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Duarte JAP, Ribeiro AKN, de Carvalho P, Bortolini JC, Ostroski IC. Emerging contaminants in the aquatic environment: phytoplankton structure in the presence of sulfamethoxazole and diclofenac. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:46604-46617. [PMID: 36719587 PMCID: PMC9888349 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-25589-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Chemicals from anthropogenic activities such as domestic sewage, pesticide leaching, and improper chemical disposal have caused groundwater contamination. The presence of these emerging contaminants in the aquatic environment can change water quality and biota composition. Thus, this study investigates the effect of two emerging contaminants, anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac (DCF) and antibiotic sulfamethoxazole (SMX), on the aquatic environment, evaluating the phytoplankton community structure. A microcosm experiment was conducted with 16 sampling units, each one with 500 mL of water sample containing phytoplankton exposed to these drugs at different concentrations (0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 mg L-1). The experiment lasted 15 days, and samples were collected on days 0, 3, 5, 7, and 14 to evaluate the phytoplankton community, the concentrations of the drugs, and the nutrients in the samples. Six phytoplankton groups were identified, and diatoms and green algae were the most diverse and abundant groups. For the entire community, we identified differences between the days of the experiment, varying in the diversity and density of organisms, but not between the concentrations of the two drugs. Evaluating the groups separately, we identified differences in the abundance of cyanobacteria for the treatment with diclofenac and desmids for the treatment with sulfamethoxazole. We demonstrated that the presence of pharmaceuticals in freshwater ecosystems can somehow affect the phytoplankton community, especially the diversity and abundance of cyanobacteria and desmids. Therefore, our study indicates the importance of evaluating the presence of pharmaceuticals in freshwater ecosystems and their influence on aquatic organisms, as well as pharmaceuticals may be changing the structure of the aquatic environment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Priscilla de Carvalho
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, GO, 74690-900, Brazil
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Catalytic oxidation of methylene blue by using Ni-Fe bimetallic catalyst/NaClO system: Performance, kinetics, mechanism, and DFT calculations. Sep Purif Technol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2022.122612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
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Gao YQ, Rao YY, Ning H, Chen JX, Zeng Q, Tian FX, Gao NY. Comparative investigation of diclofenac degradation by Fe2+/chlorine and Fe2+/PMS processes. Sep Purif Technol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2022.121555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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Mendonça-Gomes JM, da Costa Araújo AP, da Luz TM, Charlie-Silva I, Braz HLB, Jorge RJB, Ahmed MAI, Nóbrega RH, Vogel CFA, Malafaia G. Environmental impacts of COVID-19 treatment: Toxicological evaluation of azithromycin and hydroxychloroquine in adult zebrafish. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 790:148129. [PMID: 34380260 PMCID: PMC8164503 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
One of the most impact issues in recent years refers to the COVID-19 pandemic, the consequences of which thousands of deaths recorded worldwide, are still inferior understood. Its impacts on the environment and aquatic biota constitute a fertile field of investigation. Thus, to predict the impact of the indiscriminate use of azithromycin (AZT) and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in this pandemic context, we aim to assess their toxicological risks when isolated or in combination, using zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a model system. In summary, we observed that 72 h of exposure to AZT and HCQ (alone or in binary combination, both at 2.5 μg/L) induced the reduction of total protein levels, accompanied by increased levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, hydrogen peroxide, reactive oxygen species and nitrite, suggesting a REDOX imbalance and possible oxidative stress. Molecular docking analysis further supported this data by demonstrating a strong affinity of AZT and HCQ with their potential antioxidant targets (catalase and superoxide dismutase). In the protein-protein interaction network analysis, AZT showed a putative interaction with different cytochrome P450 molecules, while HCQ demonstrated interaction with caspase-3. The functional enrichment analysis also demonstrated diverse biological processes and molecular mechanisms related to the maintenance of REDOX homeostasis. Moreover, we also demonstrated an increase in the AChE activity followed by a reduction in the neuromasts of the head when zebrafish were exposed to the mixture AZT + HCQ. These data suggest a neurotoxic effect of the drugs. Altogether, our study demonstrated that short exposure to AZT, HCQ or their mixture induced physiological alterations in adult zebrafish. These effects can compromise the health of these animals, suggesting that the increase of AZT and HCQ due to COVID-19 pandemic can negatively impact freshwater ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Amanda Pereira da Costa Araújo
- Laboratório de Pesquisas Biológicas, Instituto Federal Goiano, Urutaí, GO, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Ambientais, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
| | | | - Ives Charlie-Silva
- Departamento de Farmacologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Roberta Jeane Bezerra Jorge
- Drug Research and Development Center, Federal University of Ceará, Brazil; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Brazil
| | | | - Rafael Henrique Nóbrega
- Reproductive and Molecular Biology Group, Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University, Botucatu, SP, Brazil
| | - Christoph F A Vogel
- Department of Environmental Toxicology and Center for Health and the Environment, University of California, Davis, USA
| | - Guilherme Malafaia
- Laboratório de Pesquisas Biológicas, Instituto Federal Goiano, Urutaí, GO, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia e Biodiversidade, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação de Recursos Naturais, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Conservação de Recursos Naturais do Cerrado, Instituto Federal Goiano, Urutaí, GO, Brazil.
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Secondary Effects of Hypochlorite Treatment on the Emerging Pollutant Candesartan: The Formation of Degradation Byproducts and Their Toxicological Profiles. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26113422. [PMID: 34198752 PMCID: PMC8200957 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26113422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, many studies have reported the frequent detection of antihypertensive agents such as sartans (olmesartan, valsartan, irbesartan and candesartan) in the influents and effluents of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and in the superficial waters of rivers and lakes in both Europe and North America. In this paper, the degradation pathway for candesartan (CAN) was investigated by simulating the chlorination process that is normally used to reduce microbial contamination in a WWTP. Twelve isolated degradation byproducts (DPs), four of which were isolated for the first time, were separated on a C-18 column by employing a gradient HPLC method, and their structures were identified by combining nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry and comparing the results with commercial standards. On the basis of these results, a mechanism of formation starting from the parent drug is proposed. The ecotoxicity of CAN and its DPs was studied by conducting a battery of ecotoxicity tests; bioassays were performed using Aliivibrio fischeri (bacterium), Daphnia magna (planktonic crustacean) and Raphidocelis subcapitata (alga). The ecotoxicity results shed new light on the increased toxicity of DPs compared with the parent compound.
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Luongo G, Siciliano A, Libralato G, Serafini S, Saviano L, Previtera L, Di Fabio G, Zarrelli A. LC and NMR Studies for Identification and Characterization of Degradation Byproducts of Olmesartan Acid, Elucidation of Their Degradation Pathway and Ecotoxicity Assessment. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26061769. [PMID: 33809869 PMCID: PMC8004111 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26061769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The discovery of various sartans, which are among the most used antihypertensive drugs in the world, is increasingly frequent not only in wastewater but also in surface water and, in some cases, even in drinking or groundwater. In this paper, the degradation pathway of olmesartan acid, one of the most used sartans, was investigated by simulating the chlorination process normally used in a wastewater treatment plant to reduce similar emerging pollutants. The structures of nine isolated degradation byproducts (DPs), eight of which were isolated for the first time, were separated via chromatography column and HPLC methods, identified by combining nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry, and justified by a proposed mechanism of formation beginning from the parent drug. Ecotoxicity tests on olmesartan acid and its nine DPs showed that 50% of the investigated byproducts inhibited the target species Aliivibrio fischeri and Raphidocelis subcapitata, causing functional decreases of 18% and 53%, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Luongo
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (G.L.); (G.D.F.)
| | - Antonietta Siciliano
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (A.S.); (G.L.); (S.S.); (L.S.)
| | - Giovanni Libralato
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (A.S.); (G.L.); (S.S.); (L.S.)
| | - Sara Serafini
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (A.S.); (G.L.); (S.S.); (L.S.)
| | - Lorenzo Saviano
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (A.S.); (G.L.); (S.S.); (L.S.)
| | - Lucio Previtera
- Associazione Italiana per la Promozione delle Ricerche su Ambiente e Salute Umana, 82030 Dugenta, Italy;
| | - Giovanni Di Fabio
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (G.L.); (G.D.F.)
| | - Armando Zarrelli
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (G.L.); (G.D.F.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-081-674472
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Removal of Diclofenac in Wastewater Using Biosorption and Advanced Oxidation Techniques: Comparative Results. WATER 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/w12123567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Wastewater treatment is a topic of primary interest with regard to the environment. Diclofenac is a common analgesic drug often detected in wastewater and surface water. In this paper, three commonly available agrifood waste types (artichoke agrowaste, olive-mill residues, and citrus waste) were reused as sorbents of diclofenac present in aqueous effluents. Citrus-waste biomass for a dose of 2 g·L−1 allowed for removing 99.7% of diclofenac present in the initial sample, with a sorption capacity of 9 mg of adsorbed diclofenac for each gram of used biomass. The respective values obtained for olive-mill residues and artichoke agrowaste were around 4.15 mg·g−1. Advanced oxidation processes with UV/H2O2 and UV/HOCl were shown to be effective treatments for the elimination of diclofenac. A significant reduction in chemical oxygen demand (COD; 40–48%) was also achieved with these oxidation treatments. Despite the lesser effectiveness of the sorption process, it should be considered that the reuse and valorization of these lignocellulosic agrifood residues would facilitate the fostering of a circular economy.
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