Impact of treated wastewater on organismic biosensors at various levels of biological organization

Abstract

Relating the treated wastewater quality and its impact on organismic biosensors (Prussian carp, Carassius gibelio and earthworm, Eisenia fetida) was the main objective of the study. The impact on health status of fish living downstream, microbiological contamination and antimicrobial resistance, fish tissue structure, blood biochemistry, oxidative stress, genotoxic effects, as well as multixenobiotic resistance mechanism (MXR) was assessed. Treated wastewater discharged from the WWTP modified the environmental parameters and xenobiotic concentrations of the receiving surface waters. Potential bacterial pathogens from fish and respective waters were found in relatively low numbers, although they comprised aeromonads with a zoonotic potential. High resistance profiles were determined towards the tested antimicrobial compounds, mostly sulfamethoxazole and erytrhomycin. Histopathology primarily revealed gill lamellar fusion and reduction of interlamellar spaces of effluent fish. A significant increase in plasma values of urea, total proteins, albumins and triglycerides and a significant decrease in the activity of plasma superoxide dismutase were noted in carp from the effluent-receiving canal. Micronucleus test did not reveal significant differences between the examined groups, but a higher frequency of erythrocyte nuclear abnormalities was found in fish sampled from the effluent-receiving canal. Earthworms indicated to the presence of MXR inhibitors in water and sludge samples, thus proving as a sensitive sentinel organism for environmental pollutants. The integrative approach of this study could serve as a guiding principle in conducting evaluations of the aquatic habitat health in complex bio-monitoring studies.Response to Reviewers: The response is attached as a separate file. We request that this manuscript be considered for publication in Science of the Total Environment as an original, full paper. This manuscript has not been published and is not under consideration for publication in any other journal. All authors concur with the submission.The manuscript is a result of a comprehensive study which integrated various disciplines and research fields. The authors decided to present it as a whole rather than splitting it in two or more papers, for a better understanding of the discussed subject. We believe we have presented a potential guiding principle for conducting evaluations of the aquatic habitat health in complex bio-monitoring studies.I will be serving as the corresponding author for the manuscript. We hope that it is found to be interesting and appropriate for publication in Science of the Total Environment. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.Yours truly, Natalija Topic Popovic, DVM, PhD Response: Thank you for this clarification. We have taken a whole different approach and completely rewritten all sections relating to the PCA as they were indeed confusing, and created a new biplot for plasma parameters. We hope that the new text, as inserted in the respect...

The Impact of Treated Wastewaters on Fish Bacterial Flora: A Public Health Perspective

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Shewanella spp. from wastewater treatment plant-affected environment: isolation and characterization

“…Discharges from WWTPs directly and indirectly affect both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems (Babić et al, 2016). Treated wastewater discharged from the WWTP in this work modified the environmental parameters and xenobiotic concentrations of the receiving surface waters, while potential bacterial pathogens from fish and respective waters were observed in relatively low numbers, as described previously in Topić Popović et al (2015). S. baltica was retrieved from the gills, liver, and kidney of fish living in WWTP-affected waters, having none to slight clinical signs.…”

Biosensors for Sustainable Food Engineering: Challenges and Perspectives

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