Abstract

Wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents release complex mixtures of organic and inorganic micropollutants, including endocrine disrupting compounds, into receiving water bodies. These substances may cause adverse effects in aquatic communities as well as in ecosystem functions they provide. The aim of this study was to determine the potential impact of secondary treated wastewater released into a small Swiss stream on leaf litter decomposition based on feeding rates of the amphipod shredder Gammarus fossarum measured in situ. Additionally, endocrine disrupting effects downstream of the WWTP were investigated by measuring vitellogenin (vg) induction in male gammarids exposed in situ, as well as estrogen receptor activation using the Yeast Estrogen Screen (YES) involving passive sampler and grab water sample extracts. Extracts were also analysed for 424 organic micropollutants and selected transformation products. Gammarid feeding rate was significantly reduced 100, 200 and 400 m downstream of the WWTP effluent relative to the upstream site. While YES results showed significantly elevated estrogenicity at downstream sites, vg production in male gammarids was not induced. A laboratory experiment, in which gammarids were exposed to WWTP effluent, supported this observation. These results, hence, suggest that treated wastewater released into aquatic ecosystems impairs the ecosystem function of leaf litter decomposition. Vg levels in male gammarids measured by UPLC-MS/MS did, however, not alter. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Keywords

Gammarid; Secondary treated wastewater; in situ bioassay; Feeding activity

Published in

Science of the Total Environment
2019, Volume: 657, pages: 1246-1252
Publisher: ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

SLU Authors

• Bundschuh, Mirco

  • Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • University of Koblenz-Landau

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG6 Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all


UKÄ Subject classification

Water Treatment


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.12.035

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/98101