Evaluation of chemical and biological contaminants of emerging concern in treated wastewater intended for agricultural reuse. (May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Alygizakis, Nikiforos A.; Urík, Jakub; Beretsou, Vasiliki G.; Kampouris, Ioannis; Galani, Aikaterini; Oswaldova, Martina; Berendonk, Thomas; Oswald, Peter; Thomaidis, Nikolaos S.; Slobodnik, Jaroslav; Vrana, Branislav; Fatta-Kassinos, Despo
• Is Part Of: Environment international. Volume 138(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-05
• Subjects: Hydrogel-based passive sampler -- Wastewater reuse -- Contaminants of emerging concern -- Transformation products -- Antibiotics -- Antibiotic resistance genes; Environmental protection -- Periodicals; Environmental health -- Periodicals; Environmental monitoring -- Periodicals; Environmental Monitoring -- Periodicals; Environnement -- Protection -- Périodiques; Hygiène du milieu -- Périodiques; Environnement -- Surveillance -- Périodiques; Environmental health; Environmental monitoring; Environmental protection; Periodicals; 333.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105597
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0160-4120

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: 279 out of 2316 target substances were detected and 16 compounds were prioritized. Passive sampling proved to be a powerful way for monitoring treated wastewater. Field-scale calibration of a novel passive sampler prototype was achieved. 7 transformation products of the 4 prioritized antibiotics were elucidated. Six antibiotic resistant genes were detected in all collected wastewater samples. Abstract: The occurrence of chemical and biological contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) was investigated in treated wastewater intended for reuse in agriculture. An agarose hydrogel diffusion-based passive sampler was exposed to the outlet of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) located in Cyprus, which is equipped with membrane bioreactor (MBR). Passive samplers in triplicate were exposed according to a time-series exposure plan with maximum exposure duration of 28 days. Composite flow-proportional wastewater samples were collected in parallel with the passive sampling exposure plan and were processed by solid phase extraction using HORIZON SPE-DEX 4790 and the same sorbent material (Oasis HLB) as in the passive sampler. The analysis of passive samplers and wastewater samples enabled (i) the field-scale calibration of the passive sampler prototype by the calculation of in situ sampling rates of target substances, and (ii) the investigation of in silico predicted transformation products of the four most ecotoxicologically hazardous antibiotics (azithromycin, clarithromycin, erythromycin, ofloxacin). Additionally, the wastewater samples were subjected to the analysis of seven preselected antibiotic resistant genes (ARGs) and one mobile resistant element ( int1 ). All extracts were analyzed for chemicals in a single batch using a highly sensitive method for pharmaceuticals, antibiotics and illicit drugs by liquid chromatography tandem MS/MS (LC-QQQ) and for various other target compounds (2316 compounds in total) by liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). 279 CECs and all investigated ARGs (except for bla CTX-M−32 ) were detected, highlighting potential chemical and biological hazards related to wastewater reuse practices. 16 CECs were prioritized following ecotoxicological risk assessment, whereas sul1 and the mobile resistant element ( int1) showed the highest abundance. Comprehensive monitoring efforts using novel sampling methods such as passive sampling, wide-scope target screening and molecular analysis are required to assure safe application of wastewater reuse and avoid spread and crop uptake of potentially hazardous chemicals.