA), β-oxidation pathway (acetyl-CoA C-acetyltransferase) and propionic acid (HPr) conversion was slightly promoted compared with control. Furthermore, BACs inhibited the acetotrophic methanogenesis (i.e. acetyl-CoA synthetase), especially BAC concentration was up to 15 mg/g TSS, thereby enhanced short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) accumulation. Overall, chronic stimulation of functional microorganisms with increasing concentrations of BACs impact WAS fermentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Xue Yang
- Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Cold Region Wetland Ecology and Environment Research, School of Geography and Tourism, Harbin University, Harbin, 150086, China; National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, China
| | - Zhang-Wei He
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, Key Laboratory of Northwest Water Resource, Environment and Ecology, MOE, School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China
| | - Wen-Zong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Organic Pollution Prevention and Control, Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
| | - Ai-Jie Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Organic Pollution Prevention and Control, Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Ling Wang
- School of Environmental & Municipal Engineering, Qingdao University of Technology, Qingdao, 266520, China
| | - Jia Liu
- Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Cold Region Wetland Ecology and Environment Research, School of Geography and Tourism, Harbin University, Harbin, 150086, China
| | - Bao-Ling Liu
- Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Cold Region Wetland Ecology and Environment Research, School of Geography and Tourism, Harbin University, Harbin, 150086, China
| | - Nan-Qi Ren
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, China
| | - Shao-Peng Yu
- Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Cold Region Wetland Ecology and Environment Research, School of Geography and Tourism, Harbin University, Harbin, 150086, China
| | - Ze-Chong Guo
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, 212100, China
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20
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A portable tool for colorimetric detection of corrosion inhibitors using paper-based analytical devices. Microchem J 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.microc.2022.108024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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21
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Xiao ZY, Huang N, Wang Q, Wang WL, Wu QY, Hu HY. Advanced oxidation of dodecyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride by VUV/UV/chlorine: Synergistic effect, radicals, and degradation pathway. Sep Purif Technol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2022.121012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
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22
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Lazofsky A, Doherty C, Szary P, Buckley B. A surface sampling and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry method for the analysis of quaternary ammonium compounds collected from public transportation buses in New Jersey. EMERGING CONTAMINANTS 2022; 8:318-328. [PMID: 35791422 PMCID: PMC9247117 DOI: 10.1016/j.emcon.2022.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are a class of antimicrobial disinfectants whose use in cleaning products increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Chemically, their low vapor pressure indicates a proclivity to persist on surfaces, and their presence suggests a level of protection against microorganisms. The widespread application of QACs in response to the SARS CoV-2 virus created a need to evaluate their longevity on surfaces, for both efficacy and possible health risks. There are however, no standardized analytical methods for QAC surface sampling and analysis, and no published studies quantifying their concentrations on mass transportation vehicles-a high occupancy, close-contact microenvironment documented to facilitate the spread the SARS CoV-2 virus. Here, we describe a robust liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method for the analysis of QACs and simultaneous development of a direct surface sampling and extraction protocol. We demonstrate the applicability of the method through the analysis of surface samples collected from in-service public transportation buses. The rapid, sensitive LC-MS method included 8 target QACs quantified on a Q-Exactive HF Hybrid Quadrupole-Orbitrap mass spectrometer using an electrospray ionization source and Dionex UltiMate 3000 UHPLC system for analyte separation. QAC standard mixtures at concentrations between 0.1 ng mL-1 and 2000 ng mL-1 were analyzed, and chromatographic separation of all analytes was achieved in less than 10 min. All correlation coefficients were reported at r > 0.986, and LODs ranged from 0.007 to 2.103 ng mL-1 for all compounds, confirming the method's sensitivity. A previously reported surface sampling and extraction protocol was modified to further simplify the procedure and expand the number of target compounds. The new sampling protocol was optimized from 10 commercially available wipes and 4 solvent types by quantifying recovery from the surface. Band-Aid brand small gauze pads saturated with isopropanol had the highest recovery efficiencies, ranging from 61.5 to 102.9% across all analytes. To test the real-world applicability, wipe samples were collected from 4 in-circulation New Jersey Transit buses on 5 separate days over the course of a month to assess the occurrence and longevity of QACs on sanitized mass transportation vehicles. Concentrations of QACs were detected on every wipe sample taken, and at all sampled time points, confirming their persistence on hard surfaces. QACs have the potential to form polymers, and detection of the polymer might serve as a secondary indication of their effectiveness on surfaces. None of the polymers detected however, were unique to QACs from this study. The polymers detected were already present in the wipe and used as an internal standard to demonstrate the efficacy of extraction and analysis of polymeric QACs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail Lazofsky
- Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, 170 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Cathleen Doherty
- Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, 170 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Patrick Szary
- Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation, Rutgers University, 100 Brett Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Brian Buckley
- Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, 170 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
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23
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Chemical modifications in the structure of seaweed polysaccharides as a viable antimicrobial application: A current overview and future perspectives. ALGAL RES 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2022.102796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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24
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Uhl M, Hartmann C, Hornek-Gausterer R, Kratz K, Scharf S. [The history of emerging substances in Austria]. OSTERREICHISCHE WASSER- UND ABFALLWIRTSCHAFT 2022; 74:279-285. [PMID: 38013950 PMCID: PMC9127477 DOI: 10.1007/s00506-022-00864-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Over time, many different groups of substances became the focus of interest, so their occurrence, behaviour and effects were studied. While in the 1990s, it was detergents and the formation of foam in water, later the causes of discolouration around tanneries were researched, as well as the presence of chemicals and pollutants near industrial plants. Organochlorine pesticides, brominated flame retardants, perfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS, organotin compounds are some examples of such Emerging substances. After pesticides and industrial chemicals, active pharmaceutical ingredients, cosmetics and personal care products have also become "Emerging substances". Ultimately, however, it is the effect of the substances-whether persistent, bioaccumulative, mobile, toxic or even endocrine disruption-that attracts attention and triggers legal regulations. As the substances and the methods for their detection changed, so did the corresponding legislation. This in turn led to the use of new or slightly modified substances and substance groups. Innovative methods such as non-targeted analytics and biological effect tests or bioassays are now being utilised to address the variety and combined effects of the existing substances. In order to ensure comprehensive groundwater and water protection, the investigation and assessment methods must be developed. Furthermore, the existing and newly acquired knowledge need to be translated into regulatory consequences more quickly. Beyond that, a comprehensive societal transformation with regard to the sustainable use of natural water resources is essential for environmentally sound and healthy development. This must therefore be implemented on many different levels; with knowledge transfer and awareness-raising also having a significant role to play.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Uhl
- Team Studien & Beratung, Unit Umweltbundesamt – Labore, Umweltbundesamt, Spittelauer Lände 5, 1090 Wien, Österreich
| | - Christina Hartmann
- Team Studien & Beratung, Unit Umweltbundesamt – Labore, Umweltbundesamt, Spittelauer Lände 5, 1090 Wien, Österreich
| | - Romana Hornek-Gausterer
- Team Studien & Beratung, Unit Umweltbundesamt – Labore, Umweltbundesamt, Spittelauer Lände 5, 1090 Wien, Österreich
| | - Karin Kratz
- Team Studien & Beratung, Unit Umweltbundesamt – Labore, Umweltbundesamt, Spittelauer Lände 5, 1090 Wien, Österreich
| | - Sigrid Scharf
- Unit Umweltbundesamt – Labore, Umweltbundesamt, Spittelauer Lände 5, 1090 Wien, Österreich
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25
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Cheng Z, Gao J, Liu Q, Gu Q. The effect of alkyl chain length of ( R)-3-Hydroxybutyric alkyl ester on antibacterial activity and its antibacterial mechanism. J Biomater Appl 2022; 37:275-286. [PMID: 35442105 DOI: 10.1177/08853282221085801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
This work describes the relationship between the antibacterial activity and the ester chain length (C1-C8) of (R)-3-Hydroxybutyric ((R)-3-HB) alkyl esters that synthesized from (R)-3-HB acid ((R)-3-HBA) by esterification reaction. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) decrease as the length of the (R)-3-HB alkyl ester chain increases from 1 to 6, but (R)-3-HB-C7 and (R)-3-HB-C8 have their own rules for different microorganisms. Among them, the (R)-3HB-C6 has the relatively best antibacterial and antifungal properties, which MIC were 1.95 mg mL-1 against E. coli and S. aureus; 0.98 mg mL-1 against C. albicans and B. subtilis; 0.49 mg mL-1 against A. niger. Finally, the antimicrobial mechanisms of the (R)-3HB-C6 are revealed, and these include disruption of biofilm and the bacterial wall/membrane, leakage of the intracellular content, and change in the transmembrane potential. These results imply the potential application of (R)-3-HB alkyl ester as new antimicrobial agents; future research can use this as an antibacterial element to synthesize new polymer materials or agents with high-efficiency antibacterial activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zao Cheng
- 165087Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China
| | - Junfei Gao
- 165087Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China
| | - Qianqian Liu
- 165087Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China
| | - Qun Gu
- 165087Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China
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26
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Trajano GT, Vasconcelos OMSR, Pataca LCM, Mol MPG. Anionic surfactants monitoring in healthcare facilities - a case of Belo Horizonte City, Brazil. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2022; 194:248. [PMID: 35246746 PMCID: PMC8896972 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-022-09877-x] [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: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Surfactants are substances that when in aquatic environments can cause negative impacts. Hospital effluents carry numerous chemicals daily, including surfactants, used in sanitization and disinfection procedures. These chemicals are found in the effluents and reach water bodies due to a lack of proper removal in the wastewater treatment plants. The present study investigated data about wastewater monitored from healthcare facilities located in the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, focusing on anionic surfactants. The results showed 72 establishments monitoring this parameter, resulting in a median concentration of 1 mg L-1 and 2.49 mg L-1 mean value of anionic surfactants, between 2007 and 2019. It is also observed in the correlation between surfactants and oils in all healthcare establishment sizes, except for the medium-sized. Although anionic surfactants are the most used in cleaning product formulations, cationic surfactants still do not have specific legislation in the studied country that dictates a limit for discharge into sewage; consequently, they are not routinely monitored in effluents. However, these compounds are used in the formulation of routine hospital products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graziela Torres Trajano
- Research and Development Department, Ezequiel Dias Foundation, Conde Pereira Carneiro St, 80 Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | - Luiz Carlos Moutinho Pataca
- Research and Development Department, Ezequiel Dias Foundation, Conde Pereira Carneiro St, 80 Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Marcos Paulo Gomes Mol
- Research and Development Department, Ezequiel Dias Foundation, Conde Pereira Carneiro St, 80 Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
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27
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Droge STJ, Scherpenisse P, Arnot JA, Armitage JM, McLachlan MS, Ohe PCVD, Hodges G. Screening the baseline fish bioconcentration factor of various types of surfactants using phospholipid binding data. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2021; 23:1930-1948. [PMID: 34787154 DOI: 10.1039/d1em00327e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Fish bioconcentration factors (BCFs) are commonly used in chemical hazard and risk assessment. For neutral organic chemicals BCFs are positively correlated with the octanol-water partition ratio (KOW), but KOW is not a reliable parameter for surfactants. Membrane lipid-water distribution ratios (DMLW) can be accurately measured for all kinds of surfactants, using phospholipid-based sorbents. This study first demonstrates that DMLW values for ionic surfactants are more than 100 000 times higher than the partition ratio to fish-oil, representing neutral storage lipid. A non-ionic alcohol ethoxylate surfactant showed almost equal affinity for both lipid types. Accordingly, a baseline screening BCF value for surfactants (BCFbaseline) can be approximated for ionic surfactants by multiplying DMLW by the phospholipid fraction in tissue, and for non-ionic surfactants by multiplying DMLW by the total lipid fraction. We measured DMLW values for surfactant structures, including linear and branched alkylbenzenesulfonates, an alkylsulfoacetate and an alkylethersulfate, bis(2-ethylhexyl)-surfactants (e.g., docusate), zwitterionic alkylbetaines and alkylamine-oxides, and a polyprotic diamine. Together with sixty previously published DMLW values for surfactants, structure-activity relationships were derived to elucidate the influence of surfactant specific molecular features on DMLW. For 23 surfactant types, we established the alkyl chain length at which BCFbaseline would exceed the EU REACH bioaccumulation (B) threshold of 2000 L kg-1, and would therefore require higher tier assessments to further refine the BCF estimate. Finally, the derived BCFbaseline are compared with measured literature in vivo BCF data where available, suggesting that refinements, most notably reliable estimates of biotransformation rates, are needed for most surfactant types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven T J Droge
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, Department Freshwater and Marine Ecology, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Peter Scherpenisse
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
| | - Jon A Arnot
- ARC Arnot Research and Consulting, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | | | | | - Geoff Hodges
- Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre, Unilever, Colworth Science Park, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, UK
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28
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Chacón L, Arias-Andres M, Mena F, Rivera L, Hernández L, Achi R, Garcia F, Rojas-Jimenez K. Short-term exposure to benzalkonium chloride in bacteria from activated sludge alters the community diversity and the antibiotic resistance profile. JOURNAL OF WATER AND HEALTH 2021; 19:895-906. [PMID: 34874898 DOI: 10.2166/wh.2021.171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The continuous introduction of cleaning products containing benzalkonium chloride (BAC) from household discharges can mold the microbial communities in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in a way still poorly understood. In this study, we performed an in vitro exposure of activated sludge from a WWTP in Costa Rica to BAC, quantified the changes in intI1, sul2, and qacE/qacEΔ1 gene profiles, and determined alterations in the bacterial community composition. The analysis of the qPCR data revealed elevated charges of antibiotic resistance genes in the microbial community; after BAC's exposure, a significant increase in the qacE/qacEΔ1 gene, which is related to ammonium quaternary resistance, was observed. The 16S rRNA gene sequences' analysis showed pronounced variations in the structure of the bacterial communities, including reduction of the alpha diversity values and an increase of the relative abundance of Alphaproteobacteria, particularly of Rhodospseudomonas and Rhodobacter. We confirmed that the microbial communities presented high resilience to BAC at the mg/mL concentration, probably due to constant exposure to this pollutant. They also presented antibiotic resistance-related genes with similar mechanisms to tolerate this substance. These mechanisms should be explored more thoroughly, especially in the context of high use of disinfectant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luz Chacón
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Salud (INISA), Universidad de Costa Rica, P.O. Box: 11501-20160, San José, Costa Rica E-mail:
| | - Maria Arias-Andres
- Instituto Regional de Estudios en Sustancias Tóxicas (IRET), Universidad Nacional, Campus Omar Dengo, P.O. Box 86-3000, Heredia, Costa Rica
| | - Freylan Mena
- Instituto Regional de Estudios en Sustancias Tóxicas (IRET), Universidad Nacional, Campus Omar Dengo, P.O. Box 86-3000, Heredia, Costa Rica
| | - Luis Rivera
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Salud (INISA), Universidad de Costa Rica, P.O. Box: 11501-20160, San José, Costa Rica E-mail:
| | - Lorena Hernández
- Centro de Investigación en Productos Naturales (CIPRONA), Universidad de Costa Rica, P.O. Box: 11501-20160, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Rosario Achi
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Salud (INISA), Universidad de Costa Rica, P.O. Box: 11501-20160, San José, Costa Rica E-mail:
| | - Fernando Garcia
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales (CIET), Universidad de Costa Rica, P.O. Box: 11501-20160, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Keilor Rojas-Jimenez
- Escuela de Biología, Universidad de Costa Rica, P.O. Box: 11501-20160, San José, Costa Rica
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29
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Droge ST, Armitage JM, Arnot JA, Fitzsimmons PN, Nichols JW. Biotransformation Potential of Cationic Surfactants in Fish Assessed with Rainbow Trout Liver S9 Fractions. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2021; 40:3123-3136. [PMID: 34379820 PMCID: PMC9187044 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Biotransformation may substantially reduce the extent to which organic environmental contaminants accumulate in fish. Presently, however, relatively little is known regarding the biotransformation of ionized chemicals, including cationic surfactants, in aquatic organisms. To address this deficiency, a rainbow trout liver S9 substrate depletion assay (RT-S9) was used to measure in vitro intrinsic clearance rates (CLint ; ml min-1 g liver-1 ) for 22 cationic surfactants that differ with respect to alkyl chain length and degree of methylation on the charged nitrogen atom. None of the quaternary N,N,N-trimethylalkylammonium compounds exhibited significant clearance. Rapid clearance was observed for N,N-dimethylalkylamines, and slower rates of clearance were measured for N-methylalkylamine analogs. Clearance rates for primary alkylamines were generally close to or below detectable levels. For the N-methylalkylamines and N,N-dimethylalkylamines, the highest CLint values were measured for C10 -C12 homologs; substantially lower clearance rates were observed for homologs containing shorter or longer carbon chains. Based on its cofactor dependency, biotransformation of C12 -N,N-dimethylamine appears to involve one or more cytochrome P450-dependent reaction pathways, and sulfonation. On a molar basis, N-demethylation metabolites accounted for up to 25% of the N,N-dimethylalkylamines removed during the 2-h assay, and up to 55% of the removed N-methylalkylamines. These N-demethylation products possess greater metabolic stability in the RT-S9 assay than the parent structures from which they derive and may contribute to the overall risk of ionizable alkylamines. The results of these studies provide a set of consistently determined CLint values that may be extrapolated to whole trout to inform in silico bioaccumulation assessments. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:3123-3136. © 2021 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven T.J. Droge
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem DynamicsUniversity of AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | | | - Jon A. Arnot
- ARC Arnot Research and ConsultingTorontoOntarioCanada
| | - Patrick N. Fitzsimmons
- Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Office of Research and DevelopmentUS Environmental Protection AgencyDuluthMinnesota
| | - John W. Nichols
- Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Office of Research and DevelopmentUS Environmental Protection AgencyDuluthMinnesota
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30
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Wiest L, Giroud B, Assoumani A, Lestremau F, Vulliet E. A multi-family offline SPE LC-MS/MS analytical method for anionic, cationic and non-ionic surfactants quantification in surface water. Talanta 2021; 232:122441. [PMID: 34074426 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2021.122441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Of the large number of emerging pollutants discharged from wastewaters into surface waters, surfactants are among those with the highest concentrations. However, few monitoring in river waters of these substances have already been performed and only on a few families, mostly anionic. This work aimed to develop a multi-family analytical strategy suitable for the quantification of low concentrations of surfactant in surface waters. Twelve families of surfactants, anionic, cationic and non-ionic were selected. Their quantification by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and their extraction by SPE were optimized by comparing different retention mechanisms. The best performances were obtained with a C18 grafted silica LC column and a hydrophilic-lipophilic balanced (HLB) polymeric SPE cartridge. The final analytical method was validated and applied for the quantification of surfactants in 36 river water samples. Method limits of quantification (LQ), intra and inter days precision and trueness were evaluated. With LQ between 15 and 485 ng/L, and trueness over 80%, this method was suitable for monitoring surfactants in surface water. Application on French river water samples revealed the presence of anionic, cationic and non-ionic surfactants with median concentrations from 24 ng/L for octylphenol ethoxylates (OPEO), up to 4.6 μg/L regarding linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS).
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Affiliation(s)
- Laure Wiest
- Univ Lyon, CNRS, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Institut des Sciences Analytiques, UMR 5280, 5 Rue de la Doua, F-69100, Villeurbanne, France.
| | - Barbara Giroud
- Univ Lyon, CNRS, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Institut des Sciences Analytiques, UMR 5280, 5 Rue de la Doua, F-69100, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Azziz Assoumani
- INERIS, Unité Méthodes et développements en Analyses pour l'Environnement, F-60550, Verneuil-en-halatte, France
| | - François Lestremau
- INERIS, Unité Méthodes et développements en Analyses pour l'Environnement, F-60550, Verneuil-en-halatte, France
| | - Emmanuelle Vulliet
- Univ Lyon, CNRS, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Institut des Sciences Analytiques, UMR 5280, 5 Rue de la Doua, F-69100, Villeurbanne, France
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31
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Simões AM, Venâncio C, Alves L, Antunes FE, Lopes I. Hydrophobic modifications of hydroxyethyl cellulose polymers: Their influence on the acute toxicity to aquatic biota. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 409:124966. [PMID: 33418294 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The hydrophobic substitution (HS) of cationic cellulose derivatives may be tuned, promoting their efficiency. This work studied the influence of HS on the acute ecotoxicity of quaternized hydroxyethyl cellulose polymers (SL) to aquatic biota. The ecotoxicity of four SL with different HS (SL-5, SL-30, SL-60, SL-100) was assessed for seven species: Vibrio fischeri, Raphidocelis subcapitata, Chlorella vulgaris, Daphnia magna, Brachionus calyciflorus, Heterocypris incongruens, and Danio rerio. The computed median effective concentrations were used to derive hazard concentrations, by using species sensitive distribution curves. All SL suspensions were characterized for particle size, zeta potential and rheological properties. Results indicated instability of the SL in suspension due to their relatively low zeta potential. Raphidocelis subcapitata, C. vulgaris and B. calyciflorus were the most sensitive to the four SL, suggesting that exposure to these compounds may imbalance the lowest trophic levels. Also, HS influenced the toxicity of SL, with the lowest HS (SL-5) revealing lower ecotoxicity. The maximum acceptable concentrations were 14.0, 2.9, 3.9 and 1.4 mg L-1 for SL-5, SL-30, SL-60, and SL-100, respectively. Accordingly, SL-5 is suggested as the eco-friendliest and is recommended to be used in the production of care products, in detriment of the other three tested variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anabela M Simões
- CESAM & Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; CQC, Department of Chemistry, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, 3004-535 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - C Venâncio
- University of Coimbra, Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Luís Alves
- University of Coimbra, CIEPQPF, Department of Chemical Engineering, Rua Sílvio Lima, Pólo II, PT, 3030-790 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Filipe E Antunes
- CQC, Department of Chemistry, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, 3004-535 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Isabel Lopes
- CESAM & Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
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32
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Abbott T, Kor-Bicakci G, Islam MS, Eskicioglu C. A Review on the Fate of Legacy and Alternative Antimicrobials and Their Metabolites during Wastewater and Sludge Treatment. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21239241. [PMID: 33287448 PMCID: PMC7729486 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21239241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial compounds are used in a broad range of personal care, consumer and healthcare products and are frequently encountered in modern life. The use of these compounds is being reexamined as their safety, effectiveness and necessity are increasingly being questioned by regulators and consumers alike. Wastewater often contains significant amounts of these chemicals, much of which ends up being released into the environment as existing wastewater and sludge treatment processes are simply not designed to treat many of these contaminants. Furthermore, many biotic and abiotic processes during wastewater treatment can generate significant quantities of potentially toxic and persistent antimicrobial metabolites and byproducts, many of which may be even more concerning than their parent antimicrobials. This review article explores the occurrence and fate of two of the most common legacy antimicrobials, triclosan and triclocarban, their metabolites/byproducts during wastewater and sludge treatment and their potential impacts on the environment. This article also explores the fate and transformation of emerging alternative antimicrobials and addresses some of the growing concerns regarding these compounds. This is becoming increasingly important as consumers and regulators alike shift away from legacy antimicrobials to alternative chemicals which may have similar environmental and human health concerns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy Abbott
- UBC Bioreactor Technology Group, School of Engineering, University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, Canada; (T.A.); (G.K.-B.); (M.S.I.)
| | - Gokce Kor-Bicakci
- UBC Bioreactor Technology Group, School of Engineering, University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, Canada; (T.A.); (G.K.-B.); (M.S.I.)
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Bogazici University, Bebek, 34342 Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Mohammad S. Islam
- UBC Bioreactor Technology Group, School of Engineering, University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, Canada; (T.A.); (G.K.-B.); (M.S.I.)
| | - Cigdem Eskicioglu
- UBC Bioreactor Technology Group, School of Engineering, University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, Canada; (T.A.); (G.K.-B.); (M.S.I.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-250-807-8544 (C.E)
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33
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Evaluation of Sub-Lethal Toxicity of Benzethonium Chloride in Cyprinus carpio Liver. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/app10238485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Benzenthonium chloride (BEC, Hyamine 1622) is a quaternary ammonium surfactant with cationic properties widely used in cleaning, sanitation, and medical products that can become harmful to humans and also to the environment. This study aimed to evaluate its acute effects on Cyprinus carpio fish in terms of oxidative stress and morphological changes on hepatic tissue in order to show the sub-lethal toxicity of BEC. Fish were exposed to 1 mg/L BEC for 24, 48, and 96 h, and the liver samples were collected. The most significant changes were noticed after 96 h of exposure when the entire antioxidant enzyme system was affected. The activities of catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione S-transferase decreased by 44%, 31%, 30%, and 45%, respectively, compared to control. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity decreased by 29% after 96 h of control, inducing a reduction of NADPH formation which decreased by half the level of reduced glutathione, the main non-enzymatic antioxidant. These effects correlated with the raised value of lipid peroxidation after 96 h and the morphology changes on hepatic tissue, such as cytoplasmic vacuolization and nuclear hypertrophy that could affect the normal function of the liver. All of these results showed acute toxicity of BEC on C. carpio after 96 h of exposure, causing oxidative stress response at the hepatic level.
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Kim S, Ji K, Shin H, Park S, Kho Y, Park K, Kim K, Choi K. Occurrences of benzalkonium chloride in streams near a pharmaceutical manufacturing complex in Korea and associated ecological risk. CHEMOSPHERE 2020; 256:127084. [PMID: 32460158 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Revised: 05/02/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Benzalkonium chloride (BKC) is a commonly used preservative in personal care products and pharmaceutical preparations. However, its ecological risks are not well understood because of lack of monitoring data and ecotoxicological information. In the present study, occurrence of BKC was investigated in the waters near a pharmaceutical manufacturing complex of South Korea and its acute and chronic ecotoxicities were evaluated using Daphnia magna and Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes). Associated ecological risks were estimated by calculating hazard quotients (HQs). In addition, endocrine disruption potency of BKC was compared with those of other frequently used preservatives using human adrenal (H295R) and rat pituitary (GH3) cells. High concentration of BKC was detected at locations near the pharmaceutical manufacturing plants, i.e., 35.8 μg/L for dodecyl benzyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (BKC-C12), and 21.6 μg/L tetradecyl benzyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (BKC-C14). In Daphnia, 48 h immobilization EC50 and 21 d reproduction NOEC were determined at 41.1 μg/L and ≥10.8 μg/L, respectively. For O. latipes, 96 h LC50 was determined at 246 μg/L while the growth inhibition NOEC was ≥113.4 μg/L following early life stage exposure. BKC significantly up-regulated vitellogenin gene of juvenile fish, indicating its endocrine disrupting potential in fish. Exposure to BKC increased steroid hormone level in H295R cells, and induced cytotoxicity in GH3 cells. HQ values of BKC were determined at greater than one in the ambient water near pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities. Considering high ecological risk and endocrine disrupting potential, long-term consequences of BKC contamination in aquatic ecosystem need to be examined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujin Kim
- School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea; Department of Environmental Science, Institute of Biomedical Studies, Baylor University, Waco, TX, 76706, USA
| | - Kyunghee Ji
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Yongin University, Yongin, 17092, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyesoo Shin
- School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Suhyun Park
- School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea; Institute of Natural Sciences, Yongin University, Yongin, 17092, Republic of Korea
| | - Younglim Kho
- Department of Health, Environment and Safety, Eulji University, Seongnam, 13135, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyunghwa Park
- National Institute of Environmental Research, Incheon, 22689, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyungtae Kim
- National Institute of Environmental Research, Incheon, 22689, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyungho Choi
- School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
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Hora PI, Pati SG, McNamara PJ, Arnold WA. Increased Use of Quaternary Ammonium Compounds during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic and Beyond: Consideration of Environmental Implications. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY LETTERS 2020; 7:622-631. [PMID: 37566314 PMCID: PMC7341688 DOI: 10.1021/acs.estlett.0c00437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 190] [Impact Index Per Article: 47.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are active ingredients in over 200 disinfectants currently recommended by the U.S. EPA for use to inactivate the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) virus. The amounts of these compounds used in household, workplace, and industry settings has very likely increased, and usage will continue to be elevated given the scope of the pandemic. QACs have been previously detected in wastewater, surface waters, and sediments, and effects on antibiotic resistance have been explored. Thus, it is important to assess potential environmental and engineering impacts of elevated QAC usage, which may include disruption of wastewater treatment unit operations, proliferation of antibiotic resistance, formation of nitrosamine disinfection byproducts, and impacts on biota in surface waters. The threat caused by COVID-19 is clear, and a reasonable response is elevated use of QACs to mitigate spread of infection. Exploration of potential effects, environmental fate, and technologies to minimize environmental releases of QACs, however, is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priya I. Hora
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo-
Engineering, University of Minnesota − Twin Cities, 500
Pillsbury Drive SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Sarah G. Pati
- Department of Environmental Sciences,
University of Basel, Bernoullistrasse 30, 4056 Basel,
Switzerland
| | - Patrick J. McNamara
- Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental
Engineering, Marquette University, P.O. Box 1881, Milwaukee,
Wisconsin 53233, United States
| | - William A. Arnold
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo-
Engineering, University of Minnesota − Twin Cities, 500
Pillsbury Drive SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
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Kwon YS, Jung JW, Kim YJ, Park CB, Shon JC, Kim JH, Park JW, Kim SG, Seo JS. Proteomic analysis of whole-body responses in medaka ( Oryzias latipes) exposed to benzalkonium chloride. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND HEALTH. PART A, TOXIC/HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING 2020; 55:1387-1397. [PMID: 32693679 DOI: 10.1080/10934529.2020.1796117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Revised: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Benzalkonium chloride (BAC) is a cationic surfactant commonly used as a disinfectant, and is discharged into the aquatic environment by various water sources such as wastewater. BAC may also interact with potentially toxic substances such as persistent organic chemicals. Although studies of BAC contamination toxicity and bioaccumulation have been widely reported, the biochemical responses to BAC toxicity remain incompletely understood, and the detailed molecular mechanisms are largely unknown. In this study, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometry-based proteomic approaches were applied to investigate the protein profiles in Oryzias latipes (medaka) chronically exposed to BAC. Fish were exposed to three different concentrations of BAC, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.2 mg/L, for 21 days. A total of 20 proteins involved in the cytoskeleton, the oxidative stress response, the nervous and endocrine systems, signaling pathways, and cellular proteolysis were significantly upregulated by BAC exposure. The proteomic information obtained in the present study will be useful in identification of potential biomarkers for BAC toxicity, and begins to elucidate its molecular mechanisms, providing new insights into the ecotoxicity of BAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young Sang Kwon
- Environmental Chemistry Research Group, Gyeongnam Branch Institute, Korea Institute of Toxicology, Jinju, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Woong Jung
- Environmental Biology Research Group, Gyeongnam Branch Institute, Korea Institute of Toxicology, Jinju, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeong Jin Kim
- Environmental Chemistry Research Group, Gyeongnam Branch Institute, Korea Institute of Toxicology, Jinju, Republic of Korea
| | - Chang-Beom Park
- Ecotoxicology Research Group, Gyeongnam Branch Institute, Korea Institute of Toxicology, Jinju, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong Cheol Shon
- Environmental Chemistry Research Group, Gyeongnam Branch Institute, Korea Institute of Toxicology, Jinju, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong-Hwan Kim
- Environmental Chemistry Research Group, Gyeongnam Branch Institute, Korea Institute of Toxicology, Jinju, Republic of Korea
| | - June-Woo Park
- Environmental Biology Research Group, Gyeongnam Branch Institute, Korea Institute of Toxicology, Jinju, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Gon Kim
- Gyeongnam Oriental Anti-aging Institute, Sancheong, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong-Su Seo
- Environmental Chemistry Research Group, Gyeongnam Branch Institute, Korea Institute of Toxicology, Jinju, Republic of Korea
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37
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Hora PI, Arnold WA. Photochemical fate of quaternary ammonium compounds in river water. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2020; 22:1368-1381. [PMID: 32406464 DOI: 10.1039/d0em00086h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are not completely removed during wastewater treatment and are frequently detected in surface waters and sediments. The photochemical transformation of QACs has not been thoroughly investigated as a potential degradation pathway affecting their fate in the environment. Kinetic studies of common QACs with and without aromatic groups under simulated and natural sunlight conditions were performed with model sensitizers and dissolved organic matter to estimate photochemical half-lives in the aquatic environment. All QACs investigated react with hydroxyl radicals at diffusion-controlled rates (∼2.9 × 109 to 1.2 × 1010 M-1 s-1). Benzethonium reacted via direct photolysis (ΦBZT,outdoor = 1.7 × 10-2 (mol Ei-1)). Benzethonium also reacted with the triplet excited state model sensitizer 2-acetylnaphthalene, but evidence suggests this reaction pathway is unimportant in natural waters due to faster quenching of the triplet 2-acetylnapthalene by oxygen. Reactivity with singlet oxygen for the QACs was minimal. Overall, reactions with hydroxyl radicals will dominate over direct photolysis due to limited spectral overlap of sunlight emission and QAC absorbance. Photolysis half-lives are predicted to be 12 to 94 days, indicating slow abiotic degradation in surface water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priya I Hora
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, 500 Pillsbury Drive SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA.
| | - William A Arnold
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, 500 Pillsbury Drive SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA.
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Alkhalifa S, Jennings MC, Granata D, Klein M, Wuest WM, Minbiole KPC, Carnevale V. Analysis of the Destabilization of Bacterial Membranes by Quaternary Ammonium Compounds: A Combined Experimental and Computational Study. Chembiochem 2020; 21:1510-1516. [PMID: 31859426 PMCID: PMC7237276 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201900698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The mechanism of action of quaternary ammonium compound (QAC) antiseptics has long been assumed to be straightforward membrane disruption, although the process of approaching and entering the membrane has little modeling precedent. Furthermore, questions have more recently arisen regarding bacterial resistance mechanisms, and why select classes of QACs (specifically, multicationic QACs) are less prone to resistance. In order to better understand such subtleties, a series of molecular dynamics simulations were utilized to help identify these molecular determinants, directly comparing mono-, bis-, and triscationic QACs in simulated membrane intercalation models. Three distinct membranes were simulated, mimicking the surfaces of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, as well as a neutral phospholipid control. By analyzing the resulting trajectories in the form of a timeseries analysis, insight was gleaned regarding the significant steps and interactions involved in the destabilization of phospholipid bilayers within the bacterial membranes. Finally, to more specifically probe the effect of the hydrophobic section of the amphiphile that presumably penetrates the membrane, a series of alkyl- and ester-based biscationic quaternary ammonium compounds were prepared, tested for antimicrobial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and modeled.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saleh Alkhalifa
- Department of Chemistry, Villanova University, 800 East Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA, 19085, USA
| | - Megan C Jennings
- Department of Chemistry, Temple University, 1901 North 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, USA
| | - Daniele Granata
- Department of Chemistry, Temple University, 1901 North 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, USA
| | - Michael Klein
- Department of Chemistry, Temple University, 1901 North 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, USA
| | - William M Wuest
- Department of Chemistry, Emory University, 1515 Dickey Drive, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
- Emory Antibiotic Resistance Center, Emory University School of Medicine, 201 Dowman Drive, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Kevin P C Minbiole
- Department of Chemistry, Villanova University, 800 East Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA, 19085, USA
| | - Vincenzo Carnevale
- Department of Chemistry, Temple University, 1901 North 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, USA
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Kierkegaard A, Chen C, Armitage JM, Arnot JA, Droge S, McLachlan MS. Tissue Distribution of Several Series of Cationic Surfactants in Rainbow Trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss) Following Exposure via Water. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:4190-4199. [PMID: 32062967 PMCID: PMC7343282 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b07600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2019] [Revised: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 02/16/2020] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Bioaccumulation assessment is important for cationic surfactants in light of their use in a wide variety of consumer products and industrial processes. Because they sorb strongly to natural surfaces and to cell membranes, their bioaccumulation behavior is expected to differ from other classes of chemicals. Divided over two mixtures, we exposed rainbow trout to water containing 10 alkyl amines and 2 quaternary alkylammonium surfactants for 7 days, analyzed different fish tissues for surfactant residues, and calculated the tissues' contribution to fish body burden. Mucus, skin, gills, liver, and muscle each contributed at least 10% of body burden for the majority of the test chemicals. This indicates that both sorption to external surfaces and systemic uptake contribute to bioaccumulation. In contrast to the analogue alkylamine bases, the permanently charged quaternary ammonium compounds accumulated mostly in the gills and were nearly absent in internal tissues, indicating that systemic uptake of the charged form of cationic surfactants is very slow. Muscle-blood distribution coefficients were close to 1 for all alkyl amines, whereas liver-blood distribution coefficients ranged from 13 to 90, suggesting that the dominant considerations for sorption in liver are different from those in blood and muscle. The significant fraction of body burden on external surfaces can have consequences for bioaccumulation assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amelie Kierkegaard
- Department
of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry, Stockholm University, SE-106
91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Chang’er Chen
- Department
of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry, Stockholm University, SE-106
91 Stockholm, Sweden
- Environmental
Research Institute, School of Environment, Guangdong Provincial Key
Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE
Key Laboratory of Environmental Theoretical Chemistry, South China Normal University, 510006 Guangzhou, China
| | | | - Jon A. Arnot
- ARC
Arnot Research and Consulting, M4M-1W4 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department
of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto, Scarborough, M1C 1A4 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Steven Droge
- Institute
for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), University of Amsterdam, 1098 XH Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Michael S. McLachlan
- Department
of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry, Stockholm University, SE-106
91 Stockholm, Sweden
- E-mail:
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40
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Timmer N, Gore D, Sanders D, Gouin T, Droge STJ. Application of seven different clay types in sorbent-modified biodegradability studies with cationic biocides. CHEMOSPHERE 2020; 245:125643. [PMID: 31877460 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.125643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Revised: 12/10/2019] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The cationic surfactants cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) can exert inhibitory effects on micro-organisms responsible for their biodegradation. However, under environmentally relevant exposure scenarios the presence of and sorption to organic and inorganic matter can lead to significant reduction of inhibitory effects. In our studies we investigated silica gel and seven clays as inert sorbents to mitigate these inhibitory effects in a 28 day manometric respirometry biodegradation test. CTAB was not inhibitory to the used inoculum, but we did observe that seven out of eight sorbents increased maximum attainable biodegradation, and four out of eight decreased the lag phase. The strongly inhibitory effect of CPC was successfully mitigated by most sorbents, with five out of eight allowing >50% biodegradation within 28 days. Results further indicate that bioaccessibility of the sorbed fractions in the stirred manometric test systems was higher than in calmly shaken headspace test systems. Bioaccessibility might also be limited depending on characteristics of test chemical and sorbent type, with montmorillonite and bentonite apparently providing the lowest level of bioaccessibility with CPC. Clay sorbents can thus be used as environmentally relevant sorbents to mitigate potential inhibitory effects of test chemicals, but factors that impede bioaccessibility should be considered. In addition to apparently increased bioaccessibility due to stirring, the automated manometric respirometry test systems give valuable and highly cost-effective insights into lag phase and biodegradation kinetics; information that is especially relevant for test chemicals of gradual biodegradability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niels Timmer
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, 3508 TD, the Netherlands; Department Discovery and Environmental Sciences, Charles River Laboratories Den Bosch BV, 's-Hertogenbosch, 5231 DD, the Netherlands
| | - David Gore
- Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre, Unilever, Colworth Science Park, Sharnbrook, MK44 1LQ, Bedfordshire, UK
| | - David Sanders
- Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre, Unilever, Colworth Science Park, Sharnbrook, MK44 1LQ, Bedfordshire, UK
| | - Todd Gouin
- Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre, Unilever, Colworth Science Park, Sharnbrook, MK44 1LQ, Bedfordshire, UK
| | - Steven T J Droge
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, 3508 TD, the Netherlands; Department Freshwater and Marine Ecology, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 94248, 1090 GE, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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Pati SG, Arnold WA. Comprehensive screening of quaternary ammonium surfactants and ionic liquids in wastewater effluents and lake sediments. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2020; 22:430-441. [PMID: 32003378 DOI: 10.1039/c9em00554d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are widely applied as surfactants and biocides in cleaning and personal-care products. Because of incomplete removal during wastewater treatment, QACs are present in wastewater effluents, with which they are discharged into natural waters, where they accumulate in sediments. To assess the levels of QACs in aquatic environments, a liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry method using both target and suspect screening was developed. The water and sediment sample preparation, measurement, and data analysis workflow were optimized for 22 target compounds with a wide range of hydrophobicity, including ionic liquids that have potential use as solvents and QACs common in personal-care and sanitizing products. In wastewater effluents, average concentrations of all target and suspect QACs combined ranged from 0.4 μg L-1 to 6.6 μg L-1. Various homologs of benzylalkyldimethylammonium (BAC) and dialkyldimethylammonium (DADMAC) as well as the ionic liquid butylpyridinium and 15 suspect QACs were detected in at least one wastewater effluent sample. A spatial profile of sediment samples in a lake demonstrated potential inputs from both municipal wastewater effluent and agricultural sources for BACs. In sediment cores, two distinct trends of temporal QAC accumulation were observed. In lakes with large watersheds and mixed domestic and industrial wastewater sources (Lake Pepin and Duluth Harbor), peak concentrations of QACs were found at depths corresponding to deposition in the 1980s and decreases after this time are attributed to improved wastewater treatment and source control. In a smaller lake with predominantly domestic wastewater inputs (Lake Winona), concentrations of QACs increased slowly over time until today.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah G Pati
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering, University of Minnesota, 500 Pillsbury Drive SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455-0116, USA.
| | - William A Arnold
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering, University of Minnesota, 500 Pillsbury Drive SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455-0116, USA.
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Harrison KR, Kappell AD, McNamara PJ. Benzalkonium chloride alters phenotypic and genotypic antibiotic resistance profiles in a source water used for drinking water treatment. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 257:113472. [PMID: 31767233 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2019] [Revised: 10/16/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance is a major public health concern. Triclosan is an antimicrobial compound with direct links to antibiotic resistance that was widely used in soaps in the U.S. until its ban by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Benzalkonium chloride (BAC), a quaternary ammonium compound, has widely replaced triclosan in soaps marketed as an antibacterial. BAC has been detected in surface waters and its presence will likely increase following increased use in soap products. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of BAC on relative abundance of antibiotic resistance in a bacterial community from a surface water used as a source for drinking water treatment. Bench-scale microcosm experiments were conducted with microbial communities amended with BAC at concentrations ranging from 0.1 μg L-1 to 500 μg L-1. Phenotypic antibiotic resistance was quantified by culturing bacteria in the presence of different antibiotics, and genotypic resistance was determined using qPCR to quantify antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). BAC at concentrations ranging from 0.1 μg L-1 to 500 μg L-1 was found to positively select for bacteria resistant to ciprofloxacin and sulfamethoxazole, and negatively select against bacteria with resistance to six other antibiotics. Exposure to BAC for 14 days increased the relative abundance of sul1 and blaTEM. This study re-highlights the importance of employing both culture and non-culture-based techniques to identify selection for antibiotic resistance. The widespread use of BAC will likely impact antibiotic resistance profiles of bacteria in the environment, including in source waters used for drinking water, wastewater treatment plants, and natural waterways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine R Harrison
- Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Anthony D Kappell
- Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Patrick J McNamara
- Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
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Paijens C, Bressy A, Frère B, Moilleron R. Biocide emissions from building materials during wet weather: identification of substances, mechanism of release and transfer to the aquatic environment. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 27:3768-3791. [PMID: 31656996 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-06608-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Biocides are added to or applied on building materials to prevent microorganisms from growing on their surface or to treat them. They are leached into building runoff and contribute to diffuse contamination of receiving waters. This review aimed at summarizing the current state of knowledge concerning the impact of biocides from buildings on the aquatic environment. The objectives were (i) to assess the key parameters influencing the leaching of biocides and to quantify their emission from buildings, (ii) to determine the different pathways from urban sources into receiving waters and (iii) to assess the associated environmental risk. Based on consumption data and leaching studies, a list of substances to monitor in receiving water was established. Literature review of their concentrations in the urban water cycle showed evidences of contamination and risk for aquatic life, which should put them into consideration for inclusion to European or international monitoring programs. However, some biocide concentration data in urban and receiving waters is still missing to fully assess their environmental risk, especially for isothiazolinones, iodopropynyl carbamate, zinc pyrithione and quaternary ammonium compounds, and little is known about their transformation products. Although some models supported by actual data were developed to extrapolate emissions on larger scales (watershed or city scales), they are not sufficient to prioritize the pathways of biocides from urban sources into receiving waters during both dry and wet weathers. Our review highlights the need to reduce emissions and limit their transfer into rivers and reports several solutions to address these issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Paijens
- Leesu, UMR-MA-102, Ecole des Ponts ParisTech, Université Paris-Est Créteil, AgroParisTech, 6 et 8 avenue Blaise Pascal - Cité Descartes, 77455, Champs-sur-Marne Cedex 2, France
- Laboratoire Central de la Préfecture de Police, 39 bis rue de Dantzig, 75015, Paris, France
| | - Adèle Bressy
- Leesu, UMR-MA-102, Ecole des Ponts ParisTech, Université Paris-Est Créteil, AgroParisTech, 6 et 8 avenue Blaise Pascal - Cité Descartes, 77455, Champs-sur-Marne Cedex 2, France.
| | - Bertrand Frère
- Laboratoire Central de la Préfecture de Police, 39 bis rue de Dantzig, 75015, Paris, France
| | - Régis Moilleron
- Leesu, UMR-MA-102, Université Paris-Est Créteil, Ecole des Ponts ParisTech, AgroParisTech, 61 avenue du Général de Gaulle, 94010, Créteil Cedex, France
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44
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Ndabambi M, Kwon JH. Application of an algal growth inhibition assay to determine distribution coefficients of benzalkonium ions between kaolinite and water. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2019; 174:491-497. [PMID: 30856561 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.03.011] [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: 12/24/2018] [Revised: 02/23/2019] [Accepted: 03/03/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Benzalkonium compounds are widely used and found in environmental samples. Due to their amphiphilic nature, it is important to know sorption coefficients to account their bioavailability. However, currently available models describing their partitioning were developed using low molecular weight homologues and it cannot be ascertained whether they are applicable to their higher molecular weight homologues. Reasons for the scarcity of data on highly sorptive compounds include the lack of reliable quantification techniques for analyzing these chemicals at environmentally relevant levels. This study, therefore, reports on an algal growth inhibition assay-based method for the determination of kaolinite/water distribution coefficients for benzalkonium compounds at their environmentally relevant concentration range. Sorption to clay was computed using the difference between median effective concentration determined in a culture with kaolinite and that derived from a culture grown in standard medium. A kinetic model was used to account for uptake into algal cells and to calculate free concentrations. Due to the sensitivity of the algal species, Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, it was possible to determine distribution coefficients below micromole per liter concentrations. The computed distribution coefficients showed a linear increase with number of carbon atoms in the alkyl chain up to 14. The proposed bioassay-based method should be applicable to determine distribution coefficients for highly hydrophobic chemicals and ionic liquids at a concentration range lower than typical analytical limits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mlamuli Ndabambi
- Division of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Anam-ro 145, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung-Hwan Kwon
- Division of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Anam-ro 145, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea.
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Lasek F, Karpel Vel Leitner N, Rauwel G, Blanchier L, Castel O, Ayraud-Thevenot S, Deborde M. Discharge of biocidal products from healthcare activities into a sewage system-a case study at a French university hospital. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2019; 26:4938-4951. [PMID: 30569359 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-018-3882-1] [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: 07/19/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
This study focused on the presence of three biocidal products specific to healthcare facilities, i.e. chlorhexidine digluconate (CHD), bis(aminopropyl)laurylamine (BAPLA), and didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC), in a hospital sewage system. Five sampling campaigns were conducted in 2016 and 2017 throughout the entire Poitiers University Hospital sewage system. DDAC concentrations ranging from 933 ± 119 to 3250 ± 482 μg/L were detected in 24-h composite samples, while lower concentrations (both within the same range) were detected for the two other compounds (i.e. 25 ± 5 to 97 ± 39 μg/L for CHD and 18 ± 3 to 142 ± 16 μg/L for BAPLA). Based on these findings, a mass balance was determined for these discharged compounds to compare the quantities detected in discharges to the amounts used for healthcare in the hospital. Hence, 60-90% of the quantities of DDAC used were found to be present at the hospital sewage outfall. Higher percentages of CHD (100-242%) were noted because of the high presumably quantities used for antiseptic applications, which were not considered in mass balance calculation. Finally, only 10-30% of BAPLA quantities used were detected at the site outfall. Analysis of the results for the different sampling points revealed the nature of the emission sources. For surface applications of DDAC and BAPLA, management of hospital linen is thus a major source of discharged biocidal products, probably following the washing of biocide-soaked textiles used for hospital facility maintenance. Moreover, discharge of biocidal products from a healthcare establishment depends especially on biocide handling practices in the emitting establishment. For BAPLA, compliance with hospital recommended dosages and practices whereby operators are required to prepare tailored quantities of detergents and disinfectants for each specific task could largely explain the limited release of this compound.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florence Lasek
- Institute of Chemistry Materials and Natural Resources of Poitiers (IC2MP UMR 7285), University of Poitiers, 1 rue Marcel Doré, Bâtiment B1, TSA 41105, 86073, Poitiers Cedex 9, France
| | - Nathalie Karpel Vel Leitner
- Institute of Chemistry Materials and Natural Resources of Poitiers (IC2MP UMR 7285), University of Poitiers, 1 rue Marcel Doré, Bâtiment B1, TSA 41105, 86073, Poitiers Cedex 9, France
| | - Gaëtan Rauwel
- Laboratoires Anios, Pavé du Moulin, 59260, Lille-Hellemmes, France
| | - Ludovic Blanchier
- Purchasing Department, Poitiers Universty Hospital, 2 rue de la Milétrie, 86021, Poitiers Cedex, France
| | - Olivier Castel
- Biology-Pharmacy-Public Health Department, Poitiers University Hospital, 2 rue de la Milétrie, 86021, Poitiers Cedex, France
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Poitiers, 6 rue de la Milétrie, Bâtiment D1, TSA 51115, 86073, Poitiers Cedex 9, France
| | - Sarah Ayraud-Thevenot
- Biology-Pharmacy-Public Health Department, Poitiers University Hospital, 2 rue de la Milétrie, 86021, Poitiers Cedex, France
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Poitiers, 6 rue de la Milétrie, Bâtiment D1, TSA 51115, 86073, Poitiers Cedex 9, France
- INSERM, Poitiers University Hospital, CIC 1402, University of Poitiers, 2 rue de la Milétrie, 86021, Poitiers Cedex, France
| | - Marie Deborde
- Institute of Chemistry Materials and Natural Resources of Poitiers (IC2MP UMR 7285), University of Poitiers, 1 rue Marcel Doré, Bâtiment B1, TSA 41105, 86073, Poitiers Cedex 9, France.
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Poitiers, 6 rue de la Milétrie, Bâtiment D1, TSA 51115, 86073, Poitiers Cedex 9, France.
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Genomic and Transcriptomic Insights into How Bacteria Withstand High Concentrations of Benzalkonium Chloride Biocides. Appl Environ Microbiol 2018; 84:AEM.00197-18. [PMID: 29654181 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00197-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2018] [Accepted: 04/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Benzalkonium chlorides (BAC) are commonly used biocides in broad-spectrum disinfectant solutions. How microorganisms cope with BAC exposure remains poorly understood, despite its importance for disinfection and disinfectant-induced antibiotic resistance. To provide insights into these issues, we exposed two isolates of an opportunistic pathogen, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, to increasing concentrations of BAC. One isolate was preadapted to BAC, as it originated from a bioreactor fed with subinhibitory concentrations of BAC for 3 years, while the other originated from a bioreactor that received no BAC. Replicated populations of both isolates were able to survive high concentrations of BAC, up to 1,200 and 1,600 mg/liter for the non- and preadapted strains, respectively, exceeding typical application doses. Transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis revealed upregulation of efflux pump genes and decreased expression of porins related to BAC transport as well as reduced growth rate. Increased expression of spermidine (a polycation) synthase genes and mutations in the pmrB (polymyxin resistance) gene, which cause a reduction in membrane negative charge, suggested that a major adaptation to exposure to the cationic surfactant BAC was to actively stabilize cell surface charge. Collectively, these results revealed that P. aeruginosa adapts to BAC exposure by a combination of mechanisms and provided genetic markers to monitor BAC-resistant organisms that may have applications in the practice of disinfection.IMPORTANCE BAC are widely used as biocides in disinfectant solutions, food-processing lines, domestic households, and health care facilities. Due to their wide use and mode of action, there has been rising concern that BAC may promote antibiotic resistance. Consistent with this idea, at least 40 outbreaks have been attributed to infection by disinfectant- and antibiotic-resistant pathogens such as P. aeruginosa However, the underlying molecular mechanisms that bacteria use to deal with BAC exposure remain poorly elucidated. Elucidating these mechanisms may be important for monitoring and limiting the spread of disinfectant-resistant pathogens. Using an integrated approach that combined genomics and transcriptomics with physiological characterization of BAC-adapted isolates, this study provided a comprehensive understanding of the BAC resistance mechanisms in P. aeruginosa Our findings also revealed potential genetic markers to detect and monitor the abundance of BAC-resistant pathogens across clinical or environmental settings. This work contributes new knowledge about high concentrations of benzalkonium chlorides disinfectants-resistance mechanisms at the whole-cell genomic and transcriptomic level.
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Zhu FJ, Ma WL, Xu TF, Ding Y, Zhao X, Li WL, Liu LY, Song WW, Li YF, Zhang ZF. Removal characteristic of surfactants in typical industrial and domestic wastewater treatment plants in Northeast China. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2018; 153:84-90. [PMID: 29407743 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2018.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2017] [Revised: 01/06/2018] [Accepted: 02/01/2018] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Surfactants are widely used in household and industrial products for cleaning and/or solubilization in our daily life. Therefore, they are finally discharged into wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), which may be the major point pollution source for environment if they were not completely removed during wastewater treatment. In this study, two typical industrial and domestic WWTPs with different wastewater treatment technologies were considered for the topic. Totally, two types of surfactants were analyzed in 24 h influent and each processing unit effluent. Four linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LASs) with the alkyl chain from C10 to C13, and two benzalkonium chlorides (BACs) with the alkyl chain of C12 and C14 were selected as target compounds. The total concentrations of LASs in influent varied from 19.2 to 1889 μg/L and LAS-C11 and LAS-C12 were the predominant compounds with the concentration from 6.01 to 641 μg/L and 8.02-674 μg/L, respectively. The total concentrations of BACs were much lower than those of LASs, with the concentration ranging from 0.00935 to 1.85 μg/L. Significant positive correlations were observed between concentrations of LASs and BACs in influent, indicating their same and/or similar sources. Compared with the concentration of influent, the concentration of effluent was much lower, indicating the high removal efficiency by the two wastewater treatment processes. Biological treatment unit and cyclic activated sludge system were the main treatment units for the removing of surfactants, which suggested that these two types of surfactants can be easily degraded under aerobic condition. Seasonal variation indicated that the removal efficiencies of surfactants in autumn were a little higher than those in winter. The results of this study provided new insights into the environmental fate of surfactants in wastewater treatment system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fu-Jie Zhu
- International Joint Research Center for Persistent Toxic Substances (IJRC-PTS), State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Wan-Li Ma
- International Joint Research Center for Persistent Toxic Substances (IJRC-PTS), State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Tie-Fu Xu
- Heilongjiang University, Harbin 150080, China
| | - Yi Ding
- International Joint Research Center for Persistent Toxic Substances (IJRC-PTS), State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Xue Zhao
- International Joint Research Center for Persistent Toxic Substances (IJRC-PTS), State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Wen-Long Li
- International Joint Research Center for Persistent Toxic Substances (IJRC-PTS), State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Li-Yan Liu
- International Joint Research Center for Persistent Toxic Substances (IJRC-PTS), State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Wei-Wei Song
- International Joint Research Center for Persistent Toxic Substances (IJRC-PTS), State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Yi-Fan Li
- International Joint Research Center for Persistent Toxic Substances (IJRC-PTS), State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Zi-Feng Zhang
- International Joint Research Center for Persistent Toxic Substances (IJRC-PTS), State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China.
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Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry detection of benzalkonium chloride (BZK) in a forensic autopsy case with survival for 18 days post BZK ingestion. Leg Med (Tokyo) 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2018.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Russo C, Kundi M, Lavorgna M, Parrella A, Isidori M. Benzalkonium Chloride and Anticancer Drugs in Binary Mixtures: Reproductive Toxicity and Genotoxicity in the Freshwater Crustacean Ceriodaphnia dubia. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2018; 74:546-556. [PMID: 29119204 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-017-0473-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2017] [Accepted: 10/26/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Benzalkonium chloride (BAC) is a cationic surfactant commonly used as a disinfectant. Its ubiquitous nature is the result of high usage and frequent discharge into the environment and evidence of interaction with numerous contaminants, such as pharmaceutical active compound residues. Anticancer drugs, among these compounds, are able to exert eco-genotoxic effects at sub ng-µg/L. The purpose of this study was to assess the reproductive toxicity and the genotoxicity of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), cisplatin (CDDP), etoposide (ET), and imatinib mesylate (IM)-binary mixtures combined with BAC in Ceriodaphnia dubia. The effects of the mixtures were assessed under the assumption of independent action in experiments that applied two effect levels. The type of interaction was not the same over the range of effect sizes. The combined action experiment on reproduction showed an antagonistic effect at higher effect levels for all binary combinations, except for BAC/IM, whereas independent action was observed in all mixtures at a low effect level. The results of binary combinations on genotoxicity showed antagonistic effects for BAC + ET and BAC + CDDP, whereas independence was expressed in BAC + IM and BAC + 5-FU. The antagonistic interactions still led to higher effects than those observed after single exposures at the same doses in most cases. The effects of mixtures of drugs should be taken into account for environmental risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Russo
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Università della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - Michael Kundi
- Center for Public Health, Institute of Environmental Health, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Margherita Lavorgna
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Università della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - Alfredo Parrella
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Università della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - Marina Isidori
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Università della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy.
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Chen M, Zhang X, Wang Z, Liu M, Wang L, Wu Z. Impacts of quaternary ammonium compounds on membrane bioreactor performance: Acute and chronic responses of microorganisms. WATER RESEARCH 2018; 134:153-161. [PMID: 29426032 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2018.01.073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2017] [Revised: 01/29/2018] [Accepted: 01/31/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are emerging contaminants with the extensive applications in a variety of fields. However, little is known about their potential impacts on activated sludge and performance of biological wastewater treatment processes. In this work, the effects of benzalkonium chloride (BAC, a kind of QACs) on acute and chronic responses of microorganisms and on MBR performance were systematically investigated. The results showed that a low concentration (0.5-2.0 mg BAC/g SS) caused no significant effects on activated sludge property. In contrast, an elevated concentration of BAC led to severer inhibition on activated sludge and key enzyme activity (e.g., dehydrogenase activity) in both short-term and long-term exposure, thus deteriorating the pollutant removal efficiency. Compared with the control MBR (R1) and the reactor with 0.5 mg/L BAC (R2), the removal efficiency of ammonia in R3 with 5.0 mg/L BAC at identical hydraulic retention time (4.3 h) and sludge retention time (30 d) was decreased, i.e., ammonium removal efficiency in R1∼R3 was 95.4 ± 6.1, 93.4 ± 8.1 and 89.3 ± 17.6%, respectively. Moreover, MBR tests showed that membrane fouling was aggravated in the presence of high-concentration BAC. Long-term exposure to BAC reduced microbial community diversity and enriched the BAC-resistant microbes. For instance, the abundance of Pseudomonas genus in R3 was increased from 0.02% to 14.9% with the increase of operation time. Microbial community structure was changed to resist the environmental stress induced by BAC during long-term exposure, thus decreasing the inhibition effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Xingran Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Zhiwei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China; State Key Laboratory of Separation Membranes and Membrane Processes, Tianjin Polytechnic University, Tianjin 300387, China.
| | - Mingxian Liu
- School of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Liang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Separation Membranes and Membrane Processes, Tianjin Polytechnic University, Tianjin 300387, China
| | - Zhichao Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China
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