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Švábová M, Šváb M, Vorokhta M, Pohořelý M. Evaluation of micropollutant removal from artificially recharged water using activated carbon. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2025; 494:138504. [PMID: 40367772 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.138504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2025] [Revised: 04/29/2025] [Accepted: 05/04/2025] [Indexed: 05/16/2025]
Abstract
Pilot scale micropollutant removal onto three types of granular activated carbon was tested over a period of 25 months. The columns were operated in a mode as similar as possible to the functioning of the main waterworks with the emphasis on minimizing the washing of the activated carbon layers. Sampling was performed monthly and a total of 222 micropollutants were evaluated. The columns were located at a waterworks in central Bohemia (Czech Republic). Real influent water from the river Jizera after artificial recharge and sand filtration was used. The aim of this study was to verify whether the process of micropollutant removal was suitable under the operating conditions at the waterworks. Clear seasonal patterns of micropollutant concentrations in the influent were detected. All three columns were able to effectively remove or substantially decrease the concentration of most micropollutants. The best performance was shown for the activated carbon Aquasorb 5005, which had the highest surface area and a well developed porous structure with the highest proportion of mesopores. The data were evaluated in order to identify micropollutant parameters important for their removal, and the pH-dependent octanol/water partition coefficient was identified as the key parameter. Other important parameters were charge and polar surface area of the micropollutant molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Švábová
- Institute of Rock Structure and Mechanics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, V Holešovičkách 94/41, Prague 18209, Czech Republic.
| | - Marek Šváb
- DEKONTA, a.s., Dřetovice 109, Stehelčeves 273 42, Czech Republic
| | - Maryna Vorokhta
- Institute of Rock Structure and Mechanics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, V Holešovičkách 94/41, Prague 18209, Czech Republic
| | - Michael Pohořelý
- Department of Power Engineering, Faculty of Environmental Protection, University of Chemistry and Technology, Technická, Praha 166 28, Czech Republic
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2
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Sun P, Liu H, Zhao Y, Hao N, Deng Z, Zhao W. A novel data-driven screening method of antidepressants stability in wastewater and the guidance of environmental regulations. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2025; 198:109427. [PMID: 40188602 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2025.109427] [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: 11/20/2024] [Revised: 03/05/2025] [Accepted: 03/29/2025] [Indexed: 04/08/2025]
Abstract
Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) represents a powerful technique for quantifying the attenuation characteristics and consumption of pharmaceuticals. In addition to WBE, no further methods have been developed to assess the wastewater stability related to antidepressants (ADs). In this study, the biodegradability, solubility, and adsorption or partition of 66 ADs were objectively scored according to the relevant guidelines of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. An assessment framework and the MSSL-RealFormer classification model of ADs wastewater stability were constructed based on physicochemical properties to predict the ADs wastewater stability and the quantitative structure-activity relationship. The constructed MSSL-RealFormer classification model exhibited a markedly higher prediction accuracy than traditional methods. Furthermore, 15 high-stable ADs in wastewater with low biodegradability, high solubility, and low adsorption or partition were identified. SHapley Additive exPlanation method demonstrated that group hydrophobicity, electrostatic and van der Waals forces exerted a significant influence on the ADs wastewater stability. And molecular stability was found to be significantly correlated with the ADs wastewater stability. A combination of density functional theory and MSSL-RealFormer classification model was employed to identify 17 high-stable transformation products of nine medium- and low-stable ADs in wastewater. The Ecological Structure Activity Relationships model demonstrated that bupropion, tapentadol and chlorpheniramine exhibited significant acute toxicity to the aquatic food chain. In this study, a novel deep learning model was constructed to rapidly screen the correlation between the ADs wastewater stability and their molecular structures. It is anticipated to prove a favorable tool for optimizing the wastewater stability screening of pharmaceuticals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peixuan Sun
- College of New Energy and Environment, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China.
| | - Huaishi Liu
- College of Instrumentation and Electrical Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130000, China.
| | - Yuanyuan Zhao
- College of New Energy and Environment, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China.
| | - Ning Hao
- College of New Energy and Environment, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China.
| | - Zhengyang Deng
- College of New Energy and Environment, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China.
| | - Wenjin Zhao
- College of New Energy and Environment, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China.
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3
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Wilschnack K, Cartmell E, Sundström VJ, Yates K, Petrie B. Enantiomeric fraction evaluation for assessing septic tanks as a pathway for chiral pharmaceuticals entering rivers. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2025; 27:779-793. [PMID: 39989382 DOI: 10.1039/d4em00715h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2025]
Abstract
Septic tanks (STs) are an important pathway for chiral pharmaceuticals entering rivers. Therefore, the enantiospecific compositions of 25 chiral human pharmaceuticals and metabolites were investigated in five community STs over 12 months in Scotland. Large variability in pharmaceutical concentrations and enantiomeric fractions (EFs) were observed in wastewater owing to the small contributing populations. Pharmaceuticals prescribed in enantiopure and racemic forms had the greatest EF variability. For example, citalopram generally had EFs < 0.5 through consumption of the racemate and preferential metabolism of S(+)-citalopram. However, several samples had EFs > 0.7 from comparatively greater use of enantiopure escitalopram. Direct down-the-drain disposal was indicated for citalopram and venlafaxine, where elevated concentrations and pharmaceutical-metabolite-ratios were observed (at least 19-fold). Overall, EF differences between influent and effluent were small, suggesting no enantioselectivity occurred in anaerobic environments of STs. Therefore, EFs in ST effluent were notably different to those from aerobic wastewater treatment works (WWTWs). For instance, naproxen EFs (≥0.990 when both enantiomers detected) were like those of untreated wastewater but outside the range for aerobic WWTWs effluent caused by a lack of inversion from S(+)- to R(-)-naproxen in STs. This suggests naproxen can be used to identify its pathway into the environment, which was strengthened by river water microcosm studies. At the study locations the environmental risk of enantiomers was low due to sufficient dilution of effluents. Nevertheless, greater impact of individual practices towards medicine use and disposal on ST wastewater and receiving water composition demands enantioselective analysis to better appreciate the sources, fate and impact of pharmaceuticals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Wilschnack
- School of Pharmacy, Applied Sciences and Public Health, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, AB10 7GJ, UK.
| | - Elise Cartmell
- Scottish Water, 55 Buckstone Terrace, Edinburgh EH10 6XH, UK
| | - Vera Jemina Sundström
- School of Pharmacy, Applied Sciences and Public Health, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, AB10 7GJ, UK.
| | - Kyari Yates
- School of Pharmacy, Applied Sciences and Public Health, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, AB10 7GJ, UK.
| | - Bruce Petrie
- School of Pharmacy, Applied Sciences and Public Health, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, AB10 7GJ, UK.
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4
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Zhang Z, Wan J, Ye G, Wang Y, Bai Y, Yan Z. Effects of salinity and betaine addition on anaerobic granular sludge properties and microbial community succession patterns in organic saline wastewater. J Environ Sci (China) 2025; 147:310-321. [PMID: 39003049 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2023.10.027] [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: 09/02/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2024]
Abstract
In this study, the effects of different salinity gradients and addition of compatible solutes on anaerobic treated effluent water qualities, sludge characteristics and microbial communities were investigated. The increase in salinity resulted in a decrease in particle size of the granular sludge, which was concentrated in the range of 0.5-1.0 mm. The content of EPS (extracellular polymeric substances) in the granular sludge gradually increased with increasing salinity and the addition of betaine (a typical compatible solute). Meanwhile, the microbial community structure was significantly affected by salinity, with high salinity reducing the diversity of bacteria. At higher salinity, Patescibacteria and Proteobacteria gradually became the dominant phylum, with relative abundance increasing to 13.53% and 12.16% at 20 g/L salinity. Desulfobacterota and its subordinate Desulfovibrio, which secrete EPS in large quantities, dominated significantly after betaine addition.Their relative abundance reached 13.65% and 7.86% at phylum level and genus level. The effect of these changes on the treated effluent was shown as the average chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal rate decreased from 82.10% to 79.71%, 78.01%, 68.51% and 64.55% when the salinity gradually increased from 2 g/L to 6, 10, 16 and 20 g/L. At the salinity of 20 g/L, average COD removal increased to 71.65% by the addition of 2 mmol/L betaine. The gradient elevated salinity and the exogenous addition of betaine played an important role in achieving stability of the anaerobic system in a highly saline environment, which provided a feasible strategy for anaerobic treatment of organic saline wastewater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhifei Zhang
- College of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jinquan Wan
- College of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China.
| | - Gang Ye
- College of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yan Wang
- College of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yuwei Bai
- Shijiazhuang High Tech Industrial Development Zone Water Supply and Drainage Company, Shijiazhuang 050000, China
| | - Zhicheng Yan
- College of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
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Blair M, Garner E, Ji P, Pruden A. What is the Difference between Conventional Drinking Water, Potable Reuse Water, and Nonpotable Reuse Water? A Microbiome Perspective. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58. [PMID: 39258328 PMCID: PMC11428167 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c04679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2024] [Revised: 08/27/2024] [Accepted: 08/27/2024] [Indexed: 09/12/2024]
Abstract
As water reuse applications expand, there is a need for more comprehensive means to assess water quality. Microbiome analysis could provide the ability to supplement fecal indicators and pathogen profiling toward defining a "healthy" drinking water microbiota while also providing insight into the impact of treatment and distribution. Here, we utilized 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to identify signature features in the composition of microbiota across a wide spectrum of water types (potable conventional, potable reuse, and nonpotable reuse). A clear distinction was found in the composition of microbiota as a function of intended water use (e.g., potable vs nonpotable) across a very broad range of U.S. water systems at both the point of compliance (Betadisper p > 0.01; ANOSIM p < 0.01, r-stat = 0.71) and point of use (Betadisper p > 0.01; ANOSIM p < 0.01, r-stat = 0.41). Core and discriminatory analysis further served in identifying distinct differences between potable and nonpotable water microbiomes. Taxa were identified at both the phylum (Desulfobacterota, Patescibacteria, and Myxococcota) and genus (Aeromonas and NS11.12_marine_group) levels that effectively discriminated between potable and nonpotable waters, with the most discriminatory taxa being core/abundant in nonpotable waters (with few exceptions, such as Ralstonia being abundant in potable conventional waters). The approach and findings open the door to the possibility of microbial community signature profiling as a water quality monitoring approach for assessing efficacy of treatments and suitability of water for intended use/reuse application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew
F. Blair
- Via
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Emily Garner
- Wadsworth
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, United States
| | - Pan Ji
- Via
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Amy Pruden
- Via
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
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Lin W, Qin Y, Ren Y. Flunitrazepam and its metabolites induced brain toxicity: Insights from molecular dynamics simulation and transcriptomic analysis. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 465:133113. [PMID: 38043427 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.133113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Psychoactive drugs frequently contaminate aquatic environments after human consumption, raising concerns about their residues and ecological harm. This study investigates the effects of flunitrazepam (FLZ) and its metabolite 7-aminoflunitrazepam (7-FLZ), benzodiazepine-class psychoactive drugs, on brain accumulation, blood-brain barrier (BBB), and neuroinflammation of the model organism zebrafish. Molecular dynamics simulation and transcriptome sequencing were used to uncover their toxic mechanisms. Results demonstrate that both FLZ and 7-FLZ can accumulate in the brain, increasing Evans blue levels by 3.4 and 0.8 times, respectively. This increase results from abnormal expression of tight junction proteins, particularly ZO-1 and Occludin, leading to elevated BBB permeability. Furthermore, FLZ and 7-FLZ can also induce neuroinflammation, upregulating TNFα by 91% and 39%, respectively, leading to pathological changes and disrupted intracellular ion balance. Molecular dynamics simulation reveals conformational changes in ZO-1 and Occludin proteins, with FLZ exhibiting stronger binding forces and greater toxicity. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis identifies four modules correlated with BBB permeability and neuroinflammation. KEGG enrichment analysis of genes within these modules reveals pathways like protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum, NOD-like receptor signaling pathway, and arginine and proline metabolism. This study enhances understanding of FLZ and 7-FLZ neurotoxicity and assesses environmental risks of psychoactive substances. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATION: With the increasing prevalence of mental disorders and the discharge of psychoactive drugs into water, even low drug concentrations (ng/L-μg/L) can pose neurological risks. This study, utilizing molecular dynamic (MD) simulations and transcriptome sequencing, investigate the neurotoxicity and mechanisms of flunitrazepam and 7-aminoflunitrazepam. It reveals that they disrupt the blood-brain barrier in zebrafish and induce neuroinflammation primarily by inducing conformational changes in tight junction proteins. MD simulations are valuable for understanding pollutant-protein interactions. This research offers invaluable insights for the environmental risk assessment of psychoactive drugs and informs the development of strategies aimed at prevention and mitigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenting Lin
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Yingjun Qin
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Yuan Ren
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, PR China; The Key Lab of Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510006, PR China; The Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Eco-Remediation of Guangdong Regular Higher Education Institutions, Guangzhou 510006, PR China.
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7
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Wen J, Duan L, Wang B, Dong Q, Liu Y, Chen C, Huang J, Yu G. In-sewer stability assessment of 140 pharmaceuticals, personal care products, pesticides and their metabolites: Implications for wastewater-based epidemiology biomarker screening. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 184:108465. [PMID: 38324926 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108465] [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: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
The monitoring of pharmaceuticals, personal care products (PCPs), pesticides, and their metabolites through wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) provides timely information on pharmaceutical consumption patterns, chronic disease treatment rates, antibiotic usage, and exposure to harmful chemicals. However, before applying them for quantitative WBE back-estimation, it is necessary to understand their stability in the sewer system to screen suitable WBE biomarkers thereby reducing research uncertainty. This study investigated the in-sewer stability of 140 typical pharmaceuticals, PCPs, pesticides, and their metabolites across 15 subcategories, using a series of laboratory sewer sediment and biofilm reactors. For the first time, stability results for 89 of these compounds were reported. Among the 140 target compounds, 61 biomarkers demonstrated high stability in all sewer reactors, while 41 biomarkers were significantly removed merely by sediment processes. For biomarkers exhibiting notable attenuation, the influence of sediment processes was generally more pronounced than biofilm, due to its stronger microbial activities and more pronounced diffusion or adsorption processes. Adsorption emerged as the predominant factor causing biomarker removal compared to biodegradation and diffusion. Significantly different organic carbon-water partitioning coefficient (Koc) and distribution coefficient at pH = 7 (logD) values were observed between highly stable and unstable biomarkers, with most hydrophobic substances (Koc > 100 or logD > 2) displaying instability. In light of these findings, we introduced a primary biomarker screening process to efficiently exclude inappropriate candidates, achieving a commendable 77 % accuracy. Overall, this study represents the first comprehensive report on the in-sewer stability of 89 pharmaceuticals, PCPs, pesticides, and their metabolites, and provided crucial reference points for understanding the intricate sewer sediment processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqi Wen
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Beijing Key Laboratory for Emerging Organic Contaminants Control, Beijing Laboratory for Environmental Frontier Technologies, China
| | - Lei Duan
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Beijing Key Laboratory for Emerging Organic Contaminants Control, Beijing Laboratory for Environmental Frontier Technologies, China
| | - Bin Wang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Beijing Key Laboratory for Emerging Organic Contaminants Control, Beijing Laboratory for Environmental Frontier Technologies, China
| | - Qian Dong
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yanchen Liu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Chao Chen
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Jun Huang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Beijing Key Laboratory for Emerging Organic Contaminants Control, Beijing Laboratory for Environmental Frontier Technologies, China
| | - Gang Yu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Beijing Key Laboratory for Emerging Organic Contaminants Control, Beijing Laboratory for Environmental Frontier Technologies, China; Advanced Interdisciplinary Institute of Environment and Ecology, Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai, 519087, China.
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Zhao Y, Duan C, Zhang H, Gong W, Wang Y, Ren J, Nie X, Li J. Response of lipid metabolism, energy supply, and cell fate in yellowstripe goby (Mugilogobius chulae) exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations atorvastatin. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 341:122991. [PMID: 37995957 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
The usage of typical pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) such as cardiovascular and lipid-modulating drugs in clinical care accounts for the largest share of pharmaceutical consumption in most countries. Atorvastatin (ATV), one of the most commonly used lipid-lowering drugs, is frequently detected with lower concentrations in aquatic environments owing to its wide application, low removal, and degradation rates. However, the adverse effects of ATV on non-target aquatic organisms, especially the molecular mechanisms behind the toxic effects, still remain unclear. Therefore, this study investigated the potentially toxic effects of ATV exposure (including environmental concentrations) on yellowstripe goby (Mugilogobius chulae) and addressed the multi-dimensional responses. The results showed that ATV caused typical hepatotoxicity to M. chulae. ATV interfered with lipid metabolism by blocking fatty acid β-oxidation and led to the over-consumption of lipids. Thus, the exposed organism was obliged to alter the energy supply patterns and substrates utilization pathways to keep the normal energy supply. In addition, the higher concentration of ATV exposure caused oxidative stress to the organism. Subsequently, M. chulae triggered the autophagy and apoptosis processes with the help of key stress-related transcriptional regulators FOXOs and Sestrins to degrade the damaged organelles and proteins to maintain intracellular homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yufei Zhao
- Department of Ecology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Chunni Duan
- Department of Ecology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Huiyu Zhang
- Department of Ecology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Weibo Gong
- Department of Ecology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Yimeng Wang
- Department of Ecology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Jinzhi Ren
- Department of Ecology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Xiangping Nie
- Department of Ecology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
| | - Jianjun Li
- Guangdong Laboratory Animals Monitoring Institute, Guangzhou, 510663, China
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Zhao J, Lu J, Zhao H, Yan Y, Dong H. In five wastewater treatment plants in Xinjiang, China: Removal processes for illicit drugs, their occurrence in receiving river waters, and ecological risk assessment. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 339:139668. [PMID: 37517667 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139668] [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: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Residues of illicit drugs are frequently detected in wastewater, but data on their removal efficiency by wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and the ecological risks to the aquatic environment are lacking in this study. The research evaluates the residues, mass load, drug removal efficiency, and risk assessment of illicit drugs in WWTPs and aquatic environments (lakes) in Xinjiang, China. Initially, the concentration (incidence) and mass load of 10 selected illicit drugs were analyzed through wastewater analysis. The detected substances included methamphetamine (METH), morphine (MOR), 3,4-methylenedioxy methamphetamine (MDMA), methadone (MTD), cocaine (COC), benzoylecgonine (BE), ketamine (KET), and codeine (COD), with concentrations ranging from 0.11 ± 0.01 ng/L (methadone) to 48.26 ± 25.05 ng/L (morphine). Notably, morphine (59.74 ± 5.82 g/day) and methamphetamine (41.81 ± 4.91 g/day) contributed significantly to the WWTPs. Next, the drug removal efficiency by different sewage treatment processes was ranked as follows: Anaerobic-Oxic (A/O) combined Membrane Bio-Reactor (MBR) treatment process > Oxidation ditch treatment process > Anaerobic-Anoxic-Oxic (A2/O) treatment process > Anaerobic-Anoxic-Oxic combined Membrane Bio-Reactor treatment process. Finally, the research reviewed the concentration and toxicity assessments of these substances in the aquatic environment (lakes). The results indicated that Lake1 presented a medium risk level concerning the impact of illicit drugs on the aquatic environment, whereas the other lakes exhibited a low risk level. As a result, it is recommended to conduct long-term monitoring and source analysis of illicit drugs, specifically in Lake1, for further investigation. In conclusion, to enhance the understanding of the effects of illicit drugs on the environment, future research should expand the list of target analytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Zhao
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Environmental Monitoring and Pollutant Control of Xinjiang Bingtuan, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832003, China
| | - Jianjiang Lu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Environmental Monitoring and Pollutant Control of Xinjiang Bingtuan, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832003, China.
| | - Haijun Zhao
- The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832003, China
| | - Yujun Yan
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Environmental Monitoring and Pollutant Control of Xinjiang Bingtuan, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832003, China
| | - Hongyu Dong
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Environmental Monitoring and Pollutant Control of Xinjiang Bingtuan, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832003, China
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10
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Wen J, Duan L, Wang B, Dong Q, Liu Y, Huang J, Yu G. Stability and WBE biomarkers possibility of 17 antiviral drugs in sewage and gravity sewers. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 238:120023. [PMID: 37150064 PMCID: PMC10149109 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is a promising technique for monitoring the rapidly increasing use of antiviral drugs during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is essential to evaluate the in-sewer stability of antiviral drugs in order to determine appropriate biomarkers. This study developed an analytical method for quantification of 17 typical antiviral drugs, and investigated the stability of target compounds in sewer through 4 laboratory-scale gravity sewer reactors. Nine antiviral drugs (lamivudine, acyclovir, amantadine, favipiravir, nevirapine, oseltamivir, ganciclovir, emtricitabine and telbivudine) were observed to be stable and recommended as appropriate biomarkers for WBE. As for the other 8 unstable drugs (abacavir, arbidol, ribavirin, zidovudine, ritonavir, lopinavir, remdesivir and efavirenz), their attenuation was driven by adsorption, biodegradation and diffusion. Moreover, reaction kinetics revealed that the effects of sediments and biofilms were regarded to be independent in gravity sewers, and the rate constants of removal by biofilms was directly proportional to the ratio of surface area against wastewater volume. The study highlighted the potential importance of flow velocity for compound stability, since an increased flow velocity significantly accelerated the removal of unstable biomarkers. In addition, a framework for graded evaluation of biomarker stability was proposed to provide reference for researchers to select suitable WBE biomarkers. Compared with current classification method, this framework considered the influences of residence time and different removal mechanisms, which additionally screened four antiviral drugs as viable WBE biomarkers. This is the first study to report the stability of antiviral drugs in gravity sewers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqi Wen
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Beijing Key Laboratory for Emerging Organic Contaminants Control, Beijing Laboratory for Environmental Frontier Technologies, China
| | - Lei Duan
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Beijing Key Laboratory for Emerging Organic Contaminants Control, Beijing Laboratory for Environmental Frontier Technologies, China
| | - Bin Wang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Beijing Key Laboratory for Emerging Organic Contaminants Control, Beijing Laboratory for Environmental Frontier Technologies, China
| | - Qian Dong
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yanchen Liu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Jun Huang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Beijing Key Laboratory for Emerging Organic Contaminants Control, Beijing Laboratory for Environmental Frontier Technologies, China
| | - Gang Yu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Beijing Key Laboratory for Emerging Organic Contaminants Control, Beijing Laboratory for Environmental Frontier Technologies, China; Advanced Interdisciplinary Institute of Environment and Ecology, Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai, 519087, China.
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Gao Z, Gao M, Chen CH, Zhou Y, Zhan ZH, Ren Y. Knowledge graph of wastewater-based epidemiology development: A data-driven analysis based on research topics and trends. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:28373-28382. [PMID: 36662433 PMCID: PMC9867605 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-25237-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has contributed significantly to the monitoring of drug use and transmission of viruses that has been published in numerous research papers. In this paper, we used LitStraw, a self-developed text extraction tool, to extract, analyze, and construct knowledge graphs from nearly 900 related papers in PDF format collected in Web of Science from 2000 to 2021 to analyze the research hotspots and development trends of WBE. The results showed a growing number of WBE publications in multidisciplinary cross-collaboration, with more publications and close collaboration between the USA, Australia, China, and European countries. The keywords of illicit drugs and pharmaceuticals still maintain research hotness, but the specific research hotspots change significantly, among which the research hotspots of new psychoactive substances, biomarkers, and stability show an increasing trend. In addition, judging the spread of COVID-19 by the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in sewage has become the focus since 2020. This work can show the development of WBE more clearly by constructing a knowledge graph and also provide new ideas for the paper mining analysis methods in different fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihan Gao
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Higher Education Mega Center, 510006, Guangzhou, China
| | - Min Gao
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, 510006, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chun-Hua Chen
- School of Software Engineering, South China University of Technology, 510006, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yifan Zhou
- School of Electronic and Information Engineering, South China University of Technology, 510006, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhi-Hui Zhan
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, 510006, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuan Ren
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Higher Education Mega Center, 510006, Guangzhou, China.
- The Key Lab of Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Ministry of Education, 510006, Guangzhou, China.
- The Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Eco-Remediation of Guangdong Regular Higher Education Institution, 510006, Guangzhou, China.
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Gao Z, Li P, Lin H, Lin W, Ren Y. Biomarker selection strategies based on compound stability in wastewater-based epidemiology. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:5516-5529. [PMID: 36418835 PMCID: PMC9684832 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-24268-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The specific compositions of human excreta in sewage can be used as biomarkers to indicate the disease prevalence, health status, and lifestyle of the population living in the investigated catchment. It is important for guiding and evaluating public health policies as well as promoting human health development. Among several parameters of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE), the decay of biomarkers during transportation in sewer and storage plays a crucial role in the back-calculation of population consumption. In this paper, we summarized the stability data of common biomarkers in storage at different temperatures and in-sewer transportation. Among them, cardiovascular drugs and antidiabetic drugs are very stable which can be used as biomarkers; most of the illicit drugs are stable except for cocaine, heroin, and tetrahydrocannabinol which could be substituted by their metabolites as biomarkers. There are some losses for part of antibiotics and antidepressants even in frozen storage. Rapid detection of contagious viruses is a new challenge for infectious disease control. With the deeper and broader study of biomarkers, it is expected that the reliable application of the WBE will be a useful addition to epidemiological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihan Gao
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Ping Li
- Datansha Branch of Guangzhou Sewage Treatment Co., Ltd, Guangzhou, 510163, China
| | - Han Lin
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Wenting Lin
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Yuan Ren
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
- The Key Lab of Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
- The Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Eco-Remediation of Guangdong Regular Higher Education Institution, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
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