Determination of sorption of seventy five pharmaceuticals in sewage sludge

Sorption of 75 active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) to three different types of sludge (primary sludge, secondary sludge with short and long sludge age respectively) were investigated. To obtain the sorption isotherms batch studies with the APIs mixture were performed in four nominal concentrations to water containing 1 g of sludge. The range of APIs concentrations was between ng L-1 to mu g L-1 which are found in the wastewater effluents. Isotherms were obtained for approximately 45 of the APIs, providing distribution coefficients for linear (K-d), Freundlich (K-f) and Langmuir (K-L) isotherms. K-d, K-f and K-L ranging between 7.1 x 10(4) and 3.8 x 10(7), 1.1 x 10(-2) and 6.1 x 10(4) and 9.2 x 10(-3) and 1.1 L kg(-1), respectively. The obtained coefficients were applied to estimate the fraction of APIs in the water phase (see Abstract Graphic). For 37 of the 75 APIs, the predicted presence in the liquid phase was estimated to >80%. 24 APIs were estimated to be present in the liquid phase between 20 and 80%, and 14 APIs were found to have <20% presence in the liquid phase, i.e. high affinity towards sludge. Furthermore, the effect of pH at values 6, 7 and 8 was evaluated using one way ANOVA-test. A significant difference in K(d)s due to pH changes were found for 6 of the APIs (variation 10-20%). (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Multi-year interlaboratory exercises for the analysis of illicit drugs and metabolites in wastewater:development of a quality control system

This study presents the development of a worldwide inter-laboratory testing scheme for the analysis of seven illicit drug residues in different matrices (standard solutions, tap- and wastewater). By repeating this exercise for six years with participation of 37 laboratories from 25 countries, the testing scheme was substantially improved based on experiences gained across the years (e.g. matrix type, sample conditions, spiking levels). From the exercises (pre-)analytical issues (e.g. pH adjustment, filtration), were revealed for some analytes which resulted in formulation of best-practice protocols, both for inter-laboratory setup and analytical procedures. The results illustrate the effectiveness of the inter-laboratory testing scheme in assessing laboratory performance in the framework of illicit drug analysis in wastewater. The exercise proved that measurements of laboratories were of high quality (&gt;80% satisfactory results for 6 out of 7 analytes) and that analytical follow-up is important to assist laboratories in improving robustness of wastewater-based epidemiology results

Pyrosequencing of Antibiotic-Contaminated River Sediments Reveals High Levels of Resistance and Gene Transfer Elements

The high and sometimes inappropriate use of antibiotics has accelerated the development of antibiotic resistance, creating a major challenge for the sustainable treatment of infections world-wide. Bacterial communities often respond to antibiotic selection pressure by acquiring resistance genes, i.e. mobile genetic elements that can be shared horizontally between species. Environmental microbial communities maintain diverse collections of resistance genes, which can be mobilized into pathogenic bacteria. Recently, exceptional environmental releases of antibiotics have been documented, but the effects on the promotion of resistance genes and the potential for horizontal gene transfer have yet received limited attention. In this study, we have used culture-independent shotgun metagenomics to investigate microbial communities in river sediments exposed to waste water from the production of antibiotics in India. Our analysis identified very high levels of several classes of resistance genes as well as elements for horizontal gene transfer, including integrons, transposons and plasmids. In addition, two abundant previously uncharacterized resistance plasmids were identified. The results suggest that antibiotic contamination plays a role in the promotion of resistance genes and their mobilization from environmental microbes to other species and eventually to human pathogens. The entire life-cycle of antibiotic substances, both before, under and after usage, should therefore be considered to fully evaluate their role in the promotion of resistance

Trendy zmian jakości wody rzeki Tisa wzdłuż jej biegu przez Serbię

The problem of the paper is water quality of the water body Tisa which geographically belongs to Serbia. The scope of the analyses are water quality monitoring data of the Tisa River at tree measuring points along its flow through Serbia: Martonos, Novi Becej and Titel in period 2004-2014. The analyses encompassed conductivity, dissolved oxygen, BOD5, COD, nitrates and total phosphorus. Assessment of water quality has been conducted by the application of contemporary classifications and criteria of the Republic of Serbia. Reference conditions for achieving excellent ecological status, I class of water quality are achieved for conductivity, dissolved oxygen, along investigated section (measuring points: Martonos, Novi Becej and Titel) and BOD5 at the measuring point Martonos. Downstream at measuring points Novi Becej and Titel for BOD5 water quality belongs to class II. According to concentrations of COD, nitrates and total phosphorus water quality belongs exclusively to class II. Linear regression analyses was applied for determining trend lines of parameters, while Mann-Kendell test in most cases (14/18), i.e. 78%, has confirmed nonexistence of significant trend. Water quality during the past decade is stable. A statistically significant trend was confirmed in 4 cases: nitrates (measuring point Martonos, descending trend), BOD5 and total phosphorus (measuring point Novi Becej, descending trend), and dissolved oxygen (measuring point Titel, increasing trend). Signs of these trends speak in favor of future improvement of water quality of the Tisa River in Serbia.W artykule opisano jakość wody w rzece Tisa, która geograficznie należy do Serbii. Zakres analiz obejmuje są dane dotyczące jakości wody w rzece Tisa w punktach pomiarowych wzdłuż biegu przez Serbię: Martonos, Novi Becej i Titel w latach 2004-2014. Analizą objęto: przewodnictwo, tlen rozpuszczony, BZT5, ChZT, azotany i fosfor ogólny. Ocena jakości wody została przeprowadzona przez zastosowanie aktualnej klasyfikacji i kryteriów w Republice Serbii. Warunki parametrów odpowiadające doskonałemu stanowi ekologicznemu, I klasy jakości wody, osiągnięto dla przewodności, tlenu rozpuszczonego, wzdłuż całego badanego odcinka (punkty pomiarowe: Martonos, Novi Becej i Titel) oraz BZT5, w punkcie pomiarowym Martonos. W dolnym biegu rzeki, w punktach pomiarowych Novi Becej i Titel dla BZT5 wody należą do klasy II. Jeśli chodzi o ChZT, azotany i fosfor całkowity jakość wody należy do klasy II. W celu określenia linii trendu parametrów zastosowano analizę regresji liniowej, a test Manna-Kendalla, w większości przypadków (14/18), tj. 78%, potwierdził brak znaczącego trendu. Jakość wody w ciągu ostatnich dziesięciu lat jest stabilna. W 4 przypadkach stwierdzono statystycznie istotną tendencję: azotany (punkt pomiarowy Martonos, tendencja spadkowa), BZT5 i fosfor ogólny (punkt pomiarowy Novi Becej, tendencja spadkowa) oraz tlen rozpuszczony (punkt pomiarowy Titel, tendencja wzrostowa). Trendy mogą oznaczać poprawą jakości wody rzeki Tisa w Serbii w przyszłości