A diverse suite of pharmaceuticals contaminates stream and riparian food webs

Remediation of pharmacophoric laboratory waste by using biodegradable carbon nanoparticles of bacterial biofilm origin

Research laboratories generate a broad range of hazardous pharmacophoric chemical contaminants, from drugs to dyes used during various experimental procedures. In the recent past, biological methods have demonstrated great potential in the remediation of such contaminants. However, the presence of pharmacophoric chemicals containing antibiotics, xenobiotics, and heavy metals suppresses the growth and survivability of used microbial agents, thus decreasing the overall efficiency of biological remediation processes. Bacterial biofilm is a natural arrangement to counter some of these inhibitions but its use in a systemic manner, portable devices, and pollutant remediation plants post serious challenges. This could be countered by synthesizing a biodegradable carbon nanoparticle from bacterial biofilm. In this study, extracellular polymeric substance-based carbon nanoparticles (Bio-EPS-CNPs) were synthesized from bacterial biofilm derived from Bacillus subtilis NCIB 3610, as a model bacterial system. The produced Bio-EPS-CNPs were investigated for physiochemical properties by dynamic light scattering, optical, Fourier-transformed infrared, and Raman spectroscopy techniques, whereas X-ray diffraction study, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy were used to investigate structural and morphological features. The Bio-EPS-CNPs exhibited negative surface charge with spherical morphology having a uniform size of sub-100 nm. The maximum remediation of some laboratory-produced pharmacophoric chemicals was achieved through a five-round scavenging process and confirmed by UV/Vis spectroscopic analysis with respect to the used pharmacophore. This bioinspired remediation of used pharmacophoric chemicals was achieved through the mechanism of surface adsorption via hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions, as revealed by different characterizations. Further experiments were performed to investigate the effects of pH, temperature, stirring, and the protocol of scavenging to establish Bio-EPS-CNP as a possible alternative to be used in research laboratories for efficient removal of pharmacophoric chemicals by incorporating it in a portable, filter-based device.

Distribution and trophodynamics of substituted diphenylamine antioxidants and benzotriazole UV stabilizers in a freshwater ecosystem and the adjacent riparian environment

Substituted diphenylamine antioxidants (SDPAs) and benzotriazole UV stabilizers (BZT-UVs) are industrial additives of emerging environmental concern. However, little is known about their environmental fate and bioaccumulation. This study investigated the concentrations of SDPAs and BZT-UVs in the water, sediment and biota samples in the freshwater ecosystem and adjacent riparian environment using Hamilton Harbour in the Great Lakes of North America as a study site. The bioaccumulation factors and trophodynamics of these contaminants were studied using field-collected samples. Eight target SDPAs and two BZT-UVs (2-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4,6-bis(1-methyl-1-phenylethyl)phenol (UV234) and 2-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4,6-di-tert-pentylphenol (UV328)) were frequently detected in the sediment, water and biota samples. UV328 showed significantly greater concentrations in water (0.28-2.8 ng L-1) and sediment (8.3-48 ng g-1, dry weight) than other target contaminants, implying greater contamination of UV328 in Hamilton Harbour. SDPAs exhibited trophic dilution in species living in the water, whereas UV234 was biomagnified in the same samples. No clear trophodynamic trend was found for UV328 for water-respiring species. Air-breathing invertebrates had higher concentrations of both SDPAs and BZT-UVs than water-respiring invertebrates, and biomagnification was observed particularly for adult dragonflies. These results suggest that the trophodynamics of SDPAs and BZT-UVs vary depending on whether the food web is terrestrial or aquatic. Future research should investigate the occurrence and partitioning of SDPAs and BZT-UVs in the air-water interface and evaluate the toxicities of these contaminants in air-breathing species.

Adverse effects of the 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor finasteride on Daphnia magna: Endocrine system and lipid metabolism disruption

Finasteride, a steroid 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, is commonly used for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia and hair loss. However, despite continued use, its environmental implications have not been thoroughly investigated. Thus, we investigated the acute and chronic adverse impacts of finasteride on Daphnia magna, a crucial planktonic crustacean in freshwater ecosystems selected as bioindicator organism for understanding the ecotoxicological effects. Chronic exposure (for 23 days) to finasteride negatively affected development and reproduction, leading to reduced fecundity, delayed first brood, reduced growth, and reduced neonate size. Additionally, acute exposure (< 24 h) caused decreased expression levels of genes crucial for reproduction and development, especially EcR-A/B (ecdysone receptors), Jhe (juvenile hormone esterase), and Vtg2 (vitellogenin), with oxidative stress-related genes. Untargeted lipidomics/metabolomic analyses revealed lipidomic alteration, including 19 upregulated and 4 downregulated enriched lipid ontology categories, and confirmed downregulation of metabolites. Pathway analysis implicated significant effects on metabolic pathways, including the pentose phosphate pathway, histidine metabolism, beta-alanine metabolism, as well as alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism. This comprehensive study unravels the intricate molecular and metabolic responses of D. magna to finasteride exposure, underscoring the multifaceted impacts of this anti-androgenic compound on a keystone species of freshwater ecosystems. The findings emphasize the importance of understanding the environmental repercussions of widely used pharmaceuticals to protect biodiversity in aquatic ecosystems.

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.

Unveiling intricate transformation pathways of emerging contaminants during wastewater treatment processes through simplified network analysis

As the key stage for purifying wastewater, elimination of emerging contaminants (ECs) is found to be fairly low in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). However, less knowledge is obtained regarding the transformation pathways between various chemical structures of ECs under different treatment processes. This study unveiled the transformation pathways of ECs with different structures in 15 WWTPs distributed across China by simplified network analysis (SNA) we proposed. After treatment, the molecular weight of the whole component of wastewater decreased and the hydrophilicity increased. There are significant differences in the structure of eliminated, consistent and formed pollutants. Amino acids, peptides, and analogues (AAPAs) were detected most frequently and most removable. Benzenoids were refractory. Triazoles were often produced. The high-frequency reactions in different WWTPs were similar, (de)methylation and dehydration occurred most frequently. Different biological treatment processes performed similarly, while some advanced treatment processes differed, such as a significant increase of -13.976 (2HO reaction) paired mass distances (PMDs) in the chlorine alone process. Further, the common structural transformation was uncovered. 4 anti-hypertensive drugs, including irbesartan, valsartan, olmesartan, and losartan, were identified, along with 22 transformation products (TPs) of them. OH2 and H2O PMDs occurred most frequently and in 80.81 % of the parent-transformation product pairs, the intensity of the product was higher than parent in effluents, whose risk should be considered in future assessment activity. Together our results provide a macrography perspective on the transformation processes of ECs in WWTPs. In the future, selectively adopting wastewater treatment technology according to structures is conductive for eliminating recalcitrant ECs in WWTPs.

Pharmaceutical Residues in Edible Oysters along the Coasts of the East and South China Seas and Associated Health Risks to Humans and Wildlife

The investigation of pharmaceuticals as emerging contaminants in marine biota has been insufficient. In this study, we examined the presence of 51 pharmaceuticals in edible oysters along the coasts of the East and South China Seas. Only nine pharmaceuticals were detected. The mean concentrations of all measured pharmaceuticals in oysters per site ranged from 0.804 to 15.1 ng g-1 of dry weight, with antihistamines being the most common. Brompheniramine and promethazine were identified in biota samples for the first time. Although no significant health risks to humans were identified through consumption of oysters, 100-1000 times higher health risks were observed for wildlife like water birds, seasnails, and starfishes. Specifically, sea snails that primarily feed on oysters were found to be at risk of exposure to ciprofloxacin, brompheniramine, and promethazine. These high risks could be attributed to the monotonous diet habits and relatively limited food sources of these organisms. Furthermore, taking chirality into consideration, chlorpheniramine in the oysters was enriched by the S-enantiomer, with a relative potency 1.1-1.3 times higher when chlorpheniramine was considered as a racemate. Overall, this study highlights the prevalence of antihistamines in seafood and underscores the importance of studying enantioselectivities of pharmaceuticals in health risk assessments.

A synthesis of anthropogenic stress effects on emergence-mediated aquatic-terrestrial linkages and riparian food webs

Anthropogenic stress alters the linkage between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems in various ways. Here, we review the contemporary literature on how alterations in aquatic systems through environmental pollution, invasive species and hydromorphological changes carry-over to terrestrial ecosystems and the food webs therein. We consider both the aquatic insect emergence and flooding as pathways through which stressors can propagate from the aquatic to the terrestrial system. We specifically synthesize and contextualize results on the roles of pollutants in the emergence pathway and their top-down consequences. Our review revealed that the emergence and flooding pathway are only considered in isolation and that the overall effects of invasive species or pollutants on food webs at the water-land interface require further attention. While very few recent studies looked at invasive species, a larger number of studies focused on metal transfer compared to pesticides, pharmaceuticals or PCBs, and multiple stress studies up to now left aquatic-terrestrial linkages unconsidered. Recent research on pollutants and emergence used aquatic-terrestrial mesocosms to elucidate the effects of aquatic stressors such as the mosquito control agent Bti, metals or pesticides to understand the effects on riparian spiders. Quality parameters, such as the structural and functional composition of emergent insect communities, the fatty acid profiles, yet also the composition of pollutants transferred to land prove to be important for the effects on riparian spiders. Process-based models including quality of emergence are useful to predict the resulting top-down directed food web effects in the terrestrial recipient ecosystem. In conclusion, we present and recommend a combination of empirical and modelling approaches in order to understand the complexity of aquatic-terrestrial stressor propagation and its spatial and temporal variation.

Pharmaceutical pollution alters the cost of bacterial infection and its relationship to pathogen load

The relationship between pathogen proliferation and the cost of infection experienced by a host drives the ecology and evolution of host-pathogen dynamics. While environmental factors can shape this relationship, there is currently limited knowledge on the consequences of emerging contaminants, such as pharmaceutical pollutants, on the relationship between a pathogen's growth within the host and the damage it causes, termed its virulence. Here, we investigated how exposure to fluoxetine (Prozac), a commonly detected psychoactive pollutant, could alter this key relationship using the water flea Daphnia magna and its bacterial pathogen Pasteuria ramosa as a model system. Across a variety of fluoxetine concentrations, we found that fluoxetine shaped the damage a pathogen caused, such as the reduction in fecundity or intrinsic growth experienced by infected individuals, but with minimal change in average pathogen spore loads. Instead, fluoxetine modified the relationship between the degree of pathogen proliferation and its virulence, with both the strength of this trade-off and the component of host fitness most affected varying by fluoxetine concentration and host genotype. Our study underscores the potential for pharmaceutical pollution to modify the virulence of an invading pathogen, as well as the fundamental trade-off between host and pathogen fitness, even at the trace amounts increasingly found in natural waterways.

Identification of polar organic chemicals in the aquatic foodweb: Combining high-resolution mass spectrometry and trend analysis

Environmental risk assessment of chemical contaminants requires prioritizing of substances taken up by biota as it is a starting point for potential adverse effects. Although knowledge about the occurrence of known chemical pollutants in aquatic organisms has significantly improved during the last decade, there is still a poor understanding for a broad range of more polar compounds. To tackle this issue, we proposed an approach that identifies bioaccumulative and biomagnifiable polar chemicals using liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization to high resolution tandem mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS/MS) and combine it with trend analysis using hierarchical clustering. As a proof-of-concept, this approach was implemented on various organisms and compartments (sediment, litter leaves, periphytic biofilm, invertebrates and fish) collected from a small urban river. HRMS/MS data measured via data-independent acquisition mode were retrospectively analysed using two analytical strategies: (1) retrospective target and (2) suspect/non-target screening. In the retrospective target analysis, 56 of 361 substances spanning a broad range of contaminant classes were detected (i.e. 26 in fish, 18 in macroinvertebrates, 28 in leaves, 29 in periphyton and 32 in sediments, with only 7 common to all compartments), among which 49 could be quantified using reference standards. The suspect screening approach based on two suspect lists (in-house, Norman SusDat) led to the confirmation of 5 compounds with standards (three xenobiotics at level 1 and two lipids at level 2) and tentative identification of seven industrial or natural chemicals at level 2 and 3 through a mass spectra library match. Overall, this proof-of-concept study provided a more comprehensive picture of the exposure of biota to emerging contaminants (i.e., the internal chemical exposome) and potential bioaccumulation or biomagnification of polar compounds along the trophic chain.

Increased bat hunting at polluted streams suggests chemical exposure rather than prey shortage

Streams and their riparian areas are important habitats and foraging sites for bats feeding on emergent aquatic insects. Chemical pollutants entering freshwater streams from agricultural and wastewater sources have been shown to alter aquatic insect emergence, yet little is known about how this impacts insectivorous bats in riparian areas. In this study, we investigate the relationships between the presence of wastewater effluent, in-stream pesticide toxicity, the number of emergent and flying aquatic insects, and the activity and hunting behaviour of bats at 14 streams in southwestern Germany. Stream sites were located in riparian forests, sheltered from direct exposure to pollutants from agricultural and urban areas. We focused on three bat species associated with riparian areas: Myotis daubentonii, M. cf. brandtii, and Pipistrellus pipistrellus. We found that streams with higher pesticide toxicity and more frequent detection of wastewater also tended to be warmer and have higher nutrient and lower oxygen concentrations. We did not observe a reduction of insect emergence, bat activity or hunting rates in association with pesticide toxicity and wastewater detections. Instead, the activity and hunting rates of Myotis spp. were higher at more polluted sites. The observed increase in bat hunting at more polluted streams suggests that instead of reduced prey availability, chemical pollution at the levels measured in the present study could expose bats to pollutants transported from the stream by emergent aquatic insects.

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.

Pharmacy students' perceptions on environmental sustainability in pharmacy education and practice

Background

Given the negative environmental impacts of pharmaceuticals, including their contribution to healthcare's carbon footprint, pharmacists have a role in responding to the climate and biodiversity crises. Knowledge and education are required to support transitions to environmentally sustainable pharmacy practice (ESPP). The aim of this study was to explore Australian undergraduate pharmacy students' knowledge and attitudes towards environmental sustainability and ESPP curriculum content.

Methods

Participants were surveyed using an anonymous online questionnaire deployed using Qualtrics. The questionnaire comprised of two main sections: the 15-item New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) scale to determine participants' environmental attitude score, and section on students' perceptions and curricular experience of environmentally sustainable practice which was adapted from previously published surveys. The invitation with survey link was disseminated via social media, Australian pharmacy student organisations, and direct approach. Quantitative data were reported descriptively. Qualitative data from responses to open-ended questions were analysed thematically using a reflexive, recursive approach. Incomplete survey responses were excluded from the analysis.

Results

Of the 164 complete responses, 99% had previously received information on environmental sustainability. However, only 10% were knowledgeable about ESPP and only 8.5% were aware of ESPP content in their pharmacy school curriculum. Importantly, 70% of respondents saw ESPP as relevant to their future pharmacy practice, and 94% believed the pharmacy profession has a responsibility to undertake sustainability initiatives in the delivery of pharmaceutical care.

Conclusions

Australian pharmacy students lacked knowledge of ESPP and few reported having curricular exposure to ESPP content in their pharmacy degrees. Therefore, ESPP content is an important area for development in pharmacy curricula.

Delicate plasticity: Maladaptive responses to fish predation risk in Daphnia magna caused by sertraline pollution

An emerging environmental pollutant may have a greater impact on phenotypic plasticity than its direct toxicity, causing maladaptive responses of organisms to their current environment. To better understand such ecological risks, we proposed a delicate plasticity hypothesis: if an emerging stressor acts on the fundamental processes underlying a specific adaptive plastic response, it is more likely to pose high risks to the phenotypic plasticity. Endocrine regulation is one of the critical processes of plasticity and is becoming a target for emerging pollutants. To test this hypothesis, we measured individual traits and the expression of endocrine-related genes in Daphnia magna in response to fish predation risk under exponentially increasing concentrations of the antidepressant sertraline, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. The results showed that sertraline impaired most of the defense responses of D. magna at concentrations lower than the effective concentrations of its direct toxicity. The high risks of sertraline on inducible defenses were also visually reflected in the relationships between toxicity and plasticity strength, that is, most of the defense responses exponentially decayed with an increase in sertraline toxicity. In addition, the expression of genes involved in serotonin synthesis was significantly correlated with the expression of other endocrine-related genes and with changes in morphological traits. These results revealed that environmental sertraline pollution could disturb endocrine regulation and cause high risks to inducible defenses of D. magna, providing evidence supporting the delicate plasticity hypothesis.

Glacier foreland insect uptake synthetic compounds: an emerging environmental concern

Pesticides, synthetic fragrances and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons contaminated two glacier-fed streams (Amola, Mandrone) and one spring (Grostè) in the Italian Alps. Ten compounds (chlorpyrifos (CPY), chlorpyrifos-methyl (CPY-m), galaxolide (HHCB), tonalide (AHTN), fluorene (Flu), phenanthrene (Phen), anthracene (Ant), fluoranthene (Fl), pyrene (Pyr), benzo[a]anthracene (BaA)) accumulated in aquatic larvae of chironomids (Diamesa steinboecki, D. latitarsis, D. bertrami, D. tonsa, D. zernyi, Pseudokiefferiella parva, Orthocladiinae) and tipulids. Their tissue concentrations (detected by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry) ranged from 1.1 ± 0.1 ng/g d.w. (= dry weight) (CPY-m in D. tonsa from Amola) to 68.0 ± 9.1 ng/g d.w. (Pyr in D. steinboecki from Mandrone). HHCB, AHTN, and CPY, with one exception, were accumulated by all aquatic insects. Six compounds (CPY, CPY-m, HHCB, AHTN, Fl, Pyr) also contaminated carabids (Nebria germarii, N. castanea, N. jockischii) predating adults of merolimnic insects. Their tissue concentrations ranged from 1.1 ± 0.3 ng/g d.w. (CPY-m in N. germarii from Mandrone) to 84.6 ± 0.3 ng/g d.w. (HHCB in N. castanea from Grostè). HHCB and AHTN were accumulated by all Nebria species. Intersite and interspecies differences were observed, which might be attributed to different environmental contamination levels. There was a stronger similarity between species from the same site than among the same species from different sites, suggesting that uptake is not species specific. At all sites, the concentration of xenobiotics was higher in larvae than in water and comparable or higher in carabids than in larvae from the same site, suggesting trophic transfer by emerging aquatic insects to their riparian predators.

Sunlight active cellulose/g-C3N4/TiO2nano-photocatalyst for simultaneous degradation of methylene blue dye and atenolol drug in real wastewater

The paper critically addresses two contemporary environmental challenges, the water crisis and the unrestricted discharge of organic pollutants in waterways together. An eco-friendly method was used to fabricate a cellulose/g-C3N4/TiO2photocatalytic composite that displayed a remarkable degradation of methylene blue dye and atenolol drug under natural sunlight. Introducing graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) onto pristine TiO2improved hybrid material's photonic efficacy and enhanced interfacial charge separation. Furthermore, immobilizing TiO2/g-C3N4on a semi-interpenetrating cellulose matrix promoted photocatalyst recovery and its reuse, ensuring practical affordability. Under optimized conditions, the nano-photocatalyst exhibited ∼95% degradation of both contaminants within two hours while retaining ∼55% activity after ten cycles demonstrating a promising photostability. The nano-photocatalyst caused 66% and 57% reduction in COD and TOC values in industrial wastewater containing these pollutants. The photocatalysis was fitted to various models to elucidate the degradation kinetics, while LC-MS results suggested the mineralization pathway of dye majorly via ring opening demethylation. >98% disinfection was achieved againstE. coli(104-105CFU·ml-1) contaminated water. This study thus paves multifaceted strategies to treat wastewater contaminants at environmental levels employing nano-photocatalysis.

An Assessment of the Toxicity of Pesticide Mixtures in Periphyton from Agricultural Streams to the Mayfly Neocloeon triangulifer

Residual concentrations of pesticides are commonly found outside the intended area of application in Ontario's surface waters. Periphyton are a vital dietary component for grazing organisms in aquatic ecosystems but can also accumulate substantial levels of pesticides from the surrounding water. Consequently, grazing aquatic organisms are likely subjected to pesticide exposure through the consumption of pesticide-contaminated periphyton. The objectives of the present study were to determine if pesticides partition into periphyton in riverine environments across southern Ontario and, if so, to determine the toxicity of pesticides in periphyton when fed to the grazing mayfly Neocloeon triangulifer. Sites with low, medium, and high pesticide exposure based on historic water quality monitoring data were selected to incorporate a pesticide exposure gradient into the study design. Artificial substrate samplers were utilized to colonize periphyton in situ, which were then analyzed for the presence of approximately 500 pesticides. The results demonstrate that periphyton are capable of accumulating pesticides in agricultural streams. A novel 7-day toxicity test method was created to investigate the effects of pesticides partitioned into periphyton when fed to N. triangulifer. Periphyton collected from the field sites were fed to N. triangulifer and survival and biomass production recorded. Survival and biomass production significantly decreased when fed periphyton colonized in streams with catchments dominated by agricultural land use (p < 0.05). However, the relationship between pesticide concentration and survival or biomass production was not consistent. Using field-colonized periphyton allowed us to assess the dietary toxicity of environmentally relevant concentrations of pesticide mixtures; however, nutrition and taxonomic composition of the periphyton may vary between sites. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:2143-2157. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.

Flushing away the future: The effects of wastewater treatment plants on aquatic invertebrates

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) are essential infrastructure in our developing world. However, with the development and release of novel entities and without modern upgrades, they are ineffective at fully removing micropollutants before treated effluents are released back into aquatic environments. Thus, WWTPs may represent additional point source impacts to freshwater environments, further pressuring aquatic fauna and already vulnerable insect communities. Previous studies - mostly focusing on single WWTPs - have shown general trends of freshwater invertebrate communities becoming dominated by pollution tolerant taxa. To expand on these findings, the current study is the first to comprehensively investigate data on the effects of 170 WWTPs on invertebrate taxonomic composition. We compared data for several diversity and pollution indices, as well as the taxonomic composition both upstream and downstream of the WWTPs (366 sampling sites). In terms of abundance, the three most frequent and negatively impacted orders were the Plecoptera, Trichoptera and Gastropoda, while the Turbellaria, Hirudinea and Crustacea increased in abundance. Although strong changes in community composition were observed between upstream and downstream sites (mean species turnover of 61%), commonly used diversity indices were not sensitive to these changes, highlighting their potential inadequacy in accurately assessing ecological health. Our results indicate that WWTPs change downstream conditions in favour of pollution tolerant taxa to the detriment of sensitive taxa. Order-level taxonomic responses can be informative but should be interpreted with caution, since they can be driven by a few taxa, or opposing responses of species in the same group can result in an overall low order-level response. Upgrading WWTPs via additional treatment steps or merging may be beneficial, provided upstream sections are unimpacted and/or are in a good chemical and structural condition.

Bioaccumulation of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in freshwater pearl mussels Hyriopsis cumingii in Poyang Lake

Thirty-five PPCPs were measured in representative freshwater pearl mussels (Hyriopsis cumingii) in Poyang Lake, the largest lake of China, as well as their responses to sedimentary PPCPs. We observed 32 PPCPs in soft tissues of mussels at a total concentration of 2721.5 ± 929.3 ng·g-1 dry weight (dw), much higher than those in sediments (21 PPCPs, 273.2 ± 89.4 ng·g-1 dw). Anti-inflammatories were the primary contaminants detected in both sediments and mussels. PPCP concentrations in mussels exhibited significant organ-specific characteristics, and gonads were identified as a hotspot for these contaminants. Correlation analysis showed that gonads were more likely to assimilate triclosan from sediments. Biochemical analysis revealed a higher physiological sensitivity of glutathione synthesis in gonads to sedimentary PPCPs, suggesting the long-term oxidative damage. Our findings highlight the concern on the potential effects of sedimentary PPCPs to propagation of mussels, and emphasize the necessity to formulate strategies for sedimentary PPCPs control targeting a healthy lake.

Emerging organic contaminants in the River Ganga and key tributaries in the middle Gangetic Plain, India: Characterization, distribution & controls

The presence and distribution of emerging organic contaminants (EOCs) in freshwater environments is a key issue in India and globally, particularly due to ecotoxicological and potential antimicrobial resistance concerns. Here we have investigated the composition and spatial distribution of EOCs in surface water along a ∼500 km segment of the iconic River Ganges (Ganga) and key tributaries in the middle Gangetic Plain of Northern India. Using a broad screening approach, in 11 surface water samples, we identified 51 EOCs, comprising of pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, lifestyle and industrial chemicals. Whilst the majority of EOCs detected were a mixture of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals, lifestyle chemicals (and particularly sucralose) occurred at the highest concentrations. Ten of the EOCs detected are priority compounds (e.g. sulfamethoxazole, diuron, atrazine, chlorpyrifos, perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorobutane sulfonate, thiamethoxam, imidacloprid, clothianidin and diclofenac). In almost 50% of water samples, sulfamethoxazole concentrations exceeded predicted no-effect concentrations (PNECs) for ecological toxicity. A significant downstream reduction in EOCs was observed along the River Ganga between Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) and Begusarai (Bihar), likely reflecting dilution effects associated with three major tributaries, all with considerably lower EOC concentrations than the main Ganga channel. Sorption and/or redox controls were observed for some compounds (e.g. clopidol), as well as a relatively high degree of mixing of EOCs within the river. We discuss the environmental relevance of the persistence of several parent compounds (notably atrazine, carbamazepine, metribuzin and fipronil) and associated transformation products. Associations between EOCs and other hydrochemical parameters including excitation emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence indicated positive, significant, and compound-specific correlations between EOCs and tryptophan-, fulvic- and humic-like fluorescence. This study expands the baseline characterization of EOCs in Indian surface water and contributes to an improved understanding of the potential sources and controls on EOC distribution in the River Ganga and other large river systems.

Species-specific bioaccumulation and risk prioritization of psychoactive substances in cultured fish

Psychoactive substances are becoming new concern in environmental research with their increasing applications and the potential threats to fishery production as these substances could alter the behavior of fish and consequently affect the yield and quality of cultured fish. In this study, the accumulation and risk of twenty psychoactive substances were investigated in five species of cultured fish in Eastern China. The results showed that the total concentrations of these twenty psychoactive substances ranged from 0.15 to 0.92 ng mL^-1 in the plasma among the five species of cultured fish with an order of perch > crucian carp > bighead carp > grass carp > silver carp. Diazepam (DIAZ) and methamphetamine (MAMP) were identified as the most frequently detected compounds, which were found in 100% and 93% of the samples with a median concentration of 0.15 and 0.12 ng mL^-1 in the plasma, respectively. Although all of the psychoactive substances posed low or negligible risk, species-specific analysis of risk prioritization revealed that alprazolam, MAMP, temazepam and DIAZ exhibited the greatest potentials of hazard to all species of the cultured fish but with a species-dependent variation. These findings suggest that the adverse effects of psychoactive substances on fishery production, especially on different species, should be considered.

Chronic Engineered Nanoparticle Additions Alter Insect Emergence and Result in Metal Flux from Aquatic Ecosystems into Riparian Food Webs

Freshwater ecosystems are exposed to engineered nanoparticles (NPs) through discharge from wastewater and agricultural runoff. We conducted a 9-month mesocosm experiment to examine the combined effects of chronic NP additions on insect emergence and insect-mediated contaminant flux to riparian spiders. Two NPs (copper, gold, plus controls) were crossed by two levels of nutrients in 18 outdoor mesocosms open to natural insect and spider colonization. We collected adult insects and two riparian spider genera, Tetragnatha and Dolomedes, for 1 week on a monthly basis. We estimated a significant decrease in cumulative insect emergence of 19% and 24% after exposure to copper and gold NPs, irrespective of nutrient level. NP treatments led to elevated copper and gold tissue concentrations in adult insects, which resulted in terrestrial fluxes of metals. These metal fluxes were associated with increased gold and copper tissue concentrations for both spider genera. We also observed about 25% fewer spiders in the NP mesocosms, likely due to reduced insect emergence and/or NP toxicity. These results demonstrate the transfer of NPs from aquatic to terrestrial ecosystems via emergence of aquatic insects and predation by riparian spiders, as well as significant reductions in insect and spider abundance in response to NP additions.

Analyzing the potential environmental impact of NIOSH list of hazardous drugs (group 2)

For the first time, several pharmaceuticals have been defined as priority substances in the new proposal of the revision of the Water Framework Directive (WFD). Consequently, environmental quality standards have been determined for several drugs. This is the case with the antiepileptic carbamazepine, which is considered as hazardous in healthcare settings by The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). This organism considers as such drugs that have shown teratogenicity, carcinogenicity, genotoxicity or other developmental, reproductive, or organ toxicity at low doses in studies with animals or humans. This study has been focused on the non-carcinogenic drugs classified in group 2, and their presence in the environment. This group contains many different therapeutic agents such as antineoplastics, psychoactive drugs, immunosuppressants and antivirals, among others. Of the 116 drugs included in the list, 26 have been found in aquatic environmental matrices. Certain drugs have received most attention (e.g., the antiepileptic carbamazepine, progesterone and the antidepressant paroxetine) while others completely lack environmental monitoring. Carbamazepine, fluconazole, paroxetine and warfarin have been found in invertebrates' tissues, whereas carbamazepine, oxazepam and paroxetine have been found in fish tissues. The main aim of the NIOSH's hazardous drug list is to inform healthcare professionals about adequate protection measures to prevent occupational exposure to these pharmaceuticals. However, this list contains useful information for other professionals and researchers such as environmental scientists. The paucity of relevant environmental data of certain hazardous pharmaceuticals might be important to help in the prioritization of compounds that may demand further research.

Aquatic-terrestrial transfer of neonicotinoid insecticides in riparian food webs

Current-use pesticides are ubiquitous in freshwaters globally, often at very low concentrations. Emerging aquatic insects can accumulate pesticides during their aquatic development, which can be retained through their metamorphosis into terrestrial adults. Emerging insects thus provide a potential, yet largely understudied linkage for exposure of terrestrial insectivores to waterborne pesticides. We measured 82 low to moderately lipophilic organic pesticides (logK_ow: -2.87 to 6.9) in the aquatic environment, emerging insects and web-building riparian spiders from stream sites impacted by agricultural land use. Insecticides, mainly neuro-active neonicotinoids were ubiquitous and had the highest concentrations in emerging insects and spiders (∑ insecticides: 0.1-33 and 1-240 ng/g, respectively), although their concentrations in water were low, even when compared to global levels. Furthermore, neonicotinoids, although not considered to be bioaccumulative, were biomagnified in riparian spiders. In contrast, concentrations of fungicides and most herbicides decreased from the aquatic environment to the spiders. Our results provide evidence for the transfer and accumulation of neonicotinoids across the aquatic-terrestrial ecosystem boundary. This could threaten food webs in ecologically sensitive riparian areas worldwide.

Can pharmaceutical pollution alter the spread of infectious disease? A case study using fluoxetine

Human activity is changing global environments at an unprecedented rate, imposing new ecological and evolutionary ramifications on wildlife dynamics, including host-parasite interactions. Here we investigate how an emerging concern of modern human activity, pharmaceutical pollution, influences the spread of disease in a population, using the water flea Daphnia magna and the bacterial pathogen Pasteuria ramosa as a model system. We found that exposure to different concentrations of fluoxetine-a widely prescribed psychoactive drug and widespread contaminant of aquatic ecosystems-affected the severity of disease experienced by an individual in a non-monotonic manner. The direction and magnitude of any effect, however, varied with both the infection outcome measured and the genotype of the pathogen. By contrast, the characteristics of unexposed animals, and thus the growth and density of susceptible hosts, were robust to fluoxetine. Using our data to parameterize an epidemiological model, we show that fluoxetine is unlikely to lead to a net increase or decrease in the likelihood of an infectious disease outbreak, as measured by a pathogen's transmission rate or basic reproductive number. Instead, any given pathogen genotype may experience a twofold change in likely fitness, but often in opposing directions. Our study demonstrates that changes in pharmaceutical pollution give rise to complex genotype-by-environment interactions in its influence of disease dynamics, with repercussions on pathogen genetic diversity and evolution. This article is part of the theme issue 'Infectious disease ecology and evolution in a changing world'.

Bioconcentrations, depuration, shift in metabolome and a behavioural response in the nymphs of the dragonfly Aeshna cyanea (Müller, 1764) to environmentally relevant concentrations of methamphetamine

Methamphetamine (MEA) is commonly detected in municipal wastewater. It causes imbalances in the system of neurotransmitters as well as several other adverse effects on human health. The aim of this study was to investigate bioconcentration and depuration rates at an environmentally relevant concentration of 1 µg·L^-1 in Aeshna cyanea nymphs exposed to MEA for six days followed by three days of depuration. The metabolomes of nymphs sampled during exposure and depuration were compared using non-targeted screening. Concurrently, a behavioural experiment was run to evaluate the effect of MEA on movement. Since most samples were below the limits of quantification (LOQs) - MEA was quantified in only four out of the 87 samples and only during the first 24 h of exposure at concentrations at LOQ level - we estimated maximal possible bioconcentration factor (BCF) on 0.63 using the LOQ. An MEA metabolite - amphetamine - was not detected in any sample at levels above their LOQs. From 247 up to 1458 significant down- and up-regulated metabolite signals (p ≤ 0.05) were detected by non-targeted screening during initial times of exposure and depuration. Numbers of significant down- and/or up-regulated signals in metabolomes (p ≤ 0.05) calculated for particular sampling times possibly correlated with the size of the effect on movement recorded at the same times. In the MEA treatment, movement was not significantly greater during exposure (p > 0.05) but was significantly lower during depuration (p < 0.05). This study shows how MEA acts on dragonfly nymphs, an ecologically important group of aquatic insects with a high trophic level.

Riparian Spiders: Sentinels of Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-dioxin and Dibenzofuran-Contaminated Sediment

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and polychlorinated dibenzofuran (PCDD/F) are persistent, toxic, and bioaccumulative. Currently, PCDD/F monitoring programs primarily use fish and birds with potentially large home ranges to monitor temporal trends over broad spatial scales; sentinel organisms that provide targeted sediment contaminant information across small geographic areas have yet to be developed. Riparian orb-weaving spiders, which typically have small home ranges and consume primarily adult aquatic insects, are potential PCDD/F sentinels. Recent studies have demonstrated that spider tissue concentrations indicate the source and magnitude of dioxin-like chlorinated compounds in contaminated sediments, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Our aim in the present study was to assess the utility of riparian spiders as sentinels for PCDD/F-contaminated sediments. We measured PCDD/F (total [Σ] and homologs) in surface sediments and spiders collected from three sites within the St. Louis River basin (Minnesota and Wisconsin, USA). We then compared (1) patterns in ΣPCDD/F concentrations between sediment and spiders, (2) the distribution of homologs within sediments and spiders when pooled across sites, and (3) the relationship between sediment and spider concentrations of PCDD/F homologs across 13 stations sampled across the three sites. The ΣPCDD/F concentrations in sediment (mean ± standard error 286 591 ± 97 614 pg/g) were significantly higher than those in riparian spiders (2463 ± 977 pg/g, p < 0.001), but the relative abundance of homologs in sediment and spiders were not significantly different. Spider homolog concentrations were significantly and positively correlated with sediment concentrations across a gradient of sediment PCDD/F contamination (R²  = 0.47, p < 0.001). Our results indicate that, as has been shown for other legacy organic chemicals like PCBs, riparian spiders are suitable sentinels of PCDD/F in contaminated sediment. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:414-420. © 2022 SETAC. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.

Accumulation and risk prioritization of psychoactive substances in the critically endangered Yangtze finless porpoise

Psychoactive substances have been identified as a kind of emerging contaminants in aquatic environment and pose potential adverse effects on aquatic animals. Yangtze finless porpoise, a critically endangered species in China, is also facing the threat of psychoactive substances. In this study, the accumulation characteristics and risk prioritization of psychoactive substances were investigated in Yangtze finless porpoise collected from Poyang Lake (PYL) and Tian-E-Zhou Oxbow (TZO) in Yangtze River basin. The levels of psychoactive substances were detected in the range of below method detection limits (MDLs) to 98.4 ng/mL in the serum of Yangtze finless porpoise. Codeine (COD) and methamphetamine were identified as the major substances due to the highest residual levels with a median concentration of 0.72 ng/mL and 0.33 ng/mL, respectively. The total concentrations of psychoactive substances in the porpoise collected from TZO was significantly higher than those from PYL. Risk analysis based on effect ratio derived from the ratio of steady-state psychoactive substance serum concentration in the porpoise and human therapeutic plasma concentration revealed that COD was the substance with the highest risk among the psychoactive substances detected, followed by lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), morphine, alprazolam (ALPZ) and lormetazepam. Location-specific risk prioritization of psychoactive substances found that the top 3 substances are LSD, lorazepam (LORZ) and ALPZ in PYL, and COD, LSD and LORZ in TZO. The results disclose the accumulation of psychoactive substances in Yangtze finless porpoise and suggest that the potential adverse effects should be concerned.

Aquatic-Terrestrial Insecticide Fluxes: Midges as Neonicotinoid Vectors

Exposure of freshwater ecosystems to insecticides can negatively impact the development of emerging aquatic insects. These insects serve as an important nutritional subsidy for terrestrial insectivores. Changes in insect emergence phenology (i.e., emergence success and temporal pattern) or fluxes of insecticides retained by the emerging adults have the potential to negatively impact terrestrial food webs. These processes are influenced by contaminant toxicity, lipohilicity, or metabolic processes. The interplay between emergence phenology, contaminant retention through metamorphosis, and associated contaminant flux is not yet understood for current-use insecticides. In a microcosm study, we evaluated the impacts of a 24-h pulse exposure of one of three current-use insecticides, namely pirimicarb, indoxacarb, and thiacloprid, at two environmentally realistic concentration levels on the larval development and emergence of the nonbiting midge Chironomus riparius. In addition, we measured insecticide concentrations in the larvae and adults using ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry by electrospray ionization. Exposure to pirimicarb delayed larval development and emergence, and exposure to indoxacarb reduced emergence success. The neonicotinoid thiacloprid had the greatest impact by reducing larval survival and emergence success. At the same time, thiacloprid was the only insecticide measured in the adults with average concentrations of 10.3 and 37.3 ng/g after exposure at 0.1 and 4 µg/L, respectively. In addition, an approximate 30% higher survival to emergence after exposure to 0.1 µg/L relative to a 4-µg/L exposure resulted in a relatively higher flux of thiacloprid, from the aquatic to the terrestrial environment, at the lower exposure. Our experimental results help to explain the impacts of current-use insecticides on aquatic-terrestrial subsidy coupling and indicate the potential for widespread dietary exposure of terrestrial insectivores preying on emerging aquatic insects to the neonicotinoid thiacloprid. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:60-70. © 2022 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.

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.

Role of naphthaleneacetic acid in the degradation of bisphenol A and wastewater treatment by microalgae: Enhancement and signaling

Coupling microalgae cultivation with wastewater treatment is a promising environmentally sustainable development strategy. However, toxics such as Bisphenol A (BPA) in wastewater damage microalgae cells and reduces bioresources production. Phytohormone regulation has the potential to solve this issue. However, phytohormone research is still in its infancy. In this work, 0.2 μM naphthyl acetic acid (NAA) significantly enhanced Chlorella vulgaris BPA detoxification by 127.3% and Chlorella biomass production by 46.4%. NAA helps Chlorella convert bisphenol A into small non-toxic intermediates by enhancing the expression of associated enzymes. Simultaneously, NAA promoted carbon fixation and photosynthetic metabolism. Activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway strengthened the downstream antioxidant system while improving photosynthesis and intracellular starch and lipid synthesis. Carbohydrates, pigment, and lipid production was significantly enhanced by 20.0%, 46.9%, and 21.8%, respectively. A new insight is provided into how phytohormones may increase microalgae in wastewater's bioresource transformation and toxicity resistance.

Rapid Detection of Amitriptyline in Dried Blood and Dried Saliva Samples with Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

There is growing demand for rapid, nondestructive detection of trace-level bioactive molecules including medicines, toxins, biomolecules, and single cells, in a variety of disciplines. In recent years, surface-enhanced Raman scattering has been increasingly applied for such purposes, and this area of research is rapidly growing. Of particular interest is the detection of such compounds in dried saliva spots (DSS) and dried blood spots (DBS), often in medical scenarios, such as therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) and disease diagnosis. Such samples are usually analyzed using hyphenated chromatography techniques, which are costly and time consuming. Here we present for the first time a surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy protocol for the detection of the common antidepressant amitriptyline (AMT) on DBS and DSS using a test substrate modified with silver nanoparticles. The validated protocol is rapid and non-destructive, with a detection limit of 95 ppb, and linear range between 100 ppb and 1.75 ppm on the SERS substrate, which covers the therapeutic window of AMT in biological fluids.

Fate of trace organic compounds in the hyporheic zone: Influence of microbial metabolism

The hyporheic zone (HZ) is considered a hydrodynamically-driven bioreactor with significant pollutant removal capacities and can therefore not only improve wholestream water quality but also preserve human and ecosystem health. Microbial metabolism is hypothesized to play a key role in pollutant transformation in hyporheic sediments of natural streams. However, previous work investigating the influence of microbial metabolism on pollutant transformation has been predominantly laboratory studies. The key challenge for field studies is the appropriate determination of net microbial metabolism, i.e. information on the actual exposure times to specific microbial processes in the investigated system. The present study uses reactive fluorescent tracers to determine microbial metabolism and ultimately its influence on pollutant transformation, e.g. for trace organic compounds, in hyporheic sediments under natural conditions. In particular, the reactive fluorescent tracers resazurin and its main transformation product resorufin were used to determine the microbial metabolism of facultative or obligate aerobes. The influence of the derived microbial metabolism on the transformation of 20 trace organic compounds, such as pharmaceuticals, including 3 parent-daughter pairs, was examined. The present findings validate laboratory results on the microbially-mediated transformation of the anticonvulsant gabapentin to its main transformation product gabapentin lactam under natural conditions. All other TrOCs investigated did not show a clear link between TrOC reactivity to the microbial metabolism informed by the resazurin-resorufin-system. Overall, the present study not only demonstrates the use of the fluorescent tracer-system resazurin and resorufin for determining microbial metabolism of facultative or obligate aerobes but also generally highlights the potential of reactive fluorescent tracers to disentangle specific reactive properties and ultimately their influence on the fate of pollutants in natural HZs.

Rhodococcus strains as a good biotool for neutralizing pharmaceutical pollutants and obtaining therapeutically valuable products: Through the past into the future

Active pharmaceutical ingredients present a substantial risk when they reach the environment and drinking water sources. As a new type of dangerous pollutants with high chemical resistance and pronounced biological effects, they accumulate everywhere, often in significant concentrations (μg/L) in ecological environments, food chains, organs of farm animals and humans, and cause an intense response from the aquatic and soil microbiota. Rhodococcus spp. (Actinomycetia class), which occupy a dominant position in polluted ecosystems, stand out among other microorganisms with the greatest variety of degradable pollutants and participate in natural attenuation, are considered as active agents with high transforming and degrading impacts on pharmaceutical compounds. Many representatives of rhodococci are promising as unique sources of specific transforming enzymes, quorum quenching tools, natural products and novel antimicrobials, biosurfactants and nanostructures. The review presents the latest knowledge and current trends regarding the use of Rhodococcus spp. in the processes of pharmaceutical pollutants’ biodegradation, as well as in the fields of biocatalysis and biotechnology for the production of targeted pharmaceutical products. The current literature sources presented in the review can be helpful in future research programs aimed at promoting Rhodococcus spp. as potential biodegraders and biotransformers to control pharmaceutical pollution in the environment.

Bioaccumulation and bioamplification of pharmaceuticals and endocrine disruptors in aquatic insects

Environmental fate of emerging contaminants such as pharmaceuticals and endocrine disrupting compounds at the aquatic terrestrial boundary are largely unexplored. Aquatic insects connect aquatic and terrestrial food webs as their life cycle includes aquatic and terrestrial life stages, thus they represent an important inter-habitat linkage not only for energy and nutrient flow, but also for contaminant transfer to terrestrial environments. We measured the concentrations of pharmaceuticals and endocrine disrupting compounds in the larval and adult tissues (last larval stages and teneral adults) of five Odonata species sampled in a wastewater-impacted river, in order to examine their bioaccumulation and bioamplification at different taxonomic levels. Twenty different compounds were bioaccumulated in insect tissues, with majority having higher concentrations (up to 90% higher) in aquatic larvae compared to terrestrial adults (reaching 88 ng/g for 1H-benzotriazole). However, increased concentration in adults was observed for seven compounds in at least one suborder (41% of the accumulated), confirming contaminants bioamplification across the metamorphosis. Both, bioaccumulation and bioamplification differed at various taxa levels; the order (Odonata), suborder (Anisoptera and Zygoptera) and species level. Highest variability was observed between Anisoptera and Zygoptera, due to the underlying differences in their ecology. Generally, Zygoptera had higher concentrations of contaminants in both larvae and adults. Additionally, we aimed at predicting effects of contaminant properties on bioaccumulation and bioamplification patterns using the commonly used physicochemical and pharmacokinetic descriptors on both order and suborder levels, however, neither of the two processes could be consistently predicted with simple linear models. Our study highlights the importance of taxonomy in studies aiming at advancing the understanding of contaminant exchange between aquatic and terrestrial food webs, as higher taxonomic categories include ecologically diverse groups, whose contribution to "the dark side of subsidies" could substantially differ.

Long-Term Exposure to SSRI Citalopram Induces Neurotoxic Effects in Zebrafish

Residual antidepressants are of increasing concern worldwide, yet critical information on their long-term neurotoxic impacts on nontarget aquatic animals is lacking. Here, we investigated the long-term effects (from 0 to 150 days postfertilization) of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor citalopram (0.1-100 μg/L) on motor function, learning, and memory in zebrafish over two generations and explored the reversibility of the effect in F1 larvae. Unlike F0⁺ larvae, we found that F1⁺ larvae displayed decreased sensorimotor performance when continuously exposed to citalopram at 100 μg/L. No adverse effects were found in F1^- larvae after they were transferred to a clean medium. Whole-mount immunofluorescence assays suggested that the motor impairments were related to axonal projections of the spinal motor neurons (MNs). For F0⁺ adults, long-term citalopram exposure mainly caused male-specific declines in motor, learning, and memory performance. Analysis of serotonergic and cholinergic MNs revealed no significant changes in the male zebrafish spinal cord. In contrast, the number of glutamatergic spinal MNs decreased, likely associated with the impairment of motor function. Additionally, treatment with 100 μg/L citalopram significantly reduced the number of dopaminergic neurons, but no significant neuronal apoptosis was observed in the adult telencephalon. Overall, this study provides neurobehavioral evidence and novel insights into the neurotoxic mechanisms of long-term citalopram exposure and may facilitate the assessment of the environmental and health risks posed by citalopram-containing antidepressant drugs.

Biomagnification of Persistent Organic Pollutants from Terrestrial and Aquatic Invertebrates to Songbirds: Associations with Physiochemical and Ecological Indicators

Biomagnification of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) is affected by physiochemical properties of POPs and ecological factors of wildlife. In this study, influences on species-specific biomagnification of POPs from aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates to eight songbird species were investigated. The median concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in birds were 175 to 13 200 ng/g lipid weight (lw) and 62.7 to 3710 ng/g lw, respectively. Diet compositions of different invertebrate taxa for songbird species were quantified by quantitative fatty acid signature analysis. Aquatic insects had more contributions of more hydrophobic POPs, while terrestrial invertebrates had more contributions of less hydrophobic PCBs in songbirds. Biomagnification factors (BMFs) and trophic magnification factors had parabolic relationships with log K_OW and log K_OA. The partition ratios of POPs between bird muscle and air were significantly and positively correlated with log K_OA of POPs, indicating respiratory elimination as an important determinant in biomagnification of POPs in songbirds. In this study, the species-specific biomagnification of POPs in songbird species cannot be explained by stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen and body parameters of bird species. BMFs of most studied POPs were significantly correlated with proportions of polyunsaturated fatty acids in different species of songbirds.

What do we want to estimate from observational datasets? Choosing appropriate statistical analysis methods based on the chemical management phase

The goals of observational dataset analysis vary with the management phase of environments threatened by anthropogenic chemicals. For example, identifying severely compromised sites is necessary to determine candidate sites in which to implement measures during early management phases. Among the most effective approaches is developing regression models with high predictive power for dependent variable values using the Akaike information criterion. However, this analytical approach may be theoretically inappropriate to obtain the necessary information in various chemical management phases, such as the intervention effect size of a chemical required in the late chemical management phase to evaluate the necessity of an effluent standard and its specific value. However, choosing appropriate statistical methods based on the data analysis objective in each chemical management phase has rarely been performed. This study provides an overview of the primary data analysis objectives in the early and late chemical management phases. For each objective, several suitable statistical analysis methods for observational datasets are detailed. In addition, the study presents examples of linear regression analysis procedures using an available dataset derived from field surveys conducted in Japanese rivers. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2022;18:1414-1422. © 2021 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

Potential propagation of agricultural pesticide exposure and effects to upstream sections in a biosphere reserve

In the last decades, several studies have shown that pesticides frequently occur above water quality thresholds in small streams draining arable land and are associated with changes in invertebrate communities. However, we know little about the potential propagation of pesticide effects from agricultural stream sections to least impacted stream sections that can serve as refuge areas. We sampled invertebrates and pesticides along six small streams in south-west Germany. In each stream, the sampling was conducted at an agricultural site, at an upstream forest site (later considered as "refuge"), and at a transition zone between forest and agriculture (later considered as "edge"). Pesticide exposure was higher and the proportion of pesticide-sensitive species (SPEAR_pesticides) was lower in agricultural sites compared to edge and refuge sites. Notwithstanding, at some edge and refuge sites, which were considered as being least impacted, we estimated unexpected pesticide toxicity (sum toxic units) exceeding thresholds at which field studies suggested adverse effects on freshwater invertebrates. We conclude that organisms in forest sections within a few kilometres upstream of agricultural areas can be exposed to ecologically relevant pesticide levels. In addition, although not statistically significant, the abundance of pesticide-sensitive taxa was slightly lower in edge compared to refuge sites, indicating a potential influence of adjacent agriculture. Future studies should further investigate the influence of spatial relationships, such as the distance between refuge and agriculture, for the propagation of pesticide effects and focus on the underlying mechanisms.

Protrudent electron transfer channels on kaolinite modified iron oxide QDs/N vacancy graphitic carbon nitride driving superior catalytic oxidation

Optimizing electron transfer channels and sufficiently exposing active sites to trigger an efficient Fenton-like reaction are vital for manipulating catalytic properties of water treatment. Herein, Fe₂O₃ quantum dots were prepared and integrated with composites of g-C₃N₄ and kaolinite with nitrogen (N) vacancies (FONGK-10) for bisphenol A (BPA) removal in a peroxymonosulfate (PMS)/visible light (Vis) system. X-ray absorption near-edge structures and extended X-ray absorption fine structures demonstrated interface's combined properties. In particular, the tight interfacial contact and introduction of N vacancies resulted in the formation of effective electron channels, which caused more effective separation of electron-hole pairs and an extended response time of 1.5 × 10^-4 s. Furthermore, the introduction of kaolinite reduced the Fe₂O₃ particle size and accelerated PMS consumption. The k value in FONGK-10/PMS/Vis system was 4.5 times that of the FONGK-10/PMS and 27.5 times that of the FONGK-10/Vis system, and the synergetic system exhibited superior consecutive catalytic performance in a fluidized-bed catalytic unit, degrading ~100% of BPA in 200 min. The exposed electron channels significantly maintained the Fe(III)/Fe(II) stable dynamic cycle, thereby enhancing the activation of PMS and photocatalysis performance.

Trophic transfer of methylmercury and brominated flame retardants in adjacent riparian and aquatic food webs: 13C indicates biotransport of contaminants through food webs

Biomagnification of persistent toxic substances (PTSs) in food chains is of environmental concern, but studies on biotransport of PTSs across aquatic and riparian food chains are still incomplete. In this study, biomagnification of several PTSs including methylmercury (MeHg), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and 1,2-bis (2,4,6-tribromophenoxy) ethane (BTBPE) was investigated in adjacent aquatic and riparian food webs. Concentrations of MeHg and PBDEs ranged from 2.37 to 353 ng/g dry weight (dw) and not detected (Nd) to 65.1 ng/g lipid weight (lw) in riparian samples, respectively, and ranged from Nd to 705 ng/g dw and Nd to 187 ng/g lw in aquatic samples, respectively. Concentrations of MeHg were significantly correlated with δ¹³C (p < 0.01) rather than δ¹⁵N (p > 0.05) values in riparian organisms, while a significant correlation was observed between concentrations of MeHg and δ¹⁵N (p < 0.01) in aquatic organisms. Biomagnification factors (BMFs) and trophic magnification factors (TMFs) of PBDE congeners were similar in riparian and aquatic food webs, while BMFs and TMFs of MeHg were much higher in aquatic food web than those in riparian food web. The results indicate the biotransport of MeHg from aquatic insects to terrestrial birds, and δ¹³C can be a promising ecological indicator for biotransport of pollutants across ecosystems.

Low doses and lifecycle exposure of waterborne antidepressants in zebrafish model: A survey on sperm traits, reproductive behaviours, and transcriptome responses

Venlafaxine and citalopram have been commonly found in surface water and may disrupt fish reproduction, yet the long-term impact and the underlying mechanism are largely unknown. Here, zebrafish were exposed to 0.1-100 μg/L venlafaxine and citalopram for their entire life cycle from embryo to adult, respectively. After exposure for 180 days, the lowest observable effective concentration (LOEC) of venlafaxine and citalopram to significantly reduce the mean number of egg production in adults were 10 and 1 μg/L, respectively, whereas the fertilization rate displayed no significant changes. Further, we investigated the impacts of venlafaxine and citalopram in a reproductive context, including sperm quality and reproductive behaviour. In contrast, venlafaxine and citalopram exposure did not affect sperm quality but caused a reduction of reproductive behaviour (e.g., mating duration and mating interval) of adults exposed to 1-10 μg/L of the antidepressant. Transcriptomic profiling of the whole ovary revealed that lifecycle venlafaxine and citalopram exposure significantly affected the Na⁺/Cl^- dependent neurotransmitter transporters signaling. Moreover, immune system-mediated ovarian regeneration and creatine metabolism regulated energy metabolism were proposed as the novel mechanism in the observed effects. Taken together, our results highlight the risk of lifecycle venlafaxine and citalopram exposure to fish reproduction and provide novel perspectives for unveiling the mechanism of female reproductive dysfunction.

The impact of sewage sludge processing on the safety of its use

Particular attention is devoted to pharmaceutical residues in sewage sludge caused by their potential ecotoxicological effects. Diclofenac, ibuprofen and carbamazepine, 17-α-ethinylestradiol, β-estradiol, were analysed in four types of fertilizers, based on sewage sludge commercial products, in compliance with Polish requirements. The release of active pharmaceutical compounds from fertilizers to water the phase after 24 h and 27 days was analysed. Solid-water partition coefficients (K_d) and partitioning coefficient values normalized on organic carbon content (log K_OC) were evaluated. The environmental risk to terrestrial ecosystems, due to the application of fertilizers onto soils, was estimated. Cumulative mass of pharmaceuticals emitted to water from fertilizers ranged from 0.4 to 30.8 µg/kg after 24 h contact. The greatest amount of the material that was released, over 70%, was observed for carbamazepine. No presence of compounds except ibuprofen was observed after 27 days of testing. The highest environmental risk in fertilizers is due to carbamazepine, risk quotation, RQ = 0.93 and diclofenac RQ = 0.17. The values of risk quotation estimated for soil were below RQ = 0.01. This fact means that no risk to terrestrial ecosystems is expected to occur. The important decrease of the concentrations of active compounds after passing from sewage sludge to fertilizers [and] to fertilized soil could be observed.

Greening the pharmacy

New measures and research are needed to limit the ecological impact of pharmaceuticals

Comparing Environmental Policies to Reduce Pharmaceutical Pollution and Address Disparities

Pharmaceutical products, including active pharmaceutical ingredients and inactive ingredients such as packaging materials, have raised significant concerns due to their persistent input and potential threats to human and environmental health. Discourse on reducing pharmaceutical waste and subsequent pollution is often limited, as information about the toxicity of pharmaceuticals in humans is yet to be fully established. Nevertheless, there is growing awareness about ecotoxicity, and efforts to curb pharmaceutical pollution in the European Union (EU), United States (US), and Canada have emerged along with waste disposal and treatment procedures, as well as growing concerns about impacts on human and animal health, such as through antimicrobial resistance. Yet, the outcomes of such endeavors are often disparate and involve multiple agencies, organizations, and departments with little evidence of cooperation, collaboration, or oversight. Environmental health disparities occur when communities exposed to a combination of poor environmental quality and social inequities experience more sickness and disease than wealthier, less polluted communities. In this paper, we discuss pharmaceutical environmental pollution in the context of health disparities and examine policies across the US, EU, and Canada in minimizing environmental pollution.

Predicting the impacts of chemical pollutants on animal groups

Chemical pollution is among the fastest-growing agents of global change. Synthetic chemicals with diverse modes-of-action are being detected in the tissues of wildlife and pervade entire food webs. Although such pollutants can elicit a range of sublethal effects on individual organisms, research on how chemical pollutants affect animal groups is severely lacking. Here we synthesise research from two related, but largely segregated fields - ecotoxicology and behavioural ecology - to examine pathways by which chemical contaminants could disrupt processes that govern the emergence, self-organisation, and collective function of animal groups. Our review provides a roadmap for prioritising the study of chemical pollutants within the context of sociality and highlights important methodological advancements for future research.

Untargeted plasma metabolomic analysis of wild bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) indicate protein degradation when in poorer health

Cumulative exposure to sub-lethal anthropogenic stressors can affect the health and reproduction of coastal cetaceans and hence their population viability. To date, we do not have a clear understanding of the notion of health for cetaceans in an ecological context; that is, how health status affects the ability of individuals to survive and reproduce. Here, we make use of a unique health-monitoring programme of estuarine bottlenose dolphins in South Carolina and Florida to determine de novo changes in biological pathways, using untargeted plasma metabolomics, depending on the health status of individuals obtained from veterinary screening. We found that individuals that were in a poor health state had lower circulating amino acids pointing towards increased involvement of gluconeogenesis (i.e., new formation of glucose). More mechanistic work is needed to disentangle the interconnection between health and energy metabolism in cetaceans to mediate potential metabolic constraints they may face during periods of stress.

Levels and effects of antidepressant drugs to aquatic organisms

The use of antidepressants has been increasing globally, resulting in their presence in the aquatic environment, mainly by municipal wastewaters. This fact has aroused concern in the scientific community since these biologically active compounds can affect non-target organisms that have physiological systems regulated by these pharmaceuticals. However, the current knowledge on the toxicological effects of antidepressants on aquatic ecosystems is limited. Considering the increasing consumption pattern, quantification studies and toxicity studies, the present work aimed to review the available literature, published in the last seven years, addressing levels of antidepressants and their metabolites in rivers, surface waters, tap water, and wastewater treatment plants, as well, the effects reported in fish and invertebrates. Overall, the available laboratory studies showed that antidepressants can act at different levels of biological organisation, with detrimental effects at the individual level (e.g., survival, growth, and morphology, behaviour, and reproduction). However, the effects of prolonged exposures to environmentally relevant concentrations of these substances, a more realistic scenario, are unknown. Based on short-term studies, the long-term effects of pharmaceuticals at environmentally relevant concentrations (alone and in the presence of other environmental contaminants) should be studied.

The wastewater micropollutant carbamazepine in insectivorous birds-an exposure estimate

Insects with aquatic life stages can transfer sediment and water pollutants to terrestrial ecosystems, which has been described for metals, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, and polychlorinated chemicals. However, knowledge of the transfer of aquatic micropollutants released by wastewater treatment plants is scarce despite some preliminary studies on their occurrence in riparian spiders. In our study, we address a major analytical gap focusing on the transfer of the micropollutant carbamazepine from the larvae to the adult midges of Chironomus riparius using an optimized QuEChERS extraction method and HPLC–MS/MS applicable to both life stages down to the level of about three individuals. We show that the uptake of carbamazepine by larvae is concentration-dependent and reduces the emergence rate. Importantly, the body burden remained constant in adult midges. Using this information, we estimated the daily exposure of insectivorous tree swallows as terrestrial predators to carbamazepine using the energy demand of the predator and the energy content of the prey. Assuming environmentally relevant water concentrations of about 1 μg/L, the daily dose per kilogram of body weight for tree swallows was estimated to be 0.5 μg/kg/day. At places of high water contamination of 10 μg/L, the exposure may reach 5 μg/kg/day for this micropollutant of medium polarity. Considering body burden changes upon metamorphosis, this study fills the missing link between aquatic contamination and exposure in terrestrial habitats showing that wastewater pollutants can impact birds’ life. Clearly, further analytical methods for biota analysis in both habitats are urgently required to improve risk assessment.