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Hong S, Lee J, Cha J, Gwak J, Khim JS. Effect-Directed Analysis Combined with Nontarget Screening to Identify Unmonitored Toxic Substances in the Environment. Environ Sci Technol 2023; 57:19148-19155. [PMID: 37972298 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c05035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Effect-directed analysis (EDA) combined with nontarget screening (NTS) has established a valuable tool for the identification of unmonitored toxic substances in environmental samples. It consists of three main steps: (1) highly potent fraction identification, (2) toxicant candidate selection, and (3) major toxicant identification. Here, we discuss the methodology, current status, limitations, and future challenges of EDA combined with NTS. This method has been applied successfully to various environmental samples, such as sediments, wastewater treatment plant effluents, and biota. We present several case studies and highlight key results. EDA has undergone significant technological advancements in the past 20 years, with the establishment of its key components: target chemical analysis, bioassays, fractionation, NTS, and data processing. However, it has not been incorporated widely into environmental monitoring programs. We provide suggestions for the application of EDA combined with NTS in environmental monitoring programs and management, with the identification of further research needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seongjin Hong
- Department of Marine Environmental Science, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
| | - Junghyun Lee
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences & Research Institute of Oceanography, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
- Department of Environmental Education, Kongju National University, Gongju 32588, Republic of Korea
| | - Jihyun Cha
- Department of Marine Environmental Science, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
| | - Jiyun Gwak
- Department of Marine Environmental Science, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong Seong Khim
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences & Research Institute of Oceanography, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
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Bertanza G, Steimberg N, Pedrazzani R, Boniotti J, Ceretti E, Mazzoleni G, Menghini M, Urani C, Zerbini I, Feretti D. Wastewater toxicity removal: Integrated chemical and effect-based monitoring of full-scale conventional activated sludge and membrane bioreactor plants. Sci Total Environ 2022; 851:158071. [PMID: 35988629 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The literature is currently lacking effect-based monitoring studies targeted at evaluating the performance of full-scale membrane bioreactor plants. In this research, a monitoring campaign was performed at a full-scale wastewater treatment facility with two parallel lines (traditional activated sludge and membrane bioreactor). Beside the standard parameters (COD, nitrogen, phosphorus, and metals), 6 polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, 29 insecticides, 2 herbicides, and 3 endocrine disrupting compounds were measured. A multi-tiered battery of bioassays complemented the investigation, targeting different toxic modes of action and employing various biological systems (uni/multicellular, prokaryotes/eukaryotes, trophic level occupation). A traffic light scoring approach was proposed to quickly visualize the impact of treatment on overall toxicity that occurred after the exposure to raw and concentrated wastewater. Analysis of the effluents of the CAS and MBR lines show very good performance of the two systems for removal of organic micropollutants and metals. The most noticeable differences between CAS and MBR occurred in the concentration of suspended solids; chemical analyses did not show major differences. On the other hand, bioassays demonstrated better performance for the MBR. Both treatment lines complied with the Italian law's "ecotoxicity standard for effluent discharge in surface water". Yet, residual biological activity was still detected, demonstrating the adequacy and sensitivity of the toxicological tools, which, by their inherent nature, allow the overall effects of complex mixtures to be taken into account.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgio Bertanza
- DICATAM-Department of Civil, Environmental, Architectural Engineering and Mathematics, University of Brescia, Via Branze 43, I-25123 Brescia, Italy; MISTRAAL Interdepartmental Research Center - MISTRAL - Inter-University Research Center "Integrated Models for Prevention and Protection in Environmental and Occupational Health", DSCS, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, I-25123 Brescia, Italy.
| | - Nathalie Steimberg
- MISTRAAL Interdepartmental Research Center - MISTRAL - Inter-University Research Center "Integrated Models for Prevention and Protection in Environmental and Occupational Health", DSCS, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, I-25123 Brescia, Italy; DSCS-Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, I-25123 Brescia, Italy.
| | - Roberta Pedrazzani
- MISTRAAL Interdepartmental Research Center - MISTRAL - Inter-University Research Center "Integrated Models for Prevention and Protection in Environmental and Occupational Health", DSCS, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, I-25123 Brescia, Italy; DIMI-Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Brescia, Via Branze 38, I-25123 Brescia, Italy.
| | - Jennifer Boniotti
- DSCS-Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, I-25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Ceretti
- DSMC-Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, I-25123 Brescia, Italy.
| | - Giovanna Mazzoleni
- MISTRAAL Interdepartmental Research Center - MISTRAL - Inter-University Research Center "Integrated Models for Prevention and Protection in Environmental and Occupational Health", DSCS, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, I-25123 Brescia, Italy; DSCS-Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, I-25123 Brescia, Italy.
| | - Michele Menghini
- DIMI-Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Brescia, Via Branze 38, I-25123 Brescia, Italy.
| | - Chiara Urani
- MISTRAAL Interdepartmental Research Center - MISTRAL - Inter-University Research Center "Integrated Models for Prevention and Protection in Environmental and Occupational Health", DSCS, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, I-25123 Brescia, Italy; DISAT-Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milan-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 1, I-20126 Milano, Italy.
| | - Ilaria Zerbini
- DSMC-Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, I-25123 Brescia, Italy.
| | - Donatella Feretti
- MISTRAAL Interdepartmental Research Center - MISTRAL - Inter-University Research Center "Integrated Models for Prevention and Protection in Environmental and Occupational Health", DSCS, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, I-25123 Brescia, Italy; DSMC-Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, I-25123 Brescia, Italy.
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Simon E, Riegraf C, Schifferli A, Olbrich D, Bucher T, Vermeirssen ELM. Evaluation of Three ISO Estrogen Receptor Transactivation Assays Applied to 52 Domestic Effluent Samples. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022; 41:2512-2526. [PMID: 35876436 PMCID: PMC9826432 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 01/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Estrogens are released to the aquatic environment by wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents and can affect wildlife. In the last three decades, many in vitro assay platforms have been developed to detect and quantify estrogenicity in water. In 2018, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standardized protocols became available for three types of in vitro estrogen receptor transactivation assays (ERTAs) detecting estrogenicity in 96-well plates (ISO19040 1-3). Two ERTAs-lyticase Yeast Estrogen Screen (L-YES) and Arxula YES (A-YES)-use genetically modified yeast strains, whereas the third utilizes stably transfected human cells. One human cell based assay is ERα-CALUX, which is based on a genetically modified human bone osteosarcoma cell line. In the present study, we characterized the performance, comparability, and effectiveness of these three ERTAs, including an evaluation involving proposed water quality thresholds (effect-based trigger values [EBTs]). For a robust evaluation, we collected 52 effluent samples over three sampling campaigns at 15 different WWTPs in Switzerland. Estrogen receptor transactivation assay results were correlated and compared with results from chemical analysis targeting known estrogens. The three ERTAs showed comparable data over all campaigns. However, the selection of EBTs plays a significant role in the interpretation and comparison of bioassay results to distinguish between acceptable and unacceptable water quality. Applying a fixed cross-assay EBT for effluent of 4 ng L-1 resulted in varying numbers of threshold exceedances ranging between zero and four samples depending on the ERTA used. Using assay-specific EBTs showed exceedances in eight samples (ERα-CALUX) and in one sample (A-YES), respectively. Thus, proposed EBTs do not produce similar risk profiles across samples and further refinement of assay-specific EBTs is needed to account for assay-specific differences and to enable the application of ERTAs as effect-based methods in environmental monitoring. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:2512-2526. © 2022 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eszter Simon
- Swiss Centre for Applied EcotoxicologyDübendorfSwitzerland
- Air Pollution Control and Chemicals Division, Industrial Chemicals SectionFederal Office for the EnvironmentBernSwitzerland
| | | | | | - Daniel Olbrich
- Swiss Centre for Applied EcotoxicologyDübendorfSwitzerland
| | - Thomas Bucher
- Swiss Centre for Applied EcotoxicologyDübendorfSwitzerland
- Current affiliation: ETH ZurichLehrlabor BiologieZürichSwitzerland
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Leusch FDL, Hollert H, Holmes G. Editorial - Virtual special issue (VSI) green turtles as silent sentinels of pollution in the Great Barrier Reef - Rivers to Reef to Turtles project. Sci Total Environ 2021; 757:144188. [PMID: 33316512 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
This special issue of STOTEN is dedicated to presenting the results of the WWF-Australia "Rivers to Reef to Turtles" project, which focused on investigating pollutants in the environment, food and bodies of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). The project brought together organic and inorganic trace chemical analysis, bioanalytical tools and individual health monitoring to investigate potential causes of an unusual mortality event in 2012. Together, the ten studies in this special issue highlight the shortcomings of current chemical monitoring and impact assessment programmes, which are focused on a limited number of prioritised chemicals and fail to account for the incredible diversity of toxicants released by human activities. It is essential that future management efforts consider the impact of these contaminants on the GBR, already under threat from global warming and sediment and nutrient runoff. Understanding the impact that chemical contaminants have on turtles not only informs green turtle conservation but can also, as they are sensitive and long-lived bioindicators of environmental health, guide efforts to protect, conserve and restore marine ecosystems such as the GBR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederic D L Leusch
- Australian Rivers Institute, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Southport, Qld 4222, Australia.
| | - Henner Hollert
- Department Evolutionary Ecology & Environmental Toxicology (E3T), Faculty Biological Sciences (FB15), Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany.
| | - Glen Holmes
- WWF Australia, Brisbane, Qld 4000, Australia.
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Bain PA, Gregg A, Pandey AK, Mudiam MKR, Neale PA, Kumar A. Using bioanalytical tools to detect and track organic micropollutants in the Ganga River near two major cities. J Hazard Mater 2021; 404:124135. [PMID: 33049624 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Revised: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Major rivers in India are subject to ongoing impacts from urban drain discharges, most of which contain high levels of domestic and industrial wastewater and stormwater. The aim of the present study was to determine the levels of bioactive organic micropollutants at the discharge points of major urban drains in comparison to upstream and downstream sites. To achieve this, we employed a panel of in vitro bioanalytical tools to quantify estrogenic, androgenic, progestogenic, glucocorticoid and peroxisome proliferator-like activity in water extracts collected from two Indian cities in the Ganga Basin. Cytotoxicity of the water extracts in a human-derived cell line and the potential to cause oxidative stress in a fish cell line were also investigated. We found high levels of activity for all endpoints in samples directly receiving urban drain discharge and low levels at sites upstream from drain discharges. Estrogenicity was detected at levels equivalent to 10 ng/L 17β-estradiol, representing a high likelihood of biomarker effects in fish. Sites located downstream from drain discharges exhibited low to intermediate activity in all assays. This study demonstrates the importance of managing urban drain discharges and the utility of applying bioanalytical tools to assess water quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter A Bain
- CSIRO Land and Water, Locked Bag 2, Glen Osmond 5062, South Australia, Australia
| | - Adrienne Gregg
- CSIRO Land and Water, Locked Bag 2, Glen Osmond 5062, South Australia, Australia
| | - Alok K Pandey
- Nanomaterial Toxicology Group, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Vishvigyan Bhavan, 31, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226001, India
| | - Mohana Krishna Reddy Mudiam
- CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Analytical & Structural Chemistry Department, Uppal Road, Tarnaka, Hyderabad, Telangana 500007, India
| | - Peta A Neale
- Australian Rivers Institute, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Southport 4222, Queensland, Australia
| | - Anu Kumar
- CSIRO Land and Water, Locked Bag 2, Glen Osmond 5062, South Australia, Australia.
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Beyer J, Goksøyr A, Hjermann DØ, Klungsøyr J. Environmental effects of offshore produced water discharges: A review focused on the Norwegian continental shelf. Mar Environ Res 2020; 162:105155. [PMID: 32992224 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2020.105155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Revised: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Produced water (PW), a large byproduct of offshore oil and gas extraction, is reinjected to formations or discharged to the sea after treatment. The discharges contain dispersed crude oil, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), alkylphenols (APs), metals, and many other constituents of environmental relevance. Risk-based regulation, greener offshore chemicals and improved cleaning systems have reduced environmental risks of PW discharges, but PW is still the largest operational source of oil pollution to the sea from the offshore petroleum industry. Monitoring surveys find detectable exposures in caged mussel and fish several km downstream from PW outfalls, but biomarkers indicate only mild acute effects in these sentinels. On the other hand, increased concentrations of DNA adducts are found repeatedly in benthic fish populations, especially in haddock. It is uncertain whether increased adducts could be a long-term effect of sediment contamination due to ongoing PW discharges, or earlier discharges of oil-containing drilling waste. Another concern is uncertainty regarding the possible effect of PW discharges in the sub-Arctic Southern Barents Sea. So far, research suggests that sub-arctic species are largely comparable to temperate species in their sensitivity to PW exposure. Larval deformities and cardiac toxicity in fish early life stages are among the biomarkers and adverse outcome pathways that currently receive much attention in PW effect research. Herein, we summarize the accumulated ecotoxicological knowledge of offshore PW discharges and highlight some key remaining knowledge needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonny Beyer
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Oslo, Norway.
| | - Anders Goksøyr
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Norway; Institute of Marine Research (IMR), Bergen, Norway
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Conley JM, Evans N, Mash H, Rosenblum L, Schenck K, Glassmeyer S, Furlong ET, Kolpin DW, Wilson VS. Comparison of in vitro estrogenic activity and estrogen concentrations in source and treated waters from 25 U.S. drinking water treatment plants. Sci Total Environ 2017; 579:1610-1617. [PMID: 26936661 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.02.093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2015] [Revised: 02/12/2016] [Accepted: 02/13/2016] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
In vitro bioassays have been successfully used to screen for estrogenic activity in wastewater and surface water, however, few have been applied to treated drinking water. Here, extracts of source and treated water samples were assayed for estrogenic activity using T47D-KBluc cells and analyzed by liquid chromatography-Fourier transform mass spectrometry (LC-FTMS) for natural and synthetic estrogens (including estrone, 17β-estradiol, estriol, and ethinyl estradiol). None of the estrogens were detected above the LC-FTMS quantification limits in treated samples and only 5 source waters had quantifiable concentrations of estrone, whereas 3 treated samples and 16 source samples displayed in vitro estrogenicity. Estrone accounted for the majority of estrogenic activity in respective samples, however the remaining samples that displayed estrogenic activity had no quantitative detections of known estrogenic compounds by chemical analyses. Source water estrogenicity (max, 0.47ng 17β-estradiol equivalents (E2Eq) L-1) was below levels that have been linked to adverse effects in fish and other aquatic organisms. Treated water estrogenicity (max, 0.078ngE2EqL-1) was considerably below levels that are expected to be biologically relevant to human consumers. Overall, the advantage of using in vitro techniques in addition to analytical chemical determinations was displayed by the sensitivity of the T47D-KBluc bioassay, coupled with the ability to measure cumulative effects of mixtures, specifically when unknown chemicals may be present.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin M Conley
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Toxicity Assessment Division, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States; Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
| | - Nicola Evans
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Toxicity Assessment Division, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Heath Mash
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Water Supply and Water Resources Division, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | | | - Kathleen Schenck
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Water Supply and Water Resources Division, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Susan Glassmeyer
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Microbial and Chemical Exposure Assessment Research Division, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Ed T Furlong
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Water Quality Laboratory, Denver, CO, United States
| | - Dana W Kolpin
- U.S. Geological Survey, Iowa Water Science Center, Iowa City, IA, United States
| | - Vickie S Wilson
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Toxicity Assessment Division, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States.
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Rusconi M, Marziali L, Stefani F, Valsecchi S, Bettinetti R, Mazzoni M, Rosignoli F, Polesello S. Evaluating the impact of a fluoropolymer plant on a river macrobenthic community by a combined chemical, ecological and genetic approach. Sci Total Environ 2015; 538:654-663. [PMID: 26327633 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.08.086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2015] [Revised: 08/14/2015] [Accepted: 08/15/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Effect-based monitoring is a recommended approach suggested in European Guidelines to assess the response of ecosystem affected by a pollution source, considering the effects at community, population, individual but also at suborganism level. A combined chemical, ecological and genetic approach was applied in order to assess the impact of a fluoropolymer plant on the macrobenthic community of the Northern Italian river Bormida (Piedmont region). The macrobenthic community living downstream of the industrial discharge was chronically exposed to a mixture of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), with perfluorooctanoic acid as the main compound, at concentrations up to several μgL(-1). Ecological assessment proved that the downstream community was not substantially different from that living upstream of the pollution source. The impact on community is not quantifiable with the traditional monitoring methods used for ecological classification under European regulation because macrobenthic communities showed only slight differences in their structure. In order to highlight effects on genetic variability of the native population, a subcellular analysis by using the AFLP (Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism) genetic technique was applied to genotype of individuals of a selected species (Hydropsyche modesta, Trichoptera) collected in the two sampling sites. Percentage of variation between the two populations was 6.8%, a threshold compatible with a genetic drift induced in the downstream population. The genetic study carried out in field identified a significant divergence between exposed and non-exposed populations, but at present it is not possible to associate this divergence to a specific effect induced by PFAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianna Rusconi
- IRSA-CNR, Water Research Institute, via Mulino 19, 20861 Brugherio, MB, Italy.
| | - Laura Marziali
- IRSA-CNR, Water Research Institute, via Mulino 19, 20861 Brugherio, MB, Italy.
| | - Fabrizio Stefani
- IRSA-CNR, Water Research Institute, via Mulino 19, 20861 Brugherio, MB, Italy.
| | - Sara Valsecchi
- IRSA-CNR, Water Research Institute, via Mulino 19, 20861 Brugherio, MB, Italy.
| | - Roberta Bettinetti
- Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, DISTA, Via Dunant 3, Varese, Italy.
| | - Michela Mazzoni
- IRSA-CNR, Water Research Institute, via Mulino 19, 20861 Brugherio, MB, Italy.
| | - Federica Rosignoli
- IRSA-CNR, Water Research Institute, via Mulino 19, 20861 Brugherio, MB, Italy.
| | - Stefano Polesello
- IRSA-CNR, Water Research Institute, via Mulino 19, 20861 Brugherio, MB, Italy.
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Beníšek M, Kukučka P, Mariani G, Suurkuusk G, Gawlik BM, Locoro G, Giesy JP, Bláha L. Dioxins and dioxin-like compounds in composts and digestates from European countries as determined by the in vitro bioassay and chemical analysis. Chemosphere 2015; 122:168-175. [PMID: 25522853 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2014.11.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2014] [Revised: 11/11/2014] [Accepted: 11/15/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Aerobic composting and anaerobic digestion plays an important role in reduction of organic waste by transforming the waste into humus, which is an excellent soil conditioner. However, applications of chemical-contaminated composts on soils may have unwanted consequences such as accumulation of persistent compounds and their transfer into food chains. The present study investigated burden of composts and digestates collected in 16 European countries (88 samples) by the compounds causing dioxin-like effects as determined by use of an in vitro transactivation assay to quantify total concentrations of aryl hydrocarbon receptor-(AhR) mediated potency. Measured concentrations of 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibeno-p-dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD) equivalents (TEQbio) were compared to concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and selected chlorinated compounds, including polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans (PCDD/Fs), co-planar polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), indicator PCB congeners and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs). Median concentrations of TEQbio (dioxin-like compounds) determined by the in vitro assay in crude extracts of various types of composts ranged from 0.05 to 1.2 with a maximum 8.22μg (TEQbio)kg(-1) dry mass. Potencies were mostly associated with less persistent compounds such as PAHs because treatment with sulfuric acid removed bioactivity from most samples. The pan-European investigation of contamination by organic contaminants showed generally good quality of the composts, the majority of which were in compliance with conservative limits applied in some countries. Results demonstrate performance and added value of rapid, inexpensive, effect-based monitoring, and points out the need to derive corresponding effect-based trigger values for the risk assessment of complex contaminated matrices such as composts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Beníšek
- Masaryk University, Faculty of Science, RECETOX, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Kukučka
- Masaryk University, Faculty of Science, RECETOX, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Giulio Mariani
- European Commission, DG Joint Research Centre (JRC), Institute for Environment and Sustainability, Unit H.01-Water Resources Unit, Ispra, Italy
| | - Gert Suurkuusk
- European Commission, DG Joint Research Centre (JRC), Institute for Environment and Sustainability, Unit H.01-Water Resources Unit, Ispra, Italy
| | - Bernd M Gawlik
- European Commission, DG Joint Research Centre (JRC), Institute for Environment and Sustainability, Unit H.01-Water Resources Unit, Ispra, Italy
| | - Giovanni Locoro
- European Commission, DG Joint Research Centre (JRC), Institute for Environment and Sustainability, Unit H.01-Water Resources Unit, Ispra, Italy
| | - John P Giesy
- Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences and Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, SK, Canada; Department of Biology & Chemistry and State Key Laboratory in Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; School of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Luděk Bláha
- Masaryk University, Faculty of Science, RECETOX, Brno, Czech Republic
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Tang JYM, Busetti F, Charrois JWA, Escher BI. Which chemicals drive biological effects in wastewater and recycled water? Water Res 2014; 60:289-299. [PMID: 24874944 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2014.04.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2014] [Revised: 04/07/2014] [Accepted: 04/22/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Removal of organic micropollutants from wastewater during secondary treatment followed by reverse osmosis and UV disinfection was evaluated by a combination of four in-vitro cell-based bioassays and chemical analysis of 299 organic compounds. Concentrations detected in recycled water were below the Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling. Thus the detected chemicals were considered not to pose any health risk. The detected pesticides in the wastewater treatment plant effluent and partially advanced treated water explained all observed effects on photosynthesis inhibition. In contrast, mixture toxicity experiments with designed mixtures containing all detected chemicals at their measured concentrations demonstrated that the known chemicals explained less than 3% of the observed cytotoxicity and less than 1% of the oxidative stress response. Pesticides followed by pharmaceuticals and personal care products dominated the observed mixture effects. The detected chemicals were not related to the observed genotoxicity. The large proportion of unknown toxicity calls for effect monitoring complementary to chemical monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janet Y M Tang
- The University of Queensland, National Research Centre for Environmental Toxicology (Entox), 39 Kessels Rd, Brisbane, QLD 4108, Australia
| | - Francesco Busetti
- Curtin University, Curtin Water Quality Research Centre (CWQRC), GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia
| | - Jeffrey W A Charrois
- Curtin University, Curtin Water Quality Research Centre (CWQRC), GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia
| | - Beate I Escher
- The University of Queensland, National Research Centre for Environmental Toxicology (Entox), 39 Kessels Rd, Brisbane, QLD 4108, Australia.
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Tang JYM, Escher BI. Realistic environmental mixtures of micropollutants in surface, drinking, and recycled water: herbicides dominate the mixture toxicity toward algae. Environ Toxicol Chem 2014; 33:1427-1436. [PMID: 24648273 DOI: 10.1002/etc.2580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2013] [Revised: 12/06/2013] [Accepted: 03/11/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Mixture toxicity studies with herbicides have focused on a few priority components that are most likely to cause environmental impacts, and experimental mixtures were often designed as equipotent mixtures; however, real-world mixtures are made up of chemicals with different modes of toxic action at arbitrary concentration ratios. The toxicological significance of environmentally realistic mixtures has only been scarcely studied. Few studies have simultaneously compared the mixture effect of water samples with designed reference mixtures comprised of the ratios of analytically detected concentrations in toxicity tests. In the present study, the authors address the effect of herbicides and other chemicals on inhibition of photosynthesis and algal growth rate. The authors tested water samples including secondary treated wastewater effluent, recycled water, drinking water, and storm water in the combined algae assay. The detected chemicals were mixed in the concentration ratios detected, and the biological effects of the water samples were compared with the designed mixtures of individual detected chemicals to quantify the fraction of effect caused by unknown chemicals. The results showed that herbicides dominated the algal toxicity in these environmentally realistic mixtures, and the contribution by the non-herbicides was negligible. A 2-stage model, which used concentration addition within the groups of herbicides and non-herbicides followed by the model of independent action to predict the mixture effect of the two groups, could predict the experimental mixture toxicity effectively, but the concentration addition model for herbicides was robust and sufficient for complex mixtures. Therefore, the authors used the bioanalytical equivalency concept to derive effect-based trigger values for algal toxicity for monitoring water quality in recycled and surface water. All water samples tested would be compliant with the proposed trigger values associated with the appropriate guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janet Y M Tang
- National Research Centre for Environmental Toxicology, The University of Queensland, Coopers Plains, Queensland, Australia
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