Efficiency of advanced oxidation processes in lowering bisphenol A toxicity and oestrogenic activity in aqueous samples

Abstract

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a well-known endocrine disruptor with adverse oestrogen-like effects eliciting adverse effects in humans and wildlife. For this reason it is necessary to set up an efficient removal of BPA from wastewaters, before they are discharged into surface waters. The aim of this study was to compare the efficiency of BPA removal from aqueous samples with photolytic, photocatalytic, and UV/H 2 O 2 oxidation. BPA solutions were illuminated with different bulbs (halogen; 17 W UV, 254 nm; and 150 W UV, 365 nm) with or without the TiO 2 P-25 catalyst or H 2 O 2 (to accelerate degradation). Acute toxicity and oestrogenic activity of treated samples were determined using luminescent bacteria (Vibrio fischeri), water fleas (Daphnia magna), zebrafish embryos (Danio rerio), and Yeast Estrogen Screen (YES) assay with genetically modified yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The results confirmed that BPA is toxic and oestrogenically active. Chemical analysis showed a reduction of BPA levels after photolytic treatment and 100 % conversion of BPA by photocatalytic and UV/H 2 O 2 oxidation. The toxicity and oestrogenic activity of BPA were largely reduced in photolytically treated samples. Photocatalytic oxidation, however, either did not reduce BPA toxic and oestrogenic effects or even increased them in comparison with the baseline, untreated BPA solution. Our findings suggest that chemical analysis is not sufficient to determine the efficiency of advanced oxidation processes in removing pollutants from water and needs to be complemented with biological tests.

A comprehensive study on bisphenol A degradation by newly isolated strains Acinetobacter sp. K1MN and Pseudomonas sp. BG12

“…Conversely, others have shown that even when organisms degrade BPA with high RE, intermediates formed during degradation are often more toxic than the parent compound (Mtibaà et al 2018). Similarly, chemical technologies such as photocatalytic oxidation did not reduce BPA toxicity but even increased it in comparison with untreated BPA solution (Plahuta et al 2014).…”

Environmental Safety Assessment of Fertilizer Products

“…(Growth Inhibition Test). The in-vitro tests called YES (Yeast Estrogen Screen) and YAS (Yeast Androgen Screen), using Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast strains, turn out to be useful for assessing estrogenic or androgenic activity [56].…”

Abatement of toxicity of effluents containing Cr(VI) by heterogeneous photocatalysis. Toxicity assessment by AMPHITOX assay

“…In contrast, simple and inexpensive bioassays represent a very useful tool in the safe implementation of the treatment technologies (Konstantinou and Albanis, 2003), a scarcely studied aspect in the case of photocatalytic systems (Bozzi et al, 2004). The eventual detoxification of different matrices by the use of AOTs (Konstantinou and Albanis, 2003;Bozzi et al, 2004) and the acute toxicity of TiO 2 nanoparticles to freshwater aquatic organisms (Hall et al, 2009) have been assessed by different techniques, e.g., luminescent bacteria (Bozzi et al, 2004;Hall et al, 2009;Oturan et al, 2008;Plahuta et al, 2014), algae (Hall et al, 2009;Oturan et al, 2008;Andreozzi et al, 2004), microinvertebrates (Bozzi et al, 2004;Oturan et al, 2008;Plahuta et al, 2014;Andreozzi et al, 2004;Nagel-Hassemer et al, 2011) and fishes (Hall et al, 2009;Plahuta et al, 2014;Nagel-Hassemer et al, 2011). However, chronic toxicity studies during application of AOTs have scarce records.…”