Evaluation of a biological post-treatment after full-scale ozonation at a municipal wastewater treatment plant

Itzel, Fabian; Baetz, Nicolai; Hohrenk, Lotta L.; Gehrmann, Linda; Antakyalı, Demet; Schmidt, Torsten; Tuerk, Jochen

doi:10.1016/j.watres.2019.115316

Cited by 57 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…This is in line with earlier work in which removal of androgenic activity to undetectable levels in effluent of the same WWTP was observed whereas anti-AR, ER and GR were still detected in effluent (Houtman et al, 2018). Also other studies investigating municipal WWTPs reported reduction or removal of androgenic activity in the treatment, and the presence of anti-androgenic and estrogenic activity in effluent (Bain et al, 2014;Itzel et al, 2020).…”

Section: Unfractionated Extractssupporting

confidence: 91%

High resolution effect-directed analysis of steroid hormone (ant)agonists in surface and wastewater quality monitoring

Houtman

Broek

Oorschot

et al. 2020

Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology

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Section: Unfractionated Extractssupporting

confidence: 91%

High resolution effect-directed analysis of steroid hormone (ant)agonists in surface and wastewater quality monitoring

Houtman

Broek

Oorschot

et al. 2020

Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology

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“…Lower values of estrogenic activities were generally recorded in WWTP effluents for studies applying estrogenicity assessment to evaluate water quality and waste treatment efficiency. 80,109,110,119 In these studies, the low estrogenic activities were linked to elimination of chemical pollutants in the treatment processes. Conversely, high estrogenicity values well above 100 ng E2 L À1 Fig.…”

Section: Detected Estrogenic Activity In All Matricesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Monitoring of emerging contaminants of concern in the aquatic environment: a review of studies showing the application of effect-based measures

et al. 2021

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“…Androgenic and anti-androgenic activities were detected at relatively high levels in the WWTP effluent. Anti-androgenic activities also remained at moderate levels after O3 and in the post-filtration stages (compare Itzel et al 2020), while androgenic activities were more effectively reduced (figure 5C and 5D in Schneider et al 2020).…”

Section: Integrated Wastewater Quality Evaluationcase Study Of a Pilot Wwtp Equipped With Awwt Technologiesmentioning

confidence: 90%

“…This activity seemed moderately increased by ozonation, similar to previous observations in the course of this thesis (Abbas et al 2019). It was hypothesized that both phenomena might be the results of shifted ratios of agonistic and antagonistic activities (e.g., Ihara et al 2014, Rao et al 2014) and/or anti-estrogenic TPs (e.g., Itzel et al 2020, Knoop et al 2018. Albeit GAC filtration reduced the antagonistic activity to the level of the EFF-4, it remained elevated in the BFs (figure 5B in Schneider et al 2020).…”

Section: Integrated Wastewater Quality Evaluationcase Study Of a Pilot Wwtp Equipped With Awwt Technologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Ecotoxicological characterization of micropollutants and wastewater samples from conventional biological and advanced wastewater treatment

Abbas¹

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Clean water is fundamental to human health and ecosystem integrity. However, water quality deteriorates due to novel anthropogenic pollutants present at microgram per liter concentrations in urban water cycles (termed micropollutants). Wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) have been identified as major point sources for aquatic (micro-)pollutants. Chemical and ecotoxicological analyses have shown that conventional biological WWTPs do not fully remove micropollutants and associated toxicities, which is often because of mobile, polar and/or recalcitrant compounds and transformation products (TPs). To minimize possible environmental risks, advanced wastewater treatment (AWWT) technologies could be a promising mitigation measure. Multiple processes are therefore being developed and evaluated such as ozonation and ozonation followed by granulated activated carbon (GAC) or biological filtration. Assessing the performance of these combined AWWTs was the focus the TransRisk project. Within this project, this thesis accomplished four major goals. Firstly, the preparation of (waste)water samples was optimised for in vitro bioassays. Acidification, filtration and solid phase extraction (SPE) were tested for their impact on environmentally relevant in vitro endocrine activities, mutagenicity, genotoxicity and cytotoxicity. Significantly different outcomes of these assays were detected comparing neutral and acidified samples. Sample filtration had a lesser impact, but in some cases retention of particle-bound compounds could have caused significant toxicity losses. Out of three SPE sorbents the Telos C18/ENV at sample pH 2.5 extracted highest toxicity, some undetected in aqueous samples. These results indicate that sample preparation needs to be optimised for specific sample matrices and bioassays to avoid false-positive or -negative detects in effect-based analyses. Secondly, the above listed in vitro toxicities were monitored in a protected region for drinking water production in South-West Germany (2012-2015). Out of 30 sampling sites surface water and groundwater were the least polluted. Nonetheless, a few groundwater samples induced high anti-estrogenic activity that prompted further monitoring. The latter included a waterworks in which no toxicity was detected. Hospital wastewater also had elevated in vitro toxicities and hospitals are, thus, relevant intervention points for source control. The biological WWTPs were effective in removing most of the detected toxicity, and the selected bioassays proved to be pertinent tools for water quality assessment and prioritisation of pollution hotspots. Thirdly, the in vivo bioassay ISO10872 based on Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) was adapted for this thesis. Using this model, a median effect concentration (EC50) for reproductive toxicity of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon β-naphthoflavone (β- NF) of 114 µg/L was computed which is slightly lower than reported in the scientific literature. β-NF induced cyp-35A3::GFP (a biomarker in transgenic animals) in a time and concentration dependent manner (≤ 21.3–24 fold above controls). β-NF spiked wastewater samples supported earlier hypotheses on particle-bound pollutants. Reproductive toxicity (96 h) and cyp-35A3 induction (24 h) of biologically treated and/or ozonated wastewater extracts and growth promoting effects of GAC/biologically filtered ozonated wastewater extracts were observed. This suggested the presence of residual bioactive/toxic chemicals not included in the targeted chemical analysis. It also highlighted the importance of integrating multiple (apical and molecular) endpoints in wastewater assessments. Fourthly, five in vitro and the adapted C. elegans bioassay were integrated into a wastewater quality evaluation (developed within TransRisk). Out of the five AWWT options, ozonation (at 1 g O3,applied/g DOC, HRT ~ 18 min) combined with nonaerated GAC filtration was rated most effective for toxicity removal. All five AWWTs largely removed estrogenic and (anti-)androgenic activities, but not anti-estrogenic activity and mutagenicity, which even increased during ozonation. This has been observed in related studies and points towards toxic TPs. These results also emphasized the need for implementing an effective post-treatment for ozonation. The results from a parallel in vivo study with Lumbriculus variegatus and Potamopyrgus antipodarum conducted on site at the WWTP (using flow through systems) were in accordance with the C. elegans results. In this context, it is suggested to further implement C. elegans as sensitive, feasible and ecologically relevant model. In conclusion, this thesis shows how optimised sample preparation, long-term (in vitro) environmental monitoring, sensitive and ecologically relevant (in vivo) bioassays as well as innovative evaluation concepts, are pivotal in improving the removal of micropollutants and their toxicities with AWWTs. Future research should further develop and evaluate measures at sewer systems, conventional biological, tertiary and other advanced treatment technologies, as well as sociopolitical strategies (e.g., source control or natural conservation) and restoration projects. The effect-based tools optimised in this thesis will support assessing their success.

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Evaluation of a biological post-treatment after full-scale ozonation at a municipal wastewater treatment plant

Cited by 57 publications

References 52 publications

High resolution effect-directed analysis of steroid hormone (ant)agonists in surface and wastewater quality monitoring

High resolution effect-directed analysis of steroid hormone (ant)agonists in surface and wastewater quality monitoring

Monitoring of emerging contaminants of concern in the aquatic environment: a review of studies showing the application of effect-based measures

Ecotoxicological characterization of micropollutants and wastewater samples from conventional biological and advanced wastewater treatment

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