Toxicity of herbal pharmaceutical wastewater on fish--Lebistes reticulatus (Peter)

Toxic effects of herbal pharmaceutical wastewater on common fish (Lebistes reticulatus) under laboratory conditions were studied. LC50 values for raw, neutralized, and physico-chemically treated effluent for 24, 48, 72, and 96 h ranged between 3.0-9.5%, 5.0-10.5%, and 35-41%, respectively. It was evident from the studies that physico-chemical treatment reduces the toxicity by more than 30%. This article discusses in detail the bioassay evaluation of raw, neutralized, and primary treated effluent. Physico-chemically treated effluent was further subjected to biological treatment by activated sludge system. Effluent from biological treatment revealed no toxic effect even after one month of exposure.     

In situ and laboratory bioassays to evaluate the impact of effluent discharges on receiving aquatic ecosystems

Effluents are a main source of direct and often continuous input of pollutants into aquatic ecosystems with long-term implications on ecosystem functioning. Therefore, the study of the effects of effluent exposure on organisms, populations or communities within the framework of impact assessment has a high ecological relevance. The aim of this study was to assess the toxicological impact of two effluents, one household wastewater treatment effluent (Effluent 1) and one industrial effluent (Effluent 2), on the receiving aquatic ecosystem using two test species under both in situ and laboratory conditions. Zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) and common carp (Cyprinus carpio) were exposed under laboratory conditions in an online monitoring flow-through system (receiving different concentrations of Effluent 2) and under in situ conditions along the pollution gradient established by these two effluent discharges. Bioassays focussed on growth and condition related endpoints (i.e. condition, growth, lipid budget), since these are key functional processes within organisms and populations. Under laboratory conditions, increasing concentrations of the industrial effluent (Effluent 2) had a negative effect on both zebra mussel and carp energy reserves and condition. Under in situ conditions, the same negative impact of Effluent 2 was observed for zebra mussels, while Effluent 1 had no apparent effect on exposed zebra mussels. Carp growth and condition, on the other hand, were significantly increased at the discharge sites of both effluents when compared to the reference site, probably due to differences in food availability. The results indicate that a combination of in situ and laboratory exposures can illustrate how ecological processes influence bioassay studies. The incorporation of indirect, ecological effects, like changes in food availability, provides considerable benefit in understanding and predicting effects of effluents on selected species under realistic exposure conditions.     

Assessing the biological status of fish in a river receiving pulp and paper mill effluents

This study compared the use of sentinel species- and community-based field approaches for assessing the biological status of fish living in a river receiving pulp and paper mill effluents. Three approaches were compared. Two approaches used sentinel species. One of these involved an internal/external examination of the fish that leads to the calculation of a fish health assessment index (HAI) and the other involved biochemical measurements of hepatic mixed function oxidase (MFO) activity and plasma steroid levels. The third approach characterized the fish community structure according to an index of biotic integrity (IBI). The comparison focused on how the methods respond to the hypothesis that recent process modifications/effluent treatment changes, resulting in demonstrable improvements in effluent quality, have beneficial effects on fish. Neither of the approaches using sentinel fish indicated clear mill-related influences either before or after the process modifications/effluent treatment changes. There was no evidence of depressed plasma steroids and increased MFO activity in fish frequently associated with mill effluent exposure in previous studies. While the HAI was higher at stations downstream from two mills, this could not be linked to effluent exposure alone. In contrast, the study of community structure showed a substantial improvement in fish assemblages at all the mill sites.     

Biological response of high-back crucian carp (Carassius auratus) during different life stages to wastewater treatment plant effluent

This study presents the adverse effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in effluent of wastewater treatment plants (WwTPs) on fish health. A study of chronic exposure to WwTPs effluent for 10 months was undertaken in high-back crucian carp (Carassius auratus) during different life stages, covering early-life-stage (ELS), prespawning period, and postspawning period. Condition factor (CF), gonadosomatic index (GSI), hepatosomatic index (HSI), and plasma vitellogenin (VTG) levels were employed as indicators to assess biological effects of effluent on this gynogenesis species. Meanwhile, some high-back crucian carp were caged in Demonstration Base of Biological Purification for Filter-feeding Fish (hereinafter, Demonstration Base), as WwTPs effluent exposure controls. In the meantime, a depuration study was carried out to determine whether or not the estrogenic effects caused by effluent exposure could be reduced after moving fish into EDCs-free water. CF, HSI, GSI, and plasma Vtg levels of high-back crucian carp caged in Demonstration Base were generally in accordance with seasonal change. Effluent exposure inhibited gonadal growth, reducing GSI in ELS while increasing it around spawning, sharpened liver burdens, increasing HSI, and induced abnormal Vtg expression in juvenile high-back crucian carp, augmenting Vtg concentrations in plasma. Around spawning period, Vtg in high-back crucian carp were mainly induced by endogenous estrogens, and EDCs in effluent had less influence on them. Staying in EDCs-free water for 30 days made high-back crucian carp recover from effects of previous effluent exposure, relieving inhibition of gonadal development and hypertrophy of liver as well as reducing Vtg induced by EDCs in effluent. The results revealed that high-back crucian carp in ELS are more sensitive to WwTPs effluent exposure. Additionally, the depuration study showed a clearance of the estrogenic effects caused by effluent.     

Considerations about the enantioselective transformation of polycyclic musks in wastewater, treated wastewater and sewage sludge and analysis of their fate in a sequencing batch reactor plant

The present work consists of two distinct parts: in the first part enantioselective GC was used to separate the different enantiomeric/diastereomeric polycyclic musks, PCMs (HHCB, AHTN, AHDI, ATII and DPMI) including the main transformation product of HHCB, HHCB-lactone, in wastewater and sewage sludge. After optimization all PCMs were resolved on a cyclodextrin containing Rt-BDEXcst capillary GC column. Enantiomeric ratios of PCMs in a technical mixture were determined and compared to those obtained from enantioselective separation of wastewater and sewage sludge samples. In general, enantiomeric ratios were similar for most materials in influent, effluent and stabilized sewage sludge. However, the ratios for HHCB, AHDI and particularly ATII suggest some stereospecific removal of these compounds. In the second part, a field study was conducted on a wastewater treatment plant comprising a sequencing batch reactor. Concentrations of HHCB, AHTN, ADBI, AHDI, ATII, DPMI and HHCB-lactone were determined by non-enantioselective GC in daily samples of influent, effluent and activated sludge during one week. Mean concentrations in influent were 6900 and 1520 ng/l for HHCB and AHTN, respectively. The other PCMs exhibited contents 200 ng/l. Mean percent removal was between 61% (AHDI) and 87% (HHCB) resulting in mean effluent concentrations below 860 ng/l. HHCB-lactone concentration increased during wastewater treatment with a mean in the influent of 430 ng/l and in the effluent of 900 ng/l, respectively, indicating a degradation of HHCB.     

Effects of wastewater from olive processing on seed germination and early plant growth of different vegetable species

Abstract

The effects of wastewater from olive processing on seed germination and early plant growth of different vegetable species were examined. Three types of wastewater at different concentrations were tested: raw wastewater, wastewater with organic matter removed and deionized wastewater.

Results generally indicate an inhibitory effect on seed germination and early plant growth by all treatments containing any kind of wastewater. Of the three types of effluent, raw wastewater had the greatest depressive effect, followed by deionized wastewater and finally effluent with organic matter removed. Barley showed the least sensitivity to phytotoxic effects while tomato was the plant most affected. The remaining vegetable species showed an intermediate sensitivity.     

Toxicity identification and reduction of wastewaters from a pigment manufacturing factory

In this study, major toxicants in pigment wastewaters (i.e. raw wastewater and effluent) were determined by toxicity identification evaluations (TIEs), and changes in their toxicities due to combined gamma-ray (gamma-ray) and ozone treatments were evaluated. From TIE results using Daphnia magna, Cr(VI) and o-toluidine were identified as major toxicants in the raw wastewater with concentrations of 2.47 and 25.3mg l(-1), respectively. This was confirmed by subsequent spiking and mass balance approaches. For effluent, TIE results suggested that organic anions were likely responsible for the observed toxicities. Toxicity reduction tests showed that gamma-rays with ozone treatment after coagulation was more efficient in reducing toxicities in the raw wastewater (3.9-2.0 TU) than gamma-ray treatment alone (3.9-3.1 TU). For pigment effluent, gamma-ray/O3 treatment resulted in a complete removal of the acute toxicity.     

Effect of vegetable oil factory effluent on the gonads of a freshwater teleost, Heteropneustes fossilis (Bl.) --a biochemical study

The effects of three sublethal concentrations (5,10,15% v/v) of vegetable oil factory effluent on biochemical changes in the gonads (ovaries/testes) of a freshwater teleost were studied. The results reveal a significant decline in the total lipid, cholesterol, phospholipid, and glycerine levels, but an increase in the free fatty acid levels, both in the ovaries and the testes of H. fossilis, following 150 days (mid-January through mid-June) of exposure to 10% and 15% concentrations of the effluent. This decrease/increase in the biochemical parameters was more or less dependent on the concentration of the effluent. The functional significance of any decrease/increase in the biochemical parameter(s) has been discussed.     

Depauperate macroinvertebrates in a mine affected stream: clean water may be the key to recovery

Acid mine drainage (AMD) is frequently linked with changes in macroinvertebrate assemblages, but the relative contribution of water and sediment to toxicity is equivocal. We have shown that the macroinvertebrate fauna of Neubecks Ck, a mine impacted stream in New South Wales, Australia, was much poorer than in two reference streams. Multivariate RELATE analyses indicated that the patterns in the biological data were more strongly correlated with the concentrations of common metals in the surface water than the pore water of these streams. From this we hypothesised that the water was more toxic to the biota than the sediment and we tested this hypothesis with a sediment transplant experiment. Sediment from Neubecks Ck that was placed in reference streams retained high concentrations of metals throughout the experiment, yet supported a macroinvertebrate assemblage similar to that in the reference streams. Sediment from the reference streams that was placed in Neubecks Ck supported few, if any, animals. This indicates that water in Neubecks Ck is toxic to biota, but that sediment is able to support aquatic biota in clean water. Therefore, remediation should focus on improving water quality rather than sediment quality.     

Endocrine modulation, inhibition of ovarian development and hepatic alterations in rainbow trout exposed to polluted river water

Under laboratory conditions, female rainbow trout were exposed to graded concentrations of water from the River Lambro, a polluted tributary of the River Po, and to the effluent of a large wastewater treatment plant which flows into the River Lambro. In field exposures, trout were held in cages in the River Po upstream and downstream from the confluence of the River Lambro. After 10-day (laboratory) and 30-day (laboratory and field) exposures, trout were examined for several chemical, biochemical and histological endpoints. The results indicated that exposure to complex mixtures of chemicals, including estrogen receptor agonists, aryl-hydrocarbon receptor agonists, and probably antiandrogens, had occurred. Exposure altered the plasma levels of 17β-estradiol and testosterone, and some treatments also enhanced the activity of hepatic ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase. Gonadal histology showed varying levels of degenerative processes characterised by oocyte atresia, haemorrhages, melano-macrophage centres (MMCs), and oogonia proliferation. Liver histology showed less severe effects.     

Determination of beta-adrenergic receptor blocking pharmaceuticals in United States wastewater effluent

Beta adrenergic receptor antagonists (beta-Blockers) are frequently prescribed medications in the United States and have been identified in European municipal wastewater effluent, however no studies to date have investigated these compounds in United States wastewater effluent. Municipal wastewater effluent was collected from treatment facilities in Mississippi, Texas, and New York to investigate the occurrence of metoprolol, nadolol, and propranolol. Propranolol was identified in all wastewater samples analyzed (n = 34) at concentrations < or = 1.9 microg/l. Metoprolol and nadolol were identified in > or = 71% of the samples with concentrations of metoprolol < or = 1.2 microg/l and nadolol < or = 0.36 microg/l. Time course studies at both Mississippi plants and the Texas plant indicate that concentrations of propranolol, metoprolol, and nadolol remain relatively constant at each sampling period. This study indicates that beta-Blockers are present in United States wastewater effluent in the ng/l to microg/l range.     

Induction of chromosome aberrations in the Allium cepa test system caused by the exposure of seeds to industrial effluents contaminated with azo dyes

Numerous potentially mutagenic chemicals have been studied mainly because they can cause damaging and inheritable changes in the genetic material. Several tests are commonly used for biomonitoring pollution levels and to evaluate the effects of toxic and mutagenic agents present in the natural environment. This study aimed at assessing the potential of a textile effluent contaminated with azo dyes to induce chromosomal and nuclear aberrations in Allium cepa test systems. A continuous exposure of seeds in samples of the textile effluent in different concentrations was carried out (0.3%, 3%, 10%, and 100%). Cells in interphase and undergoing division were examined to assess the presence of chromosome aberrations, nuclear changes, and micronuclei. Our results revealed a mutagenic effect of the effluent at concentrations of 10% and 100%. At lower concentrations, the effluent (3% and 0.3%) did not induce mutagenic alterations in the test organism A. cepa. These findings are of concern, since cell damage may be transmitted to subsequent generations, possibly affecting the organism as a whole, as well as the local biota exposed to the effluent discharge. If the damage results in cell death, the development of the organism may be affected, which could also lead to its death.     

Characteristics of biotic and abiotic removals of dissolved organic carbon in wastewater effluents using soil batch reactors.

Biodegradable dissolved organic carbon (BDOC) analyses and abiotic adsorption of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from different wastewater effluent were conducted to evaluate biotic and abiotic removal mechanisms as a function of the initial DOC concentration and source of DOC using soil batch reactors. To obtain high DOC concentrations, a laboratory-scale reverse osmosis unit was used. It was found that BDOC fraction was independent of the initial DOC concentration and was dependent on the source of wastewater and/or the types of wastewater treatment. The BDOC fractions varied from 9 to 73%. Trickling filter effluent (Tucson, Arizona) showed the highest BDOC, ranging from 65 to 73% biodegradable, while wastewater treated by the soil aquifer treatment (SAT) (NW-4) was found to be most refractory, with DOC removals of 9 to 14%. For nitrified/denitrified tertiary effluent (Mesa, Arizona) and secondary effluent (Scottsdale, Arizona), 36 to 42% removal of DOC was observed during the BDOC test. The amount of BDOC in the wastewater depended not on the concentration of DOC, but on the effectiveness of pretreatment. Abiotic adsorption capacity of wastewater effluent varied from 6 to 18%. Molecular weight distribution analyses showed that more than 50% of DOC in the Scottsdale concentrate had a molecular weight of less than 1000 Da, and no significant change in distribution profiles occurred after approximately 12% abiotic adsorption with both soils with acclimated microorganisms (SAT soil) and soils without acclimated microorganisms (non-SAT soils). Hence, preferential adsorption was not observed and the presence of acclimated microbes did not influence adsorption.     

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products found in the Great Lakes above concentrations of environmental concern

The monitoring of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) has focused on the distribution in rivers and small lakes, but data regarding their occurrence and effects in large lake systems, such as the Great Lakes, are sparse. Wastewater treatment processes have not been optimized to remove influent PPCPs and are a major source of PPCPs in the environment. Furthermore, PPCPs are not currently regulated in wastewater effluent. In this experiment we evaluated the concentration, and corresponding risk, of PPCPs from a wastewater effluent source at varying distances in Lake Michigan. Fifty-four PPCPs and hormones were assessed on six different dates over a two-year period from surface water and sediment samples up to 3.2 km from a wastewater treatment plant and at two sites within a harbor. Thirty-two PPCPs were detected in Lake Michigan and 30 were detected in the sediment, with numerous PPCPs being detected up to 3.2 km away from the shoreline. The most frequently detected PPCPs in Lake Michigan were metformin, caffeine, sulfamethoxazole, and triclosan. To determine the ecological risk, the maximum measured environmental concentrations were compared to the predicted no-effect concentration and 14 PPCPs were found to be of medium or high ecological risk. The environmental risk of PPCPs in large lake systems, such as the Great Lakes, has been questioned due to high dilution; however, the concentrations found in this study, and their corresponding risk quotient, indicate a significant threat by PPCPs to the health of the Great Lakes, particularly near shore organisms.     

Toxicity of leather tanning wastewater effluents in sea urchin early development and in marine microalgae

This study was designed to investigate the composition and the toxicity of leather tanning wastewater and conditioned sludge collected at the leather tanning wastewater treatment plant (CODISO) located in Solofra, Avellino (Southern Italy). Samples were analyzed for their conventional parameters (COD, TSS, chromium and ammonia) and for metal content. Effluent samples included raw wastewater, and samples collected following coagulation/flocculation process and biological treatment. A set of toxicity endpoints were tested using sea urchin and marine microalgal bioassays by evaluating acute embryotoxicity, developmental defects, changes in sperm fertilization success and transmissible damage from sperm to the offspring, and changes in algal growth rate. Dose-related toxicity to sea urchin embryogenesis and sperm fertilization success was exerted by effluent or sludge samples according to the following rank: conditioned sludge > coagulated effluent > or = raw influent > effluent from biological treatment. Offspring quality was not affected by sperm exposure to any wastewater or to sludge samples. Algal growth was inhibited by raw or coagulated effluent to a similar extent and, again, the effluent from the biological treatment resulted in a decreased toxicity. The results suggest that coagulated effluent and conditioned sludge result in higher toxicity than raw influent in sea urchin embryos and sperm, whereas the biological wastewater treatment of coagulated effluent, in both sea urchins and algae, cause a substantial improvement of wastewater quality. Hence a final biological wastewater treatment should be operated to minimize any environmental damage from tannery wastewater.     

Effects of cadmium on the performance and microbiology of laboratory-scale lagoons treating domestic sewage

Two experiments were performed to assess the impact of cadmium on the sewage lagoon wastewater treatment process. For each one, three laboratory-scale pilot plants with one tank receiving the same raw effluent were used; one plant served as control and the other two were contaminated once only with cadmium. In the first study, the effects of a shock load of two concentrations of cadmium chloride (60 and 300 micrograms/l) on the plant performance, microbial populations (protists and bacteria) and enzyme activities were determined. Initially, most of the performance parameters were affected concentration-dependently. A reduction in the protist population density and some influence on the total bacterial population were observed, and the potential enzymatic activities were also modified. A second experiment with a lower cadmium concentration (30 micrograms/l), supplied as chloride or sulphate, still perturbed most of the parameters studied, and the effects of the two cadmium salts were identical.     

铁炭微电解深度处理焦化废水的研究

采用曝气铁炭微电解工艺对焦化废水进行了深度处理.结果表明,在活性炭、铁屑和NaCl投加量分别为10 g/L、30 g/L和200 mg/L的条件下反应240 min,出水COD去除率在30%～40%;酸性条件可以进一步提高COD去除率;微电解可以去除原生化出水中的难降解有机物,出水物质的分子量主要集中于2000 Da以下,以脂类和烃类化合物为主;出水的可生化性有了大幅度提高,BOD5/COD由0.08增加到0.53.实验结果表明,铁炭微电解是深度处理焦化废水的一种有效工艺.     

Improving nitrogen removal in two modified decentralized wastewater systems

Efficient nutrient removal in decentralized wastewater treatment systems is a challenging task. To improve the removal of organic matter and nitrogen from wastewater, two types of bioreactors using membrane-aerated biofilm reactor (MABR) and microbial fuel cell (MFC) techniques were evaluated. During more than 250 days of continuous-flow reactor operation, both reactors showed consistently high chemical oxygen demand removal (>86%). At an influent ammonium-nitrogen (NH4(+)-N) concentration of 30 mg N/L, the average effluent NH4(+)-N concentrations were 6.2 and 0.5 mg N/L for the MABR and MFC reactor, respectively, while the effluent nitrate-nitrogen (NO3(-)-N) concentrations were 5.4 mg/ L in the MABR and 19.2 mg/L in the MFC-based reactor. The overall total inorganic nitrogen removal efficiencies were 64% and 36% for the MABR and MFC reactor, respectively. At the measured dissolved oxygen concentrations of 5.2 and 0.23 mg/L in the aerobic/anoxic zone of the MFC and MABR, respectively, a specific oxygen uptake rate of 0.1 g O2/g VSS-d, resulting from ammonia oxidation, was detected in the settled sludge of the MFC, while no nitrifying activity of the sludge from the MABR was detected. Molecular microbial analysis demonstrated a link between the bacterial community structure and nitrifying activity. The relatively high abundance of Nitrosomonas europaea was associated with its detectable nitrification activity in the settled sludge of the MFC. The results suggest that MABR and MFC techniques have the potential to improve organic and nitrogen removal in decentralized wastewater systems.     

Treatment of chemical mechanical polishing wastewater by electrocoagulation: system performances and sludge settling characteristics

Treatment of copper chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) wastewater from a semiconductor plant by electrocoagulation is investigated. The CMP wastewater was characterized by high suspended solids (SS) content, high turbidity (NTU), chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentration up to 500 mgl(-1) and copper concentration up to 100 mgl(-1). In the present study, electrocoagulation was employed to treat the CMP wastewater with an attempt to simultaneously lower its turbidity, copper and COD concentrations. The test results indicated that electrocoagulation with Al/Fe electrode pair was very efficient and able to achieve 99% copper ion and 96.5% turbidity removal in less than 30 min. The COD removal obtained in the treatment was better than 85%, with an effluent COD below 100 mgl(-1). The effluent wastewater was very clear and its quality exceeded the direct discharge standard. In addition, sludge settling velocities after electrocoagulation were measured and the data were employed to verify the empirical sludge settling velocity models. Finally, the sludge settling characteristic data were also utilized to establish the relation between the solids flux (G) and the initial solids concentration.     

Sublethal toxicity of two wastewater treatment polymers to lake trout fry (Salvelinus namaycush)

Lake trout fry (Salvelinus namaycush) were exposed in laboratory experiments to two wastewater treatment polymers, one anionic (MagnaFloc 156) and one cationic (MagnaFloc 368; Ciba Speciality Chemical), to determine if these chemicals which are used and discharged by mining operations in Canada's North pose a significant hazard to juvenile fishes. The cationic polymer was substantially more toxic to lake trout fry than the anionic polymer, with 96-h LC50 estimates of 2.08 and >600 mg/l, respectively. Separate 30-d exposure experiments yielded no observed and lowest observed effect concentrations, respectively, of 0.25 and 0.5mg/l for MagnaFloc 368, and 75 and 150 mg/l for MagnaFloc 156. In both cases, behavioural responses, especially startle response, were the most sensitive test endpoints. Histopathological assessment revealed that gill pathology appeared within a few days of exposure to both polymers, apparently as a result of localized hypoxia. Acute (4 d) effects included cloudy swelling of epithelial cells, increased gill vascularization, and thickening and shortening of the gill lamella. Chronic (30 d) polymer exposure produced only slightly greater pathological effects than acute exposure, with comparable responses observed only at >1.0mg/l MagnaFloc 368 and 150 mg/l MagnaFloc 156, suggesting that the fish displayed some level of both behavioural and physiological adaptation to the respiratory stress imposed by the two polymers.