SIMONI (Smart Integrated Monitoring) as a novel bioanalytical strategy for water quality assessment: Part II–field feasibility survey

Abstract

Because it is impossible to chemically analyze all relevant micropollutants, the implementation of bioanalytical tools is essential to estimate ecological risks of chemical mixtures in regular water-monitoring programs. The first tier of the Smart Integrated Monitoring (SIMONI) strategy, which was described in part I, is based on the combination of passive sampling and bioanalytical measurements. Bioassay responses are compared with effect-based trigger values (EBT), and an overall SIMONI score on all bioassay data was designed to indicate environmental risks. The present study is focused on analyzing the feasibility of the hazard identification tier by evaluating results of 45 field campaigns at sites with different pollution profiles near the city of Amsterdam. A Daphnia assay was performed in situ, while silicon rubber or polar organic chemical integrative sampler (POCIS) extracts were tested with 4 nonspecific (daphnids, algae, bacteria, and cell culture) and 10 specific (9 Chemical Activated Luciferase Gene Expression [CALUX] assays and antibiotics scan) bioassays. Sensitivity analyses demonstrated the relevance of 2 classification variables in the SIMONI score formula on all bioanalytical data. The model indicated increased risks for the ecosystem at surface waters in greenhouse areas and undiluted wastewater-treatment plant (WWTP) effluents. The choice of testing specific bioassays on either polar or nonpolar passive sampling extracts is cost-effective and still provided meaningful insights on micropollutant risks. Statistical analyses revealed that the model provides a relevant overall impact assessment based on bioassay responses. Data analyses on the chemically determined mixture toxic pressure and bioanalytical methods provided similar insights in relative risk ranking of water bodies. The SIMONI combination of passive sampling and bioanalytical testing appears to be a feasible strategy to identify chemical hazards. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:2400-2416. © 2017 SETAC.

SIMONI (Smart Integrated Monitoring) as a novel bioanalytical strategy for water quality assessment: Part I–model design and effect‐based trigger values

“…The proposed EBT for genotoxicity is 0.005 genotoxic units, that is, a significant genotoxicity in a 200 times concentrated sample. This EBT was slightly exceeded at 1 of the 8 clean sites (0.0065 toxic unit); at other reference sites no genotoxicity was observed in 400 times concentrated samples , supporting the choice made for 0.005 genotoxic unit.…”

“…Several bioassays were performed on surface water extracts of the Amsterdam region in The Netherlands . Less than 50% of the polar extracts responded in the nonspecific in vivo toxicity assays.…”

“…A major advantage of specific in vitro responses is that these may indicate which classes of chemicals and which types of effects may cause the main problem for aquatic organisms. The final selection of toxic endpoints was based on the literature [21][22][23][24] as well as our own research [20].…”

“…The most relevant modes of toxic action identified in that study were related to nonspecific toxicity, xenobiotic metabolism (activation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor [AhR] and pregnane X receptor [PXR]), hormone-mediated mechanism of action (estrogenic, antiandrogenic, and glucocorticoid activities), and reactive mechanism of action (genotoxicity and oxidative stress). Several bioassays were performed on surface water extracts of the Amsterdam region in The Netherlands [20]. Less than 50% of the polar extracts responded in the nonspecific in vivo toxicity assays.…”

Risk‐based approach in the revised European Union drinking water legislation: Opportunities for bioanalytical tools

“…Even though there are no formal regulations in place yet, bioassays are already being used for water quality monitoring in the Netherlands at Dutch drinking water utilities and water laboratories, in particular those that produce drinking water from infiltrated surface water. A panel of in vitro bioassays is included in the SIMONI strategy for water quality assessment that is regularly applied by many Dutch water boards (Van der Oost et al , ). The selection of in vitro bioassays in the SIMONI panel was based on Waternet research and earlier studies in which in vitro bioassays were evaluated for their use in water quality monitoring (Willemsen et al ; van der Linden et al ; Macova et al ; Escher et al ).…”