Carlos Silva, Ana Ré, Nelson Abrantes, Fernando J M Gonçalves, Joana Luísa Pereira
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents can be important sources of contaminants of emerging concern (CEC) for riverine ecosystems, with some accumulation in sediments. This study investigated the ecotoxicological effects of sediment samples collected near three WWTPs. Sediment elutriates, simulating resuspension conditions, and whole sediment samples were tested. Results showed that sediments were toxic to some organisms and beneficial to others. Elutriates from one site significantly reduced luminescence in the bacterium Aliivibrio fischeri, though this was not consistently linked to sediment contaminant levels. Significant noxious effects of elutriates were recorded for the macrophyte Lemma minor (yield reductions up to 48%) and the microalgae Raphidocelis subcapitata (yield reductions up to 25%). Exposure to elutriates resulted in increased Daphnia magna reproduction and increased biomass yield of Chironomus riparius exposed to sediments directly. Overall, there were no major toxicity variations in samples collected upstream and downstream of the effluent outfall. Suggesting limited hazardous potential of the effluent and a potential masking effect of background contamination (mostly metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons). The complexity of effluent-sourced contamination, coupled with the realistic testing approach, renders this work a valuable contribution to understanding the role of WWTP effluents in surface freshwaters contamination and their effects, especially concerning CECs.
期刊介绍：
The Journal of Xenobiotics publishes original studies concerning the beneficial (pharmacology) and detrimental effects (toxicology) of xenobiotics in all organisms. A xenobiotic (“stranger to life”) is defined as a chemical that is not usually found at significant concentrations or expected to reside for long periods in organisms. In addition to man-made chemicals, natural products could also be of interest if they have potent biological properties, special medicinal properties or that a given organism is at risk of exposure in the environment. Topics dealing with abiotic- and biotic-based transformations in various media (xenobiochemistry) and environmental toxicology are also of interest. Areas of interests include the identification of key physical and chemical properties of molecules that predict biological effects and persistence in the environment; the molecular mode of action of xenobiotics; biochemical and physiological interactions leading to change in organism health; pathophysiological interactions of natural and synthetic chemicals; development of biochemical indicators including new “-omics” approaches to identify biomarkers of exposure or effects for xenobiotics.
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