Monitoring and Ecotoxicity Assessment of Emerging Contaminants in Wastewater Discharge in the City of Prague (Czech Republic)

Abstract

Emerging contaminants (ECs) are not monitored nor regulated consistently, but may have negative effects on human health and ecosystem balance. Although pharmaceuticals and personal care products are among the main ECs found in surface and wastewater, their toxicity and fate are currently not sufficiently studied. In this study, we analyzed for the first time a group of 46 ECs in the secondary effluent of the wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) of Prague. Thirty-seven compounds were identified in the discharge to surface water. Three compounds had no toxicology information on Artemia salina: furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide, and tramadol. We performed acute toxicity (LC50) tests and enzyme assays after 24 and 48 h at room temperature and 28 °C for these three compounds. LC50 ranged from 225.01 mg/L for furosemide, the most toxic, up to above 14,000 mg/L for tramadol. Changes in enzymatic activity for GST, GPx, AChE, and LDH when A. salina were exposed to LC25 for each contaminant were conspicuous and significant in a contaminant-, exposure time-, and temperature-dependent manner. These biochemical markers complement the toxicity profile of these contaminants in aquatic ecosystems and highlight the need for further research on other ECs and their implications, and the regulations required to protect human and ecological health.

Application of Raney Al-Ni Alloy for Simple Hydrodehalogenation of Diclofenac and Other Halogenated Biocidal Contaminants in Alkaline Aqueous Solution under Ambient Conditions

“…Hydrochlorothiazide is widely used diuretic [ 51 ]. The ecotoxicity of this drug and even of its oxidation products is mentioned in the literature [ 52 ].…”

Progress in Emerging Contaminants Removal by Adsorption/Membrane Filtration-Based Technologies: A Review

“…The toxicity effect of ECs (i.e., furosemide and tramadol) was detected on Prague's surface water and WWTP to Artemia salina. They had a lethal concentration (LC50) of 225.01 mg/L and 14,000 mg/L for furosemide and tramadol, respectively (Diaz-Sosa et al, 2020). Further research and regulation of ECs and their detrimental effects are needed to protect human health and ecology.…”

The physico-chemical and bacteriological effects of UV-treated wastewater irrigation on soil and turfgrass quality: A case study in a coastal golf course

“…Candela et al, 2007;Dère et al, 2007 ;Rusan et al, 2007). Recently, some public health-related studies have focused on emerging contaminants (Christou et al, 2017 ;Diaz-Sosa et al, 2020). Despite the socio-economic benefits of wastewater application in irrigation, it remains a practice that presents a significant risk to human and environmental health (Cirelli et al, 2012;Forslund et al, 2012;Szkup-Jablonska et al, 2012).…”