Ecotoxicological impact of the antihypertensive valsartan on earthworms, extracellular enzymes and soil bacterial communities. (15th April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gallego, Sara; Nos, David; Montemurro, Nicola; Sanchez-Hernandez, Juan C.; Pérez, Sandra; Solé, Montserrat; Martin-Laurent, Fabrice
• Is Part Of: Environmental pollution. Volume 275(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-04-15
• Subjects: Pharmaceuticals -- Ecotoxicology -- Microbial ecotoxicology -- Soil; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Effets physiologiques -- Périodiques; Pollution; Pollution -- Environmental aspects; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.73
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116647
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-7491

Abstract

Abstract: The use of reclaimed water in agriculture represents a promising alternative to relieve pressure on freshwater supplies, especially in arid or semiarid regions facing water scarcity. However, this implies introducing micropollutants such as pharmaceutical residues into the environment. The fate and the ecotoxicological impact of valsartan, an antihypertensive drug frequently detected in wastewater effluents, were evaluated in soil-earthworm microcosms. Valsartan dissipation in the soil was concomitant with valsartan acid formation. Although both valsartan and valsartan acid accumulated in earthworms, no effect was observed on biomarkers of exposure (acetylcholinesterase, glutathione S-transferase and carboxylesterase activities). The geometric mean index of soil enzyme activity increased in the soils containing earthworms, regardless of the presence of valsartan. Therefore, earthworms increased soil carboxylesterase, dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, β-glucosidase, urease and protease activities. Although bacterial richness significantly decreased following valsartan exposure, this trend was enhanced in the presence of earthworms with a significant impact on both alpha and beta microbial diversity. The operational taxonomic units involved in these changes were related to four (Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria and Firmicutes) of the eight most abundant phyla. Their relative abundances significantly increased in the valsartan-treated soils containing earthworms, suggesting the presence of potential valsartan degraders. The ecotoxicological effect of valsartan on microbes was strongly altered in the earthworm-added soils, hence the importance of considering synergistic effects of different soil organisms in the environmental risk assessment of pharmaceutical active compounds. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Valsartan dissipates in the soil but accumulates in earthworms. Valsartan has no effect on earthworm enzyme activities. Earthworms increase soil enzyme activities regardless of valsartan. Earthworms enhance the effect of valsartan on microbial diversity. Abundances of four bacterial phyla increase in valsartan-spiked soils. Abstract : Valsartan accumulates in earthworms but has no effect on earthworm enzyme activities. It dissipates in the soil where four bacterial phyla increase in valsartan-spiked soils.