Abstract

Chemical contamination of wastewater is a problem of great environmental concern, as it poses a hazard to both the ecosystem and to human health. In this study, we have performed a bioanalytical evaluation of the presence and removal efficiency for bioactive chemicals in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), using in vitro assays for toxicity endpoints of high relevance for human health. Water samples were collected at the inlet and outlet of five Swedish WWTPs, all adopting a treatment technology including pretreatment, primary treatment (sedimenation), seconday treatment (biological processes), post-sedimentation, and sludge hand ling. The water samples were analyzed for cytotoxicity, estrogenicity, androgenicity, aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) activity, oxidative stress response (Nrf2) and the ability to activate NF kappa B (nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells) signaling. We observed clear androgenic and estrogenic activities in all inlet samples. Androgenic and estrogenic activities were also observed in all outlet samples, but the activities were lower than the respective inlet sample. AhR activity was observed in all samples, with higher activities in the inlet samples compared to the outlet samples. The removal efficiency was found to be high for androgenic (>99% for two plants and 50-60%for two plants) and estrogenic (>90%for most plants) compounds, while the removal efficiency for AhR-inducing compounds was 50-60%for most plants and 16%for one plant.

Published in

Scientific Reports
2019, Volume: 9, article number: 7166
Publisher: NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP

SLU Authors

• Lundqvist, Johan

  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Mandava, Geeta

  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Lungu Mitea, Sebastian

  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Lai, Foon Yin

  • Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Ahrens, Lutz

  • Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Sustainable Development Goals

Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns


UKÄ Subject classification

Environmental Sciences
Water Treatment


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-43671-z

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/106556