Pharmaceuticals and personal care products in a Mediterranean coastal wetland: Impact of anthropogenic and spatial factors and environmental risk assessment

Occurrence of micropollutants in rural domestic wastewater in Zhejiang Province, China and corresponding wastewater-based epidemiology analysis

By 2021, rural regions in China were occupied by over 500 million residents, generating an annual volume of 19.5 billion m3 of rural domestic wastewater (RDW). This study aimed to investigate the occurrence and removal of micropollutants (MPs) in RDW treatment facilities and to perform a corresponding wastewater-based epidemiology analysis (WBE). Our findings indicated the significantly high levels of influent MPs, particularly pharmaceuticals, such as ofloxacin and diclofenac being most prevalent (ranging from several to tens of μg/L) across different facilities. After various treatments, regular water indexes in the effluent, like NH3 -N and COD, have basically satisfied the local discharge standard. However, the concentration of certain dominant MPs in effluent remained notably high, ranging from hundreds of ng/L to several μg/L. The risk quotients of MPs like diclofenac, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole, diuron, and isoproturon were all above 1 in the effluent, signifying significant hazards to aquatic organisms. The quantitative meta-analysis revealed higher average standardized removal efficiency for membrane bioreactor (MBR) treatment (-11 %) compared to anaerobic/anoxic/aerobic (A2O) treatment (11 %), indicating the higher efficiency of MBR treatment in outperforming the A2O as a secondary treatment. Additionally, employing biofilter as a tertiary treatment proved to be more effective as compared to flocculation-air flotation and artificial wetlands. Moreover, the results of WBE analysis showed that diclofenac and ofloxacin emerged as the most commonly used pharmaceuticals (of seven), with consumption levels recorded at 1222 and 517 mg/(d·103 capita), with daily defined doses per day per 103 capita of 12.2/1000 and 1.29/1000, respectively. This study addresses the existing knowledge gaps regarding the occurrence and removal of MPs in RDW and offers valuable insights into pharmaceutical consumption patterns in rural regions, thereby improving our understanding of public health.

Occurrence, efficiency of treatment processes, source apportionment and human health risk assessment of pharmaceuticals and xenoestrogen compounds in tap water from some Ghanaian communities

The occurrence of pharmaceuticals and xenoestrogen compounds (PXCs) in drinking water presents a dire human health risk challenge. The problem stems from the high anthropogenic pollution load on source water and the inefficiencies of the conventional water treatment plants in treating PXCs. This study assessed the PXCs levels and the consequential health risks of exposure to tap water from selected Ghanaian communities as well as that of raw water samples from the respective treatment plants. Thus the PXCs treatment efficiency of two drinking water treatment plants in the metropolises studied was also assessed. The study also conducted source apportionment of the PXCs in the tap water. Twenty six (26) tap and raw water samples from communities in the Cape Coast and Sekondi-Takoradi metropolises were extracted using SPE cartridges and analysed for PXCs using Ultra-fast-HPLC-UV instrument. Elevated levels of PXCs up to 24.79 and 22.02 μg/L were respectively recorded in raw and tap water samples from the metropolises. Consequently, elevated non-cancer health risk (HI > 1) to residential adults were found for tap water samples from Cape Coast metropolis and also for some samples from Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis. Again, elevated cumulative oral cancer risks >10-5 and dermal cancer risk up to 4 × 10-5 were recorded. The source apportionment revealed three significant sources of PXCs in tap water samples studied. The results revealed the inefficiency of the treatment plants in removing PXCs from the raw water during treatments. The situation thus requires urgent attention to ameliorate it, safeguarding public health. It is recommended that the conventional water treatment process employed be augmented with advanced treatment technologies to improve their efficacy in PXCs treatment.

Occurrence, ecotoxicity and ecological risks of psychoactive substances in surface waters

Psychoactive substances (PSs) represent a subset of emerging contaminants. Their widespread production and utilization contribute to a growing ecological burden and risk on a global scale. Conventional wastewater treatment methods have proven insufficient in adequately removing psychoactive substances, leading to their occurrence in surface water ecosystems worldwide. As of present, however, a thorough understanding of their geographical prevalence and distribution patterns remains elusive. Further, in the existing literature, there is a scarcity of comprehensive overviews that systematically summarize the toxicity of various psychoactive substances towards aquatic organisms. Through summarizing almost 140 articles, the present study provides an overview of the sources, pollution status, and biotoxicity of psychoactive substances in surface waters, as well as an assessment of their ecological risks. Concentrations of several psychoactive substances in surface waters were found to be as high as hundreds or even thousands of ng·L-1. In parallel, accumulation of psychoactive substances in the tissues or organs of aquatic organisms was found to potentially cause certain adverse effects, including behavioral disorders, organ damage, and DNA changes. Oxidative stress was found to be a significant factor in the toxic effects of psychoactive substances on organisms. The application of the risk quotient approach indicated that psychoactive substances posed a medium to high risk in certain surface water bodies, as well as the need for sustained long-term attention and management strategies.

Exploring organic and inorganic contaminant histories in sediment cores across the anthropocene: Accounting for site/area dependent factors

Sedimentary records help chronologically identify anthropogenic contamination in environmental systems. This study analysed dated sediment cores from L'Albufera Lake (Valencia, Spain), to assess the occurrence of heavy metals (HMs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs), pesticides and pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs). The results evidence the continuing vertical presence of all types of contaminants in this location. The sediment age was difficult to establish. However, the presence of shells together with an historical estimation and the knowledge of sedimentary rates could help. HMs contents are higher in the upper layer reflecting the most recent increase of the industrial and agricultural practices in the area since the middle 20th century. Higher availability index of these HMs in the upper sediment layers is associated with point and diffuse contamination sources in the area. PAHs and OPFRs were homogeneous distributed through the sediments with few exceptions such as phenanthrene in the North and fluoranthene in the South. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) were detected throughout the sediment core while short-chain PFASs (except perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA)) were detected only in the top layer. Pesticides and PPCPs showed appreciable down-core mobility. The vertical concentration profiles of organic contaminants did not exhibit a clear trend with depth, then, it is difficult to develop a direct relationship between sediment age and contaminant concentrations, and to elucidate the historical trend of contamination based on dated sediment core. Consequently, linking contaminant occurrence in sediments directly to their historical use is somewhat speculative at least in the conditions of L'Albufera Lake.

Uptake/depuration kinetics, bioaccumulation potential and metabolic transformation of a complex pharmaceutical mixture in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Uptake and elimination kinetics, bioconcentration factors (BCFs), and metabolic transformation of 20 different pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs), covering a wide range of therapeutic categories and physico-chemical properties, were studied using zebrafish (Danio rerio). The fish were exposed to the mixture of the selected PhACs at environmentally relevant concentrations similar to 10 µg L-1. The experiments were performed in semi-static conditions and comprised a 7-day uptake period followed by a 7-day depuration period. Most of the PhACs reached a concentration plateau within the 7-day uptake-phase which was followed by an efficient depuration, with the observed uptake (ku) and depuration rate constants (kd,) ranging between 0.002 and 3.752 L kg-1 h-1, and 0.010 to 0.217 h-1, respectively. The investigated PhACs showed low to moderate BCFs. The highest BCFs of 47.8, 28.6 and 47.6 L kg-1 were determined for sertraline, diazepam and desloratadine, respectively. A high contribution of metabolic products to the total internal concentration was observed for some PhACs such as codeine (69%), sulfamethoxazole (51%) and verapamil (87%), which has to be taken into account when assessing the bioconcentration potential. Moreover, most of the metabolites exhibited significantly longer half-lives in zebrafish than their parent compounds and affected the overall depuration kinetics.

Comprehensive analysis of a widely pharmaceutical, furosemide, and its degradation products in aquatic systems: Occurrence, fate, and ecotoxicity

Many pharmaceutical compounds end up in the environment due to incomplete removal by wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Some compounds are sometimes present in significant concentrations and therefore represent a risk to the aquatic environment. Furosemide is one of the most widely used drugs in the world. Considered as an essential drug by the World Health Organization, this powerful loop diuretic is used extensively to treat hypertension, heart and kidney failure and many other purposes. However, this important consumption also results in a significant release of furosemide in wastewater and in the receiving environment where concentrations of a few hundred ng/L to several thousand have been found in the literature, making furosemide a compound of great concern. Also, during its transport in wastewater systems and WWTPs, furosemide can be degraded by various processes resulting in the production of more than 74 by-products. Furosemide may therefore present a significant risk to ecosystem health due not only to its direct cytotoxic, genotoxic and hepatotoxic effects in animals, but also indirectly through its transformation products, which are poorly characterized. Many articles classify furosemide as a priority pollutant according to its occurrence in the environment, its persistence, its elimination by WWTPs, its toxicity and ecotoxicity. Here, we present a state-of-the-art review of this emerging pollutant of interest, tracking it, from its consumption to its fate in the aquatic environment. Discussion points include the occurrence of furosemide in various matrices, the efficiency of many processes for the degradation of furosemide, the subsequent production of degradation products following these treatments, as well as their toxicity.

Unveiling combined ecotoxicity: Interactions and impacts of engineered nanoparticles and PPCPs

Emerging contaminants such as engineered nanoparticles (ENPs), pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) are of great concern because of their wide distribution and incomplete removal in conventional wastewater and soil treatment processes. The production and usage of ENPs and PPCPs inevitably result in their coexistence in different environmental media, thus posing various risks to organisms in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. However, the existing literature on the physicochemical interactions between ENPs and PPCPs and their effects on organisms is rather limited. Therefore, this paper summarized the ecotoxicity of combined ENPs and PPCPs by discussing: (1) the interactions between ENPs and PPCPs, including processes such as aggregation, adsorption, transformation, and desorption, considering the influence of environmental factors like pH, ionic strength, dissolved organic matter, and temperature; (2) the effects of these interactions on bioaccumulation, bioavailability and biotoxicity in organisms at different trophic levels; (3) the impacted of ENPs and PPCPs on cellular-level biological process. This review elucidated the potential ecological hazards associated with the interaction of ENPs and PPCPs, and serves as a foundation for future investigations into the ecotoxicity and mode of action of ENPs, PPCPs, and their co-occurring metabolites.

Growing coastal tourism: Can biomonitoring provide insights into the health of coastal ecosystems?

Coastal tourism's surge raises concerns for Morocco's Agadir marine environment, notably with Taghazout Bay's impact. Our study assesses Taghazout's health, employing a comprehensive approach. Our study evaluates Taghazout's health, adopting a comprehensive approach covering physicochemical, microbiological aspects, macrobenthic fauna, metal pollution, and biomarkers in D. trunculus mollusks. Seawater quality aligns with Moroccan standards, indicating good bathing water. The intertidal zone hosts ten species, dominated by D. trunculus. Biomarker responses in D. trunculus suggest chemical stress. Land-use maps expose significant changes driven by the Taghazout Bay project, impacting approximately 37.99 % of the landscape. Construction activities notably encroached upon the Arganeraie and the coastal zone, creating a stark contrast from 2003. These findings form a crucial database for future studies, contributing significantly to environmental management and sustainable development, aiding informed decision-making and effective coastal ecosystem preservation strategies.

Occurrence of phthalic acid esters (PAEs) and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in key species of anthozoans in Mediterranean Sea

The Mediterranean Sea's biodiversity is declining due to climate change and human activities, with plastics and emerging contaminants (ECs) posing significant threats. This study assessed phthalic acid esters (PAEs) and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) occurrence in four anthozoan species (Cladocora caespitosa, Eunicella cavolini, Madracis pharensis, Parazoanthus axinellae) using solid phase microextraction (SPME) and liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). All specimens were contaminated with at least one contaminant, reaching maximum values of 57.3 ng/g for the ∑PAEs and 64.2 ng/g (wet weight) for ∑APIs, with dibutyl phthalate and Ketoprofen being the most abundant. P. axinellae was the most contaminated species, indicating higher susceptibility to bioaccumulation, while the other three species showed two-fold lower concentrations. Moreover, the potential adverse effects of these contaminants on anthozoans have been discussed. Investigating the impact of PAEs and APIs on these species is crucial, given their key role in the Mediterranean benthic communities.

Environmental Risks of Pharmaceutical Mixtures in Aquatic Ecosystems: Reflections on a Decade of Research

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) occur as variable mixtures in surface waters receiving discharges of human and animal wastes. A key question identified a decade ago is how to assess the effects of long-term exposures of these PPCP mixtures on nontarget organisms. We review the recent progress made on assessing the aquatic ecotoxicity of PPCP mixtures-with a focus on active pharmaceutical ingredients-and the challenges and research needs that remain. New knowledge has arisen from the use of whole-mixture testing combined with component-based approaches, and these studies show that mixtures often result in responses that meet the concentration addition model. However, such studies have mainly been done on individual species over shorter time periods, and longer-term, multispecies assessments remain limited. The recent use of targeted and nontargeted gene analyses has improved our understanding of the diverse pathways that are impacted, and there are promising new "read-across" methods that use mammalian data to predict toxicity in wildlife. Risk assessments remain challenging given the paucity of ecotoxicological and exposure data on PPCP mixtures. As such, the assessment of PPCP mixtures in aquatic environments should remain a priority given the potential for additive-as well as nontarget-effects in nontarget organisms. In addition, we need to improve our understanding of which species, life stages, and relevant endpoints are most sensitive to which types of PPCP mixtures and to expand our knowledge of environmental PPCP levels in regions of the globe that have been poorly studied to date. We recommend an increased use of new approach methodologies, in particular "omics," to advance our understanding of the molecular mechanics of mixture effects. Finally, we call for systematic research on the role of PPCP mixtures in the development of antimicrobial resistance. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:549-558. © 2023 SETAC.

Pharmaceutical and pesticide mixtures in a Mediterranean coastal wetland: comparison of sampling methods, ecological risks, and removal by a constructed wetland

Pharmaceuticals and pesticides can be considered hazardous compounds for Mediterranean coastal wetland ecosystems. Although many of these compounds co-occur in environmental samples, only a few studies have been dedicated to assessing the ecotoxicological risks of complex contaminant mixtures. We evaluated the occurrence of 133 pharmaceuticals and pesticides in 12 sites in a protected Mediterranean wetland, the Albufera Natural Park (ANP), based on conventional grab sampling and polar organic chemical integrative samplers (POCIS). We assessed acute and chronic ecological risks posed by these contaminant mixtures using the multi-substance Potentially Affected Fraction (msPAF) approach and investigated the capacity of a constructed wetland to reduce chemical exposure and risks. This study shows that pharmaceuticals and pesticides are widespread contaminants in the ANP, with samples containing up to 75 different compounds. POCIS samplers were found to be useful for the determination of less predictable exposure profiles of pesticides occurring at the end of the rice cultivation cycle, while POCIS and grab samples provide an accurate method to determine (semi-)continuous pharmaceutical exposure. Acute risks were identified in one sample, while chronic risks were determined in most of the collected samples, with 5-25% of aquatic species being potentially affected. The compounds that contributed to the chronic risks were azoxystrobin, ibuprofen, furosemide, caffeine, and some insecticides (diazinon, imidacloprid, and acetamiprid). The evaluated constructed wetland reduced contaminant loads by 45-73% and reduced the faction of species affected from 25 to 6%. Our study highlights the need of addressing contaminant mixture effects in Mediterranean wetlands and supports the use of constructed wetlands to reduce contaminant loads and risks in areas with high anthropogenic pressure.

Implications of biotic factors for toxicity testing in laboratory studies

There is an emerging call from scientists globally to advance the environmental relevance of laboratory studies, particularly within the field of ecotoxicology. To answer this call, we must carefully examine and elucidate the shortcomings of standardized toxicity testing methods that are used in the derivation of toxicity values and regulatory criteria. As a consequence of rapidly accelerating climate change, the inclusion of abiotic co-stressors are increasingly being incorporated into toxicity studies, with the goal of improving the representativeness of laboratory-derived toxicity values used in ecological risk assessments. However, much less attention has been paid to the influence of biotic factors that may just as meaningfully impact our capacity to evaluate and predict risks within impacted ecosystems. Therefore, the overarching goal is to highlight key biotic factors that should be taken into consideration during the experimental design and model selection phase. SYNOPSIS: Scientists are increasingly finding that lab reared results in toxicology might not be reflective of the external wild environment, we highlight in this review some key considerations when working between the lab and field.

Pharmaceuticals, hazard and ecotoxicity in surface and wastewater in a tropical dairy production area in Latin America

Pharmaceuticals comprise a complex group of emerging pollutants. Despite the significant number of pharmaceuticals used in veterinary medicine, the input of these compounds into the environment due to livestock activities has been scarcely described. This work assays for the first time in Central America the occurrence of pharmaceuticals in farm wastewater in an area devoted to dairy production, and in the surrounding surface waters. Among 69 monitored pharmaceuticals, a total of eight compounds were detected in wastewater samples collected from seven dairy farms after three sampling campaigns. Six pharmaceuticals were considered either of high (albendazole, lovastatin and caffeine) or intermediate estimated hazard (ciprofloxacin, acetaminophen and ketoprofen) based on the HQ approach, while 26% of the samples were considered of high estimated hazard according to the cumulative ∑HQ approach. Similarly, when ecotoxicological tests were applied, all the samples showed some level of toxicity towards Daphnia magna, and most samples towards Vibrio fischeri and Lactuca sativa. Fourteen pharmaceuticals were detected in surface water samples collected in the surroundings of the dairy production farms, including rural and urban areas. Seven out of these compounds showed high estimated risk (risperidone, diphenhydramine, trimethoprim, fluoxetine, ofloxacin, caffeine and ibuprofen), while three (gemfibrozil, ciprofloxacin and cephalexin) exhibited intermediate estimated risk. In a similar worrisome way, 27% of these samples were estimated to pose high environmental risk according to the pharmaceutical content. Despite being nontoxic for D. magna or V. fischeri, frequent inhibition (>20%) of GI in L. sativa was determined in 34% of surface water samples; such findings raise concern on the apparent inceptive environmental pollution and risk within the area. According to the pharmaceutical content patterns in both kinds of studied matrices, no clear evidence of significant contamination in surface water due to livestock activities could be retrieved, suggesting a main role of urban influence.

Occurrence of contaminants of emerging concern and pesticides and relative risk assessment in Tunisian groundwater

Groundwater is an important source for drinking water supply, agricultural irrigation and industrial uses in the Middle East and North Africa region. Due to the growing need for groundwater use, groundwater quality studies on the presence of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) and pesticides have gained attention. The Wadi El Bey is one of the most polluted areas in Tunisia. However, very limited data on CECs infiltration into aquifers has been described, in comparison to industrialized countries where groundwater contamination has been comprehensively addressed. To gain early insight into potential contamination, groundwater wells in northeast Tunisia, an area with high population density and intensive agricultural activity were sampled during two seasons and were analyzed with two high resolution mass spectrometry approaches: target and suspect screening. The latter was used for screening banned pesticides. A selection of 116 CECs of which 19 are transformation products (TPs) and 20 pesticides previously prioritized by suspect screening were screened in the groundwater samples. The results showed the presence of 69 CECs and 1 TP and 20 pesticides at concentrations per well, ranging between 43 and 7384 ng L-1 and 7.3 and 80 ng L-1, respectively. CECs concentrations in Tunisian groundwater do not differ from those in industrialized countries. WWTPs were considered the main source of pollution, where the main classes detected were analgesics, antihypertensives and artificial sweeteners and especially caffeine, salicylic acid and ibuprofen were found to be ubiquitous. Regarding pesticides, triazines herbicides and carbamates insecticides pose the highest concern due to their ubiquitous presence, high leachability potential for most of them and high toxicity. The environmental risk assessment (ERA) highlighted the high risk that caffeine, ibuprofen, and propoxur may pose to the environment, and consequently, to non-target organisms. This study provides occurrence and ERA analysis of CECs and pesticides in Tunisian groundwater.

Parabens, Triclosan and Bisphenol A in Surface Waters and Sediments of Baiyang Lake, China: Occurrence, Distribution, and Potential Risk Assessment

The extensive use of the parabens triclosan (TCS) and bisphenol A (BPA) has potential adverse effects on human health and aquatic organisms. However, their monitoring information in freshwater lakes is still limited. This study simultaneously summarized the concentrations, spatial distribution characteristics, and correlations of four types of parabens, TCS, and BPA in the surface water and sediment of Baiyang Lake. Finally, the potential risks of target pollutants were evaluated from two aspects: human health risks and ecological risks. The average contaminations of target compounds in surface water and sediment-BPA, TCS, and ∑4 parabens-was 33.1, 26.1, 0.7 ng/L and 24.5, 32.5, 2.5 ng/g, respectively. The total concentration of target compounds at the inlet of the upstream Fu River and Baigouyin River is significantly higher than that near Hunan and the outlet. In addition, Spearman's correlation analysis showed a significant positive correlation between compounds. The health hazards of target compounds in surface water were all within safe limits. However, the risk quotient results indicate that in some locations in surface water, TCS poses a high risk to algae and a moderate risk to invertebrates and fish, and appropriate attention should be paid to these areas.

Parabens as environmental contaminants of aquatic systems affecting water quality and microbial dynamics

Among different pollutants of emerging concern, parabens have gained rising interest due to their widespread detection in water sources worldwide. This occurs because parabens are used in personal care products, pharmaceuticals, and food, in which residues are generated and released into aquatic environments. The regulation of the use of parabens varies across different geographic regions, resulting in diverse concentrations observed globally. Concentrations of parabens exceeding 100 μg/L have been found in wastewater treatment plants and surface waters while drinking water (DW) sources typically exhibit concentrations below 6 μg/L. Despite their low levels, the presence of parabens in DW is a potential exposure route for humans, raising concerns for both human health and environmental microbiota. Although a few studies have reported alterations in the functions and characteristics of microbial communities following exposure to emerging contaminants, the impact of the exposure to parabens by microbial communities, particularly biofilm colonizers, remains largely understudied. This review gathers the most recent information on the occurrence of parabens in water sources, as well as their effects on human health and aquatic organisms. The interactions of parabens with microbial communities are reviewed for the first time, filling the knowledge gaps on the effects of paraben exposure on microbial ecosystems and their impact on disinfection tolerance and antimicrobial resistance, with potential implications for public health.

Occurrence and distribution of PPCPs in water from two largest urban lakes of China: First perspective from DGT in-situ measurement

Pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) are an important group of emerging contaminants that may threaten organisms at trace concentrations. However, research on the occurrence of PPCPs in urban lakes in China is still scarce. In this study, 15 PPCPs in the Tangxun Lake and the Donghu Lake were collected using the diffusive gradients in thin-films (DGT) technique and analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). Thirteen of the 15 targeted PPCPs were detected in the Tangxun Lake, and all PPCPs were detected in the Donghu Lake, with total concentrations ranging from 160 to 730 ng/L (average: 401 ng/L) and 187 to 1933 ng/L (average: 653 ng/L), respectively. Bisphenol A (BPA) was the dominant PPCP, followed by disinfectants in both lakes. The total concentrations of PPCPs in the Donghu Lake were higher than those in the Tangxun Lake. The spatial distribution characteristics of PPCPs in the two lakes were different, with higher total concentrations in the eastern part than in the western part of the Tangxun Lake spatially and higher in the north-western part than in the south-eastern part of the Donghu Lake. The results of the risk assessment showed that BPA and estrone posed high risks to the aquatic environment (RQ ≥ 1), while triclosan and estriol presented a medium risk (0.1 ≤ RQ < 1) in some sites. This study was the first attempt to apply DGT for providing vital data on the evaluation of the ecological risk of PPCPs in the two largest lakes in China, and attention should be paid to the long-term ecological effects caused by the occurrence of PPCPs in lakes.

Proteomic analysis of the hepatic response to a pollutant mixture in mice. The protective action of selenium

Metals and pharmaceuticals contaminate water and food worldwide, forming mixtures where they can interact to enhance their individual toxicity. Here we use a shotgun proteomic approach to evaluate the toxicity of a pollutant mixture (PM) of metals (As, Cd, Hg) and pharmaceuticals (diclofenac, flumequine) on mice liver proteostasis. These pollutants are abundant in the environment, accumulate in the food chain, and are toxic to humans primarily through oxidative damage. Thus, we also evaluated the putative antagonistic effect of low-dose dietary supplementation with the antioxidant trace element selenium. A total of 275 proteins were affected by PM treatment. Functional analyses revealed an increased abundance of proteins involved in the integrated stress response that promotes translation, the inflammatory response, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, and the sustained expression of the antioxidative response mediated by NRF2. As a consequence, a reductive stress situation arises in the cell that inhibits the RICTOR pathway, thus activating the early stage of autophagy, impairing xenobiotic metabolism, and potentiating lipid biosynthesis and steatosis. PM exposure-induced hepato-proteostatic alterations were significantly reduced in Se supplemented mice, suggesting that the use of this trace element as a dietary supplement may at least partially ameliorate liver damage caused by exposure to environmental mixtures.

Determination of organic contaminants in L'Albufera Natural Park using microporous polyethylene tube passive samplers: An environmental risk assessment

L'Albufera Natural Park (Valencia, Spain) is a protected wetland of international significance that provides critical habitats to endemic and threatened bird and plant species. This study aims to use multiple cross-validation techniques to generate an accurate estimation of the environmental risk of organic contaminants (OCs) in an internationally important coastal wetland, to identify compounds of concern and their potential sources and risk factors. Microporous polyethylene tube (MPT) passive samplers were deployed at 12 locations across L'Albufera Natural Park with concurrent grab samples collected. A subset of MPT samplers were also analysed by an additional laboratory in Australia to widen the range of contaminants and assess interlaboratory reproducibility of results. Forty-three pesticides, 20 pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), 20 per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and 4 organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs) were detected in the MPT samplers. The fungicides tebuconazole and difenoconazole were detected at the highest concentrations in passive samplers (maximum concentrations, 153 ng sampler-1 and 106 ng sampler-1, respectively). Several other pesticides were detected in all locations (mean concentrations >1 ng sampler-1). The compounds fenamiphos, propyzamide, difenoconazole, propiconazole, metsulfuron methyl, sodium bis (perfluorohexyl) phosphinate (6:6 PFPiA), 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonamide alkylbetaine (6:2 FTAB), 6:2 fluorotelomersulfonate (6:2 FTS), citalopram desmethyl and citalopram were reported in the wetland for the first time. Spatial distribution analysis revealed higher pesticide concentrations in the North of L'Albufera. A risk quotient (RQ) analysis showed that ibuprofen is of concern in the area. Overall, the MPT sampling approach is promising as a risk assessment tool for better understanding the transport and fate of OCs in protected areas.

Phenotypic and metabolic adaptations of Rhodococcus cerastii strain IEGM 1243 to separate and combined effects of diclofenac and ibuprofen

Introduction

The increasing use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) has raised concerns regarding their environmental impact. To address this, understanding the effects of NSAIDs on bacteria is crucial for bioremediation efforts in pharmaceutical-contaminated environments. The primary challenge in breaking down persistent compounds lies not in the biochemical pathways but in capacity of bacteria to surmount stressors.

Methods

In this study, we examined the biodegradative activity, morphological and physiological changes, and ultrastructural adaptations of Rhodococcus cerastii strain IEGM 1243 when exposed to ibuprofen, diclofenac, and their mixture.

Results and Discussion

Our findings revealed that R. cerastii IEGM 1243 exhibited moderate biodegradative activity towards the tested NSAIDs. Cellular respiration assay showed higher metabolic activity in the presence of NSAIDs, indicating their influence on bacterial metabolism. Furthermore, catalase activity in R. cerastii IEGM 1243 exposed to NSAIDs showed an initial decrease followed by fluctuations, with the most significant changes observed in the presence of DCF and the NSAID mixture, likely influenced by bacterial growth phases, active NSAID degradation, and the formation of multicellular aggregates, suggesting potential intercellular synergy and task distribution within the bacterial community. Morphometric analysis demonstrated alterations in size, shape, and surface roughness of cells exposed to NSAIDs, with a decrease in surface area and volume, and an increase in surface area-to-volume ratio (SA/V). Moreover, for the first time, transmission electron microscopy confirmed the presence of lipid inclusions, polyphosphates, and intracellular membrane-like structures in the ibuprofen-treated cells.

Conclusion

These results provide valuable insights into the adaptive responses of R. cerastii IEGM 1243 to NSAIDs, shedding light on the possible interaction between bacteria and pharmaceutical compounds in the environment.

Different isoforms of parabens into marine environment: Biological effects on the bacterium Aliivibrio fischeri and the marine mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis

Different isoforms of alkyl esters of p-Hydroxybenzoic acid, also known as parabens, are of great concern due to their widespread presence into the aquatic environment, their high concentrations in wastewater discharges, as well as their ability to induce adverse effects on aquatic organisms. Considering the imperative need for assessing their fate and risk to aquatic environment, the present study investigated the biological effects of two isoforms of parabens, methyl- (MeP) and propyl- (PrP), on the bacterium Aliivibrio fischeri (using the Bioluminescence Inhibition/Microtox® bioassay) and the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis (in terms of mussel mortality, cellular, oxidative and genotoxic stress indices). The assessment of MeP and PrP behavior into aquatic media (artificial sea water/ASW and 2 % NaCl), primarily performed by UHPLC-UV-MS analysis, showed only a slight hydrolysis of PrP to 4-Hydrobenzoic acid (4-HBA). Furthermore, exposure of both species to different concentrations of each paraben revealed differences among their toxic potential, as well as their ability to cause cellular, oxidative and genotoxic effects on hemocytes of challenged mussels. Interestingly, the Microtox® bioassay showed that PrP mediated toxicity in A. fischeri were more pronounced than MeP, as revealed by the estimated toxic endpoints (in terms of concentration that promote 50 % of bioluminescence inhibition, EC50). Similarly, in challenged mussels, a significant disturbance of mussel hemocytes' lysosomal membrane integrity, as well as enhanced levels of superoxides, nitric oxides, lipid peroxidation byproducts, and micronuclei formation were observed. These findings are of great interest, since MeP and PrP differential toxic potential, as well their ability to induce pre-pathological alterations in marine species, like mussels, give new evidence for their risk to aquatic biota.

Occurrence, toxicity, impact and removal of selected non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): A review

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are among the most frequently used pharmaceuticals for human therapy, pet therapeutics, and veterinary feeds, enabling them to enter into water sources such as wastewater, soil and sediment, and seawater. The control of NSAIDs has led to the advent of the novel materials for treatment techniques. Herein, we review the occurrence, impact and toxicity of NSAIDs against aquatic microorganisms, plants and humans. Typical NSAIDs, e.g., ibuprofen, ketoprofen, diclofenac, naproxen and aspirin were detected at high concentrations in wastewater up to 2,747,000 ng L-1. NSAIDs in water could cause genotoxicity, endocrine disruption, locomotive disorders, body deformations, organs damage, and photosynthetic corruption. Considering treatment methods, among adsorbents for removal of NSAIDs from water, metal-organic frameworks (10.7-638 mg g-1) and advanced porous carbons (7.4-400 mg g-1) were the most robust. Therefore, these carbon-based adsorbents showed promise in efficiency for the treatment of NSAIDs.

Spatiotemporal distribution and ecological risk assessment of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) from Luoma Lake, an important node of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project

PPCPs (pharmaceuticals and personal care products) are widely found in the environment and can be a risk to human and ecosystem health. In this study, spatiotemporal distribution, critical risk source identification and potential risks of 14 PPCPs found in water collected from sampling points in Luoma Lake and its inflowing rivers in two seasons in 2019 and 2020 were investigated. The PPCPs concentrations ranged from 27.64 ng·L-1 to 613.08 ng·L-1 in December 2019, and from 16.67 ng·L-1 to 3287.41 ng·L-1 in April 2020. Ketoprofen (KPF) dominated the PPCPs with mean concentrations of 125.85 ng·L-1 and 640.26 ng·L-1, respectively. Analysis of sources showed that the pollution in Luoma Lake mostly originated from sewage treatment plant effluents, inflowing rivers and domestic wastewater. Among them, the inflowing rivers contributed the most (82.95%) to the concentration of total PPCPs. The results of ecological risk assessment showed that there was a moderate risk (0.1 < RQs < 1) from carbamazepine (CBZ) in December 2019 and a high risk (RQs > 1) from naproxen (NPX) in April 2020. The results of human risk assessment found that NPX posed a high risk to infant health, and we found that NPX was associated with 83 diseases according to Comparative Toxicogenomics Database. NPX was identified as a substance requiring major attention. The results provide an understanding of the concentrations and ecological risks of PPCPs in Luoma Lake. We believe the data will support environmental departments to develop management strategies and prevent PPCPs pollution.

Effects of High Pharmaceutical Concentrations in Domestic Wastewater on Membrane Bioreactor Treatment Systems: Performance and Microbial Community

Despite pharmaceuticals being widely detected in water-bodies worldwide, what remain unclear are the effects of high pharmaceutical concentrations on the treatment efficiency of biological wastewater treatment processes, such as membrane bioreactor (MBR) systems. This study investigated the efficiency of MBR technology in the treatment of synthetic wastewater containing a mixture of five typical pharmaceuticals (ofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole, sulfamethylthiadiazole, carbamazepine and naproxen) with a total concentration of 500 µg/L. Both the control MBR (MBRc) without pharmaceutical dosing and the MBR operated with high influent pharmaceutical concentrations (MBRe) were operated under room temperature with the same hydraulic retention time of 11 h and the same sludge retention time of 30 d. The removal efficiency rates of total nitrogen and total phosphorus were 83.2% vs. 90.1% and 72.6% vs. 57.8% in the MBRc vs. MBRe systems, and both MBRs achieved >98% removal of organics for a 180-day period. The floc size decreased, and membrane fouling became more severe in the MBRe system. Microbial diversity increased in the MBRe system and the relative abundances of functional microbe differed between the two MBRs. Furthermore, the total relative abundances of genes involved in glycolysis, assimilating nitrate reduction and nitrification processes increased in the MBRe system, which could account for the higher organics and nitrogen removal performance. This work provides insights for MBR operation in wastewater treatment with high pharmaceutical concentrations.

Multiclass determination of drug residues in water and fish for bioaccumulation potential assessment

In this work, a wide-scope liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for the quantitative determination of environmental levels of multiclass drugs and their metabolites in water and fish samples was developed. The method allowed the reliable determination of 44 drugs, covering a rather wide range of chemistries and physicochemical characteristics. In order to obtain a reliable and robust analytical protocol, different combinations of extraction and cleanup techniques were systematically examined. Aqueous samples were extracted using a simple Oasis HLB SPE enrichment protocol with pH-optimized sample percolation (pH 3). The extraction of cryo-homogenized biota samples was performed using double extraction with MeOH basified with 0.5% NH₃, which allowed high extraction recoveries for all target analytes. The problem of the coextracted lipid matrix, which is known to be the key obstacle for reliable biota analysis, was systematically examined in a series of model cleanup experiments. A combination of cryo-precipitation, filtration, and HLB SPE cleanup was proposed as a protocol, which allowed reliable and robust analysis of all target compounds at low ng/g levels. At the final conditions, the method which was validated at three concentration levels showed high extraction recoveries (68-97%), acceptable matrix effects (12 to -32%), accuracies (81-129%), and reproducibilities (3-32%) for all analytes. The developed method was used to determine drug concentrations in river water and in feral freshwater fish, including whole fish and muscle tissue, from the Sava River (Croatia), in order to estimate their corresponding bioaccumulation potential. With respect to bioaccumulation potential in whole fish and fish muscle, the most relevant drugs were lisinopril, sertraline, terbinafine, torsemide, diazepam, desloratadine, and loratadine with estimated bioaccumulation factors ranging from 20 to 838 and from 1 to 431, respectively.

Exploring the Impact of Contaminants of Emerging Concern on Fish and Invertebrates Physiology in the Mediterranean Sea

In this historical context, the Mediterranean Sea faces an increasing threat from emerging pollutants such as pharmaceuticals, personal care products, heavy metals, pesticides and microplastics, which pose a serious risk to the environment and human health. In this regard, aquatic invertebrates and fish are particularly vulnerable to the toxic effects of these pollutants, and several species have been identified as bio-indicators for their detection. Among these, bivalve molluscs and elasmobranchs are now widely used as bio-indicators to accurately assess the effects of contaminants. The study focuses on the catshark Scyliorhinus canicular and on the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis. The first one is a useful indicator of localised contamination levels due to its exposure to pollutants that accumulate on the seabed. Moreover, it has a high trophic position and plays an important role in the Mediterranean Sea ecosystem. The bivalve mollusc Mytilus galloprovincialis, on the other hand, being a filter-feeding organism, can acquire and bioaccumulate foreign particles present in its environment. Additionally, because it is also a species of commercial interest, it has a direct impact on human health. In conclusion, the increasing presence of emerging pollutants in the Mediterranean Sea is a serious issue that requires immediate attention. Bivalve molluscs and elasmobranchs are two examples of bio-indicators that must be used to precisely determine the effects of these pollutants on the marine ecosystem and human health.

Estimation of legal and illegal drugs consumption in Valencia City (Spain): 10 years of monitoring

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) approach provides objective, quantitative, near real-time profiles of illicit drug consumption by monitoring the concentration of unchanged parent drugs or their metabolites entering the municipal sewage system. Valencia is the third most populous city in Spain (an important country for the use and transit of several of these drugs). Estimations of consumption over long periods of time will help get better understanding of spatial and temporal trends in the use of licit and illicit drugs. Accordingly, applying the "best practice" protocol, 16 drugs of abuse and metabolites were monitored in this study, and 8 were daily measured during one-two weeks between 2011 and 2020 at the inlet of three wastewater treatment plants of Valencia City. Analysis of the selected compounds was performed by liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry, and the concentrations obtained were used to back-calculate the consumption data. Cannabis, tobacco, and cocaine were the most consumed drugs whereas opioids were less used. Cannabis and cocaine consumption are on average 2.7-23.4 and 1.1-2.3 g/day/1000inh, respectively, and their use tended to increase since 2018. Weekly profiles were characterized by higher consumption of cocaine, ecstasy, and heroin during weekends compared to weekdays. Similarly, during "Las Fallas" (main local festivity), increased use of cocaine and amphetamine-type stimulants, mainly MDMA, was measured. WBE proved to be an objective and useful methodology to get more insight on temporal drugs of abuse consumption, and the changes derived from local festivities.

Appraisal of groundwater quality with WQI and human health risk assessment in Karamık wetland and surroundings (Afyonkarahisar/Turkey)

Groundwater in Karamık wetland and surroundings, which is one of the important wetlands in Turkey, was examined and the chemical properties and quality of groundwater were determined in the present study. In addition, the possible risks to human health as a result of groundwater usage were investigated along with spatial analyses carried out using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Physicochemical analyses were carried out on 25 samples taken from groundwater. The dominant ions in the study area are Ca, Mg, and HCO₃. When the results are compared with the limit values in the valid drinking water guidelines such as TSI-266 (Standards for drinking waters, 2005) and WHO (Guidelines for drinking-water quality, 2011), the groundwaters were not suitable for use as drinking water in terms of NO₃, Fe, Pb and As. The analysis results were evaluated together with GIS and Water Quality Index (WQI) methods. In the evaluations with the WQI method, 76% of the samples were in the "poor water" class. The groundwater in the study area is polluted by both geogenic and anthropogenic sources. For this reason, health risk assessment was performed due to the use of groundwater in the region by the local people in different areas, especially as drinking water, and the negative effects of water quality. Accordingly, there are non-carcinogenic negative effects on health in terms of NO₃, As, Pb and Fe parameters from the use of groundwater by children. In addition, Pb and As concentrations are at carcinogenic levels for both children and adults in all groundwater samples collected from the study area. Therefore, it is not recommended to use groundwater as drinking water without treatment.

Impact of parabens on drinking water bacteria and their biofilms: The role of exposure time and substrate materials

Parabens have been detected in drinking water (DW) worldwide, however, their impact on DW microbial communities remains to be explored. Microorganisms can easily adapt to environmental changes. Therefore, their exposure to contaminants of emerging concern, particularly parabens, in DW distribution systems (DWDS) may affect the microbiological quality and safety of the DW reaching the consumers tap. This work provides a pioneer evaluation of the effects of methylparaben (MP), propylparaben (PP), butylparaben (BP), and their combination (MIX), in bacterial biofilms formed on different surfaces, representative of DWDS materials - high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PPL) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Acinetobacter calcoaceticus and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, isolated from DW, were used to form single and dual-species biofilms on the surface materials selected. The exposure to MP for 7 days caused the most significant effects on biofilms, by increasing their cellular culturability, density, and thickness up to 233%, 150%, and 224%, respectively, in comparison to non-exposed biofilms. Overall, more pronounced alterations were detected for single biofilms than for dual-species biofilms when HDPE and PPL, demonstrating that the surface material used affected the action of parabens on biofilms. Swimming motility and the production of virulence factors (protease and gelatinase) by S. maltophilia were increased up to 141%, 41%, and 73%, respectively, when exposed to MP for 7 days. The overall results highlight the potential of parabens to interfere with DW bacteria in planktonic state and biofilms, and compromise the DW microbiological quality and safety.

Peroxymonosulfate activated by composite ceramic membrane for the removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) mixture: Insights of catalytic and noncatalytic oxidation

A composite manganese-based catalytic ceramic membrane (Mn-CCM) was developed by a solid-state sintering method, and its effectiveness toward activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for the degradation of 11 pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) mixture was tested. The optimized Mn-CCMs/PMS system showed remarkable degradation efficiencies for PPCPs mixture with total removal >90% in ultrapure water, river water and natural organic matter (NOM) solution. The Mn-CCMs/PMS system showed the contribution of different phenomena in PPCPs removal in the order of catalytic oxidation (54.7%, Mn-CCMs/PMS) > noncatalytic oxidation (42.3%, PMS oxidation) > adsorption (3.0%, by Mn-CCMs). The singlet oxygen (¹O₂) was the dominant reactive oxygen specie for the degradation of PPCPs in all water matrices proved by the quenching experiments and electro-paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The extraordinary stability of Mn-CCMs for the activation of PMS has been noted in terms of repeatability experiments for PPCPs degradation with fewer leaching of Mn (1.9 to 3.6 µg/L). Mineralization was achieved in the range of 28-65% for different water matrices. The toxicity of the PPCPs mixture was reduced by 85.9%. The Mn-CCMs/PMS system showed a reduction (25-100%) in precursors of different carbon- and nitrogen-based disinfection by-products. This study found the Mn-CCMs/PMS system as a feasible purification unit for removing trace concentrations of PPCPs (ng/L) in real drinking water matrices.

Contamination, transport, and ecological risks of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in a large irrigation region

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) have attracted widespread attention owing to their extensive use and potential adverse effects on human and ecosystem health. There is a lack of information regarding the occurrence and environmental fate of PPCPs in large agricultural irrigation areas in China. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive survey on 30 PPCPs in water from Hetao Irrigation District, one of the three largest irrigation areas in China. The ΣPPCP-concentrations ranged 82.13-1409.24 ng/L in August and 40.53-887.20 ng/L in November, with caffeine (CAF), norfloxacin (NOR), erythromycin (ERY), sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and ofloxacin (OFL) being the predominant compositions. Spatially, the average ΣPPCP concentrations increased from irrigation to drainage water, and then decreased in Wuliangsuhai Lake. Less PPCP mass loading (55.05 kg/y) migrated from Wuliangsuhai Lake to Yellow River than that from the Yellow River to Hetao Irrigation District (425.88 kg/y), indicating that Wuliangsuhai Lake plays an important role in improving water quality. An ecological risk assessment showed that it is worthwhile to consider the presence of CAF, ERY, NOR, and OFL in natural surface water and to control their potential risks.

Cosmetic Preservatives: Hazardous Micropollutants in Need of Greater Attention?

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.

Updated knowledge, partitioning and ecological risk of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in global aquatic environments

Over the last few decades, the occurrence of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in aquatic environments has generated increasing public concern. In this review, data on the presence of PPCPs in environmental compartments from the past few years (2014-2022) are summarized by carrying out a critical survey of the partitioning among water, sediment, and aquatic organisms. From the available articles on PPCP occurrence in the environment, in Web of Science and Scopus databases, 185 articles were evaluated. Diclofenac, carbamazepine, caffeine, ibuprofen, ciprofloxacin, and sulfamethoxazole were reported to occur in 85% of the studies in at least one of the mentioned matrices. Risk assessment showed a moderate to high environmental risk for these compounds worldwide. Moreover, bioconcentration factors showed that sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim can bioaccumulate in aquatic organisms, while ciprofloxacin and triclosan present bioaccumulation potential. Regarding spatial distribution, the Asian and European continents presented most studies on the occurrence and effects of PPCPs on the environment, while Africa and Asia are the most contaminated continents. In addition, the impact of COVID-19 on environmental contamination by PPCPs is discussed.

Removal of contaminants of emerging concern from secondary-effluent reverse osmosis retentates by continuous supercritical water oxidation- parametric study and conceptual design

The continuous removal of TOC and the degradation efficiency of carbamazepine and 17β-estradiol were investigated using actual secondary municipal-effluent RO-retentate solutions. A specific set of operating parameters were applied within the supercritical water oxidizing conditions: temperature range 420-480 °C, 25.1 MPa, hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 1-2 min, excess oxidant molar-ratio of 3-10 and presence of a homogenous catalyst (IPA) at 50-100 mg/L. > 99% organic carbon mineralization, along with complete degradation of model pollutants, was observed at 450 °C/1 min/OC= 5-10 and 100 mgIPA/L. The outlet estrone concentration, 1.03 ± 1.14 ng/L, representing estrogenic pollutants, dropped to the "no effect" range. A model for a SCWO plant treating secondary-municipal-effluent-RO-retentate for a city of 100,000 capita-equivalent was developed, based on a shell & tube SCWO flow reactor, showing > 75% energy-efficiency. The model yielded that for the extreme case of a zero caloric-value feed-solution, the total OPEX and CAPEX would be < $6.0 ± 2.5 per m³ of secondary effluents, i.e., two orders of magnitude lower than the reported environmental shadow-price associated with CECs (contaminants of emerging concern). Further work is required on the continuous and efficient separation of the salt-matrix, which can lead to higher overall heat transfer coefficients and enable further reduction in capital costs.

Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products across Different Water Bodies in Taihu Lake Basin, China: Occurrence, Source, and Flux

Although pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) have attracted great attentions, their occurrence characteristics across different water bodies at a basin scale remain poorly understood. To grasp a more comprehensive understanding of PPCP pollution from the perspective of the whole basin, the occurrence, spatial and seasonal variation, source, and flux of thirteen PPCPs across the different environmental compartments of the northern Taihu Lake Basin (TLB) were studied. The results showed that the non-therapeutic pharmaceuticals caffeine (CFI) and n, n-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET) were the main components across the different environmental compartments. The total concentrations of detected PPCPs ranged from 0.2 to 2437.9 ng/L. Higher concentrations of PPCPs were observed in spring and autumn, which were mainly attributed to seasonal differences in PPCP consumption. Generally, pollution level was higher in industry and agriculture area and in the inner bay and southwest of Taihu Lake. Source apportionment indicated that untreated water was the main source of PPCPs in river waters of the northern TLB. Flux estimation showed that the mean annual flux of PPCPs from northern TLB to Taihu Lake in 2021 was 1.6 t/a, which was higher in comparison with other areas. Overall, the resulting data will be useful to enrich the research of PPCPs in freshwater for environmental investigations.

Human Apparent Volume of Distribution Predicts Bioaccumulation of Ionizable Organic Chemicals in Zebrafish Embryos

Chemicals with elevated bioaccumulation profiles present potential hazards to public health and the environment. Ionizable organic compounds (IOCs) increasingly represent a large proportion of commercial chemicals; however, historical approaches for bioaccumulation determinations are mainly developed for neutral chemicals, which were not appropriate for IOCs. Herein, we employed the zebrafish embryo, a common vertebrate model in environmental and biomedical studies, to elucidate toxicokinetics and bioconcentration of eight IOCs with diverse physicochemical properties and pharmacokinetic parameters. At an environmentally relevant pH (7.5), most IOCs exhibited rapid uptake and depuration in zebrafish, suggesting the ionized forms of IOCs are readily bioavailable. Bioconcentration factors (BCF) of these IOCs ranged from 0.0530 to 250 L·kg^-1 wet weight. The human pharmacokinetic proportionality factor, apparent volume of distribution (V_D), better predicted the BCF of selected IOCs than more commonly used hydrophobicity-based parameters (e.g., pH-dependent octanol-water distribution ratio, D_ow). Predictive bioaccumulation models for IOCs were constructed and validated using V_D alone or with D_ow. Significant relationships between fish BCF and human V_D, which is readily available for pharmaceuticals, highlighted the utility of biologically based "read-across" approaches for predicting bioaccumulative potential of IOCs. Our novel findings thus provided an understanding of the partitioning behavior and improved predictive bioconcentration modeling for IOCs.

Application of an Ecotoxicological Battery Test to the Paddy Field Soils of the Albufera Natural Park

Albufera Natural Park (ANP) (Valencia, Spain) is one of the most important wetland areas of the Mediterranean coast subject to high anthropogenic pressure, on whose soils a battery of bioassays has never been applied to evaluate the ecotoxicological risk. The present study determined available and water-soluble heavy metal content in four paddy soils used in the ANP, and the ecotoxicological effect on these soils was evaluated by performing the bioassays regulated in Spanish Royal Decree 9/2005. Soil properties and extractable Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn (EDTA pH = 7) were analyzed in soils. These elements and macro- and micronutrients were also assessed in soil leachate. A test battery covering the following was needed: acute toxicity test in Eisenia foetida (OECD TG 207); mineralization tests of nitrogen (OECD TG 2016) and carbon (OECD TG 217); growth inhibition test in Raphidocelis subcapitata (OECD TG 201); mobility inhibition test in Daphnia magna (OECD TG 202). The soils found in the most anthropized areas to the north of the ANP (Massanassa and Alfafar) demonstrated a higher concentration of available heavy metals than in the southern ones (Sueca and Sollana). The aqueous leachate of the studied soils contained very low concentrations, which would be related to soil properties. Despite the high concentration of available potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in the Massanassa and Alfafar soils, the studied soils showed no toxicity during the performed battery bioassays. Therefore, soils can be considered non-toxic despite the obtained PTEs available concentration.

Are preserved coastal water bodies in Spanish Mediterranean basin impacted by human activity? Water quality evaluation using chemical and biological analyses

The Spanish Mediterranean basin is particularly susceptible to climate change and human activities, making it vulnerable to the influence of anthropogenic contaminants. Therefore, conducting comprehensive and exhaustive water quality assessment in relevant water bodies of this basin is pivotal. In this work, surface water samples from coastal lagoons or estuaries were collected across the Spanish Mediterranean coastline and subjected to target and suspect screening of 1,585 organic micropollutants by liquid chromatography coupled to ion mobility separation and high resolution mass spectrometry. In total, 91 organic micropollutants could be confirmed and 5 were tentatively identified, with pharmaceuticals and pesticides being the most prevalent groups of chemicals. Chemical analysis data was compared with data on bioanalysis of those samples (recurrent aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) activation, and estrogenic receptor (ER) inhibition in wetland samples affected by wastewater streams). The number of identified organic contaminants containing aromatic rings could explain the AhR activation observed. For the ER antagonistic effects, predictions on estrogenic inhibition potency for the detected compounds were used to explain the activities observed. The integration of chemical analysis with bioanalytical observations allowed a comprehensive overview of the quality of the water bodies under study.

Trace organic contaminants within solid matrices along an anthropized watercourse: Organo-mineral controls on their spatial distribution

Although numerous studies have determined significant contamination in terms of trace organic contaminant (TrOC) diversity and concentration, the occurrence of TrOCs within solid matrices as suspended solids and sediments flies under the radar. In this study, the occurrence of 35 TrOCs of various classes (i.e. pharmaceutical products and pesticides) was investigated in three compartments, namely dissolved phase, suspended particulate matter (SPM) and sediments, within an anthropized river in France. The sampling was performed to assess the spatial contamination dynamics and the impact of a major wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), under two contrasted hydrological conditions, i.e. base level and flood conditions. Solid samples were finely characterized (XRD, grainsize, TOC) in order to assess the impact of organic and mineral composition on the sorption extent of TrOCs. The study reveals that the clear spatial pattern of contamination in water samples, mostly generated by the effluent discharge of WWTPs, is less clear in solid matrices as the variability of the organo-mineral composition of such samples strongly impacts their favourability for sorption. Moreover, the flood event strongly impacted the sedimentary compartment, remobilizing fine and TrOC contaminated particles that were further found in suspended particulate matter. Lastly, the representativeness of contaminant diversity and concentration within the solid matrices displayed more favourable insights for SPM.

Occurrence, sources and environmental risk assessment of pharmaceuticals in the Sea of Marmara, Turkey

In the present study, the occurrence and spatial distribution of selected eleven pharmaceuticals were investigated in the Sea of Marmara, Turkey. Samples were collected from different depths of the nine stations in April and October 2019. Pharmaceuticals were analyzed using liquid-liquid and solid-phase extraction (SPE) methods followed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). All target pharmaceutical compounds were detected at least once in the study area. Gemfibrozil, which belongs to the lipid regulatory group, was the most frequently detected in seawater at high concentrations (<0.016-9.71 μg/L). Ibuprofen (<0.015-2.13 μg/L) and 17α-ethynylestradiol (<0.010-3.55 μg/L) were identified as the other frequently detected pharmaceuticals. In addition, the presence of these selected compounds in April was higher than in October. According to the risk assessment results, naproxen, diclofenac, clofibric acid, gemfibrozil, 17β-estradiol, and 17α-ethynylestradiol represent a high risk to aquatic organisms in the Sea of Marmara. These findings underline the importance of continued monitoring of these compounds as relevant organic contaminants in the study area to take appropriate measures to protect the ecosystem and, ultimately, human health.

Biodiversity impacts by multiple anthropogenic stressors in Mediterranean coastal wetlands

Mediterranean coastal wetlands are considered biodiversity hot-spots and contain a high number of endemic species. The biodiversity of these ecosystems is endangered by several pressures resulting from agricultural and urban expansion, climate change, and the alteration of their hydrological cycle. In this study we assess the state-of-the-art regarding the impact of several stressor groups on the biodiversity of Mediterranean coastal wetlands (i.e., lagoons, marshes, estuaries). Particularly, we describe the impacts of eutrophication, chemical pollution, invasive species, salinization, and temperature rise, and analyze the existing literature regarding the impact of multiple stressors on these ecosystems. Our study denotes a clear asymmetry both in terms of study areas and stressors evaluated. The majority of studies focus on lagoons and estuaries of the north-west parts of the Mediterranean basin, while the African and the Asian coast have been less represented. Eutrophication and chemical pollution were the most studied stressors compared to others like temperature rise or species invasions. Most studies evaluating these stressors individually show direct or indirect effects on the biodiversity of primary producers and invertebrate communities, and changes in species dominance patterns that contribute to a decline of endemic populations. The few available studies addressing stressor interactions have shown non-additive responses, which are important to define appropriate ecosystem management and restoration measures. Finally, we propose research needs to advance our understanding on the impacts of anthropogenic stressors on Mediterranean coastal wetlands and to guide future interventions to protect biodiversity.

Sedimentary spectrum and potential ecological risks of residual pharmaceuticals in relation to sediment-water partitioning and land uses in a watershed

Pharmaceutical residues in river surficial sediment are prone to anthropogenic impacts and environmental factors in watershed, but the mechanisms remain unclear. This study attempted to reveal surficial sediment-water pseudo-partitioning and anthropogenic (land use) patterns of pharmaceutical residues in surficial sediment among 23 subwatersheds of Jiulong River, southeast China with a gradient of urban land use percentile in dry and wet seasons. Thirty-eight out of target 86 compounds from six-category pharmaceuticals were quantified and ranged from below the quantification limits (0.001 mg kg^-1 dry mass) up to 8.19 mg kg^-1 dry mass (chlortetracycline) using a developed SPE-HPLC-MS/MS protocol. Antibiotics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) collectively dominated sedimentary pharmaceutical residues for 34.5-99.8% of the total quantified compounds (median at 92%). Land uses in subwatersheds showed high consistency with sedimentary pharmaceutical residues in the dry season rather than the wet season, especially for human use only and veterinary use only compounds. Surficial sediment-water partitioning of pharmaceutical compounds influenced their sedimentary residues regardless of season, which were determined by properties of compound and surficial sediment interactively. All tetracycline compounds, trimethoprim (sulfonamides synergist), caffeine (central nervous system drug), and oxfendazole (antiparasitic drug) were quantified to pose high potential ecological risks to aquatics. Findings of this study suggest that pseudo-persistent legacy of human and veterinary pharmaceuticals requires a wider coverage of pharmaceutical compounds for a comprehensive ecological assessment in the environment and more involvement of anthropogenic impacts and socioeconomic factors in the future studies.

Occurrence and risk assessment of trace organic contaminants and metals in anaerobically co-digested sludge

Anaerobic co-digestion of sludge increases biogas production and maintains anaerobic digestion stability. However, it is unclear whether the addition of co-substrates may increase the concentration of trace organic contaminants (TrOCs) and metals, limiting potential resource recovery opportunities when applied to agricultural land. This study explored the occurrence of 20 TrOCs and 18 metals in wastewater sludge anaerobically co-digested with beverage rejects (cola, beer and juice) and food wastes. TrOCs results showed that cola reject caused an accumulation of caffeine in final digestate. Bisphenol A also significantly increased in food waste co-digestion when compared with the mono-digestion (control). No significant difference in TrOCs was observed in the juice reject co-digestion. Analysis of the metal composition revealed a significant increase in Cr and Al in juice reject co-digested sludge. While restaurant food waste increased concentrations of K and Ca, both of which may be beneficial when applied to land. All metals in this study were below the maximum permissible concentrations specified for agricultural land use in Australia. Environmental risk assessment of sludge when used as soil fertiliser, showed that caffeine, diuron, triclocarban, triclosan, Cu and Zn exhibited high risks, with the largest risk quotient (RQ) posed by caffeine. Estrone and naproxen implied medium risks, and ibuprofen implied a high risk except for the co-digestion using cola reject (RQ = 0.9, medium risk). The results emphasise the importance for wastewater utility operators to understand the impact of co-substrate selection on the quality of sludge to minimise environmental risk from the use of biosolids on agricultural land.

Occurrence, source apportionment and potential risks of selected PPCPs in groundwater used as a source of drinking water from key urban-rural settings of Pakistan

BACKGROUND

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) are emerging contaminants that have been extensively used in present time to improve the living standards. Their persistence in water resources due to various anthropogenic sources such as wastewater treatment plants, pharmaceutical industries, and runoff from agricultural and livestock farms has not only threaten aquatic life but their occurrence in groundwater has also raised concerns related to humans' wellbeing.

METHODS

Considering this as a neglected area of research in Pakistan, a systematic monitoring study was designed to investigate their occurrence, sources, and potential environmental and human health risks in groundwater from urban-rural areas of six cities. Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) was used to analyze the collected samples preceded by solid-phase extraction.

RESULTS

Overall, 8 out of 11 selected PPCPs were detected in groundwater samples with detection frequency ranging from 5.5-65%. Their concentrations ranged from below limit of detection (<LOD) to 1961 ng/L. The overall mean concentrations of detected PPCPs were found below 100 ng/L. The highest mean concentration was reported for Ibuprofen (154 ng/L) in Rawalpindi/Islamabad. Results of PCA-MLR revealed that domestic wastewater discharge (76.4%) was the dominant source contributing to PPCPs contamination in groundwater. Followed by mixed source (pharmaceutical & hospital waste) 17.8%, and rural discharge/animal husbandry 5.8%. No appreciable risk to human health upon exposure to detected PPCPs via drinking water was anticipated. However, environmental risk assessment indicated moderate risk posed to P. subcapitata (RQ = 0.98) and D. magna (RQ = 0.2) by ibuprofen.

CONCLUSION

The current study reports the first evidence of PPCPs occurrence in groundwater in Pakistan. Reporting their occurrence in groundwater is a fundamental initial step to inform public-health decisions concerning sewage systems and drinking water quality. Hence, comprehensive monitoring programs are required to further investigate contamination of emerging contaminants in groundwater and their associated risks.

Human health and ecological risk assessment of 98 pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) detected in Indian surface and wastewaters

The release of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in environmental waters has become an urgent issue due to their pseudo-persistent traits. The present study was undertaken to conduct a screening-level risk assessment of 98 PPCPs, detected in different water matrices (treated wastewater, surface water, and groundwater) of India, for evaluating ecological risk (risk to fish, daphnia, and algae), human health risk, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) selection risk by following risk quotient (RQ) based methodology. In the present study, 47% of the detected PPCPs in Indian waters were found to exert a possible risk (RQ > 1) to either aquatic species and human health, or cause AMR selection risk. 17 out of 25 antibiotics detected in the environmental waters were found to pose a threat of AMR selection. 11 out of 49 pharmaceuticals were found to exert human health risk from ingesting contaminated surface water, whereas only 2 pharmaceuticals out of 25 were found to exert risk from the intake of groundwater. Very high RQs (>1000) for few pharmaceuticals were obtained, signifying a great potential of the detected PPCPs in causing severe health concern, aquatic toxicity, and AMR spread. Within India, special attention needs to be given to the pharmaceutical hubs, as the environmental waters in these regions were found to be severely contaminated with drug residues resulting in extremely high RQs. The present study will be helpful in prioritizing the detected PPCPs in the environmental waters of India, for which immediate attention and enforceable guidelines are required.

Uptake, Occurrence, and Effects of Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs and Analgesics in Plants and Edible Crops

The plant uptake of pharmaceuticals that include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and analgesics from contaminated environment has benefits and drawbacks. These pharmaceuticals enter plants mostly through irrigation with contaminated water and application of sewage sludge as soil fertilizer. Aquatic plants withdraw these pharmaceuticals from water through their roots. Numerous studies have observed the translocation of these pharmaceuticals from the roots into the aerial tissues. Furthermore, the occurrence of the metabolites of NSAIDs in plants has been observed. This article provides an in-depth critical review of the plant uptake of NSAIDs and analgesics, their translocation, and toxic effects on plant species. In addition, the occurrence of metabolites of NSAIDs in plants and the application of constructed wetlands using plants for remediation are reviewed. Factors that affect the plant uptake and translocation of these pharmaceuticals are examined. Gaps and future research are provided to guide forthcoming investigations on important aspects that worth explorations.

Which Micropollutants in Water Environments Deserve More Attention Globally?

Increasing chemical pollution of aquatic environments is a growing concern with global relevance. A large number of organic chemicals are termed as "micropollutants" due to their low concentrations, and long-term exposure to micropollutants may pose considerable risks to aquatic organisms and human health. In recent decades, numerous treatment methods and technologies have been proposed to remove micropollutants in water, and typically several micropollutants were chosen as target pollutants to evaluate removal efficiencies. However, it is often unclear whether their toxicity and occurrence levels and frequencies enable them to contribute significantly to the overall chemical pollution in global aquatic environments. This review intends to answer an important lingering question: Which micropollutants or class of micropollutants deserve more attention globally and should be removed with higher priority? Different risk-based prioritization approaches were used to address this question. The risk quotient (RQ) method was found to be a feasible approach to prioritize micropollutants in a large scale due to its relatively simple assessment procedure and extensive use. A total of 83 prioritization case studies using the RQ method in the past decade were compiled, and 473 compounds that were selected by screening 3466 compounds of three broad classes (pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), pesticides, and industrial chemicals) were found to have risks (RQ > 0.01). To determine the micropollutants of global importance, we propose an overall risk surrogate, that is, the weighted average risk quotient (WARQ). The WARQ integrates the risk intensity and frequency of micropollutants in global aquatic environments to achieve a more comprehensive priority determination. Through metadata analysis, we recommend a ranked list of 53 micropollutants, including 36 PPCPs (e.g., sulfamethoxazole and ibuprofen), seven pesticides (e.g., heptachlor and diazinon), and 10 industrial chemicals (e.g., perfluorooctanesulfonic acid and 4-nonylphenol) for risk management and remediation efforts. One caveat is that the ranked list of global importance does not consider transformation products of micropollutants (including disinfection byproducts) and new forms of pollutants (including antibiotic resistance genes and microplastics), and this list of global importance may not be directly applicable to a specific region or country. Also, it needs mentioning that there might be no best answer toward this question, and hopefully this review can act as a small step toward a better answer.

Assessment of a wide array of organic micropollutants of emerging concern in wastewater treatment plants in Greece: Occurrence, removals, mass loading and potential risks

Exploring the contamination profile of multi-class emerging contaminants (ECs) in wastewater is highly desirable. To this end, the occurrence, removal, mass loading and risks associated with a large panel of pharmaceuticals and personal care products, illicit drugs, perfluorinated compounds and organophosphate flame retardants in two wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in the region of Thessaloniki (Greece) after a survey is illustrated. Influent and effluent wastewaters were submitted to solid phase extraction on Oasis HLB cartridges, followed by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Orbitrap MS). Influent concentrations in both WWTPs were notably higher than effluent, with caffeine, acetaminophen, irbesartan and valsartan being the most ubiquitous compounds, exhibiting elevated concentrations. Average effluent concentrations ranged from below the method quantification limits (<MQL) to remarkably high values (μg L^-1 scale), such as for caffeine, acetaminophen, diclofenac, irbesartan and valsartan, among others. Removal efficiencies ranged between -273% for lamotrigine and 100%, i.e., for the UV filter BP1. Notably, the polar compounds such as cytarabine, methotrexate and capecitabine were removed at a rate >80% in both WWTPs, allowing the correlation between logK_ow and removals. Interesting trends for the illicit drugs were revealed by means of mass loading estimation, as in the case of benzoylecgonine (71.6 mg/day/1000 inhabitants). Ecotoxicological risk assessment was evaluated for both single components and mixture, using three approaches: risk quotient (RQ), risk quotient considering frequency (RQ_f) and toxic units (TU). Irbesartan and telmisartan posed a high risk in all trophic levels, while fish was the most sensitive taxa for diclofenac. This work aspires to intensify the surveillance programs for the receiving water bodies, as well as to motivate the investigation of toxicity to non-target organisms.