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Ecotoxicity of Wastewater in Urban and Industrial Areas

A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Wastewater Treatment and Reuse".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 December 2022) | Viewed by 14691

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia, Jagiellońska 28, 40-032 Katowice, Poland
Interests: activated sludge and leachate; microbial degradation of toxic pollutants; diversity of microorganisms; bioremediation; biomonitoring; nanotechnology
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Guest Editor
Institute of Environmental Engineering and Building Installations, Lodz University of Technology, Al. Politechniki 6, 90-924 Lodz, Poland
Interests: aquatic and terrestrial ecotoxicology biological wastewater treatment; image analysis; modelling of activated sludge systems; removal of micropollutants and their effect on microorganisms; waste management

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The rapidly increasing amount of wastewater contaminated with toxic compounds in industrial and urbanized areas prompts studies on their toxic effects on living organisms and ecosystem balance. This can be done for individuals, entire populations, and/or communities of organisms exposed to various contaminants in the wastewater. Therefore, this Special Issue welcomes research papers and critical reviews which aim to provide an up-to-date report on the adverse effects of environmental pollutants on different groups of organisms (e.g., microorganisms, algae, plants, invertebrates, or vertebrates) with a particular focus on new pollutants and their toxic effects in experimental short- and long-term model systems. Although laboratory tests are the primary tool for evaluating the ecological risks posed by polluted areas, works presenting the results of different stages of environmental risk assessment, including monitoring data from full-scale wastewater treatment plants and networks (e.g. sewage systems), are expected. Studies seeking potential correlations between physicochemical indicators and results of toxicity tests are also of interest.

Prof. Dr. Agnieszka Mrozik
Prof. Dr. Ewa Liwarska-Bizukojc
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • water pollutants
  • wastewater treatment
  • physicochemical indicators
  • indicator organisms biological toxicity tests
  • acute and chronic tests
  • genotoxicity
  • biosensors
  • biomonitoring

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 19347 KiB  
Article
Analysis of the Salinity of the Vistula River Based on Patrol Monitoring and State Environmental Monitoring
by Andrzej Woźnica, Damian Absalon, Magdalena Matysik, Małgorzata Bąk, Anna Cieplok, Dariusz Halabowski, Adrianna Koczorowska, Mariola Krodkiewska, Marcin Libera, Edyta Sierka, Aneta Spyra, Robert Czerniawski, Łukasz Sługocki and Bartosz Łozowski
Water 2023, 15(5), 838; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15050838 - 21 Feb 2023
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2951
Abstract
Background: Secondary salinity of river water reduces the value of ecosystem services, negatively impacting the entire aquatic ecosystem and reducing the possibility of water use. In Poland, significant anthropogenic salinity of rivers and water reservoirs is usually associated with mining activity consisting of [...] Read more.
Background: Secondary salinity of river water reduces the value of ecosystem services, negatively impacting the entire aquatic ecosystem and reducing the possibility of water use. In Poland, significant anthropogenic salinity of rivers and water reservoirs is usually associated with mining activity consisting of pumping salty mine water into settling ponds or often directly into rivers. However, to assess the reasons for the salinity of the Vistula waters, it is necessary to identify all sources of salt in surface waters, enabling the assessment of the salt load in the waters. Methods: The paper presents four sources of data which have been compiled to propose a valuable method for analyzing the threat of the river. Patrol monitoring was one method of data acquisition, and State Environmental Monitoring data ware also used. Clustering and correlation statistical techniques were used for analysis. Results: Of the 20 physical and chemical parameters analyzed, chloride, calcium sulphate and magnesium ions are important for salinity. Measurements with multi-parameter probes allowed for the identification of increased salinity pressure sites, while flow analyses were required to calculate the load. Conclusions: The Vistula River had the highest concentrations of the analyzed ions in the Silesia Region. The use of patrol monitoring can be highly useful in determining the causes of emerging problems with water quality and supporting State Environmental Monitoring. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecotoxicity of Wastewater in Urban and Industrial Areas)
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19 pages, 2205 KiB  
Article
Occurrence of Antibiotic Resistance Genes, Antibiotics-Resistant and Multi-Resistant Bacteria and Their Correlations in One River in Central-Western Brazil
by Raylane Pereira Gomes, Thais Reis Oliveira, Ariadne Bernardes Rodrigues, Leandro Martins Ferreira, José Daniel Gonçalves Vieira and Lilian Carla Carneiro
Water 2023, 15(4), 747; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15040747 - 14 Feb 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3374
Abstract
(1) Background: The uncontrolled increase in pollutants in the aquatic environment results in antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes (ARBs and ARGs). The overuse and misuse of antibiotics is also a crucial factor for public health. (2) Methods: In this study, the presence [...] Read more.
(1) Background: The uncontrolled increase in pollutants in the aquatic environment results in antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes (ARBs and ARGs). The overuse and misuse of antibiotics is also a crucial factor for public health. (2) Methods: In this study, the presence of ARBs and the presence of 24 resistance genes from eight different classes of antibiotics were evaluated in addition to performing statistical correlations and intercorrelations. Samples of water and sediment were collected from a river in central-western Brazil, responsible for supplying water to more than 3 million people. Physicochemical analyses were performed on the water samples, as well as methodological approaches based on culture and molecular biology, such as real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). (3) Results: The results of the analysis of apparent color, turbidity, thermotolerant coliforms and E. coli were not in accordance with Brazilian legislation. A total of 203 bacterial strains were isolated, of which 30.54% were from the Entero-bacteriaceae family and 29.06% from the Staphylococcaceae family. For the ARBs found, a higher prevalence of resistance to lyconsamides and β-lactams was detected. Among all isolated strains, a multi-drug resistance profile of 59.37% was found. The presence of ARGs was detected in all water and sediment samples; of the 24 genes searched, the presence of 22 was found, and the sul2 and ermC genes were detected in all samples. According to the statistical analysis, the Meia Ponte River is suffering a great anthropogenic impact, and the current Brazilian legislation is not sufficient to prevent it. This water environment is serving as a reservoir of resistance genes, and measures such as monitoring, depollution, management and preservation must be taken, so that the population does not suffer great damage. (4) Conclusions: This is the first study in the State of Goiás, Brazil, to indicate the existence of ARGs in samples of raw water and river sediments, supporting the worldwide investigation of ARBs and ARGs in a water environment. In addition, few studies address the correlations between the ARBs and ARGs groups, which is an important factor in the field of antimicrobial resistance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecotoxicity of Wastewater in Urban and Industrial Areas)
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18 pages, 2280 KiB  
Article
Implications of Bacterial Adaptation to Phenol Degradation under Suboptimal Culture Conditions Involving Stenotrophomonas maltophilia KB2 and Pseudomonas moorei KB4
by Agnieszka Nowak, Daniel Wasilkowski and Agnieszka Mrozik
Water 2022, 14(18), 2845; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14182845 - 12 Sep 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2342
Abstract
Despite the well-described abundance of phenol-degrading bacteria, knowledge concerning their degradation abilities under suboptimal conditions is still very limited and needs to be expanded. Therefore, this work aimed to study the growth and degradation potential of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia KB2 and Pseudomonas moorei KB4 [...] Read more.
Despite the well-described abundance of phenol-degrading bacteria, knowledge concerning their degradation abilities under suboptimal conditions is still very limited and needs to be expanded. Therefore, this work aimed to study the growth and degradation potential of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia KB2 and Pseudomonas moorei KB4 strains toward phenol under suboptimal temperatures, pH, and salinity in connection with the activity of catechol dioxygenases, fatty acid profiling, and membrane permeability. The methodology used included: batch culture of bacteria in minimal medium supplemented with phenol (300 mg/L), isolating and measuring the activity of catechol 1,2- and 2,3-dioxygenases, calculating kinetic parameters, chromatographic analysis of fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) and determining the membrane permeability. It was established that the time of phenol utilisation by both strains under high temperatures (39 and 40 °C) proceeded 10 h; however, at the lowest temperature (10 °C), it was extended to 72 h. P. moorei KB4 was more sensitive to pH (6.5 and 8.5) than S. maltophilia KB2 and degraded phenol 5–6 h longer. Salinity also influenced the time of phenol removal. S. maltophilia KB2 degraded phenol in the presence of 2.5% NaCl within 28 h, while P. moorei KB4 during 72 h. The ability of bacteria to degrade phenol in suboptimal conditions was coupled with a relatively high activity of catechol 1,2- and/or 2,3-dioxygenases. FAME profiling and membrane permeability measurements indicated crucial alterations in bacterial membrane properties during phenol degradation leading predominantly to an increase in fatty acid saturation and membrane permeability. The obtained results offer hope for the potential use of both strains in environmental microbiology and biotechnology applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecotoxicity of Wastewater in Urban and Industrial Areas)
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11 pages, 5257 KiB  
Article
Modeling of Nitrification Kinetics in a Respirometric Biosensor under Suboptimal Conditions
by Andrzej Woznica, Jerzy Karczewski, Czesław Klis, Jacek Długosz, Przemysław Ziemski, Agnieszka Nowak and Tytus Bernas
Water 2022, 14(13), 2031; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14132031 - 25 Jun 2022
Viewed by 1891
Abstract
Sensitive detection with cell biosensors requires optimization of their working conditions and standardization of the response in variable physicochemical conditions. The introduction of an analyte to a sensor, which contributes to this variability, may account for the modeling of microbial metabolism. We constructed [...] Read more.
Sensitive detection with cell biosensors requires optimization of their working conditions and standardization of the response in variable physicochemical conditions. The introduction of an analyte to a sensor, which contributes to this variability, may account for the modeling of microbial metabolism. We constructed a multiparameter model of a water toxicity sensor of Automatic Biodetector for Water Toxicity (ABTOW), developed by our group and based on nitrifying bacteria. The model describes the kinetics of nitrification as a function of four orthogonal parameters: temperature, pH, oxygen and ammonium concentration. Furthermore, we characterized the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the ABTOW readout as a function of these parameters. Thus, a region of parameter space corresponding to optimal ABTOW operation is identified and its sensitivity quantified. We applied the model to describe the ABTOW performance in non-equilibrium conditions produced by rapid changes in pH and temperature. In sum, the model based on four physicochemical parameters describes changes in the biosensor’s activity, the biological element of which are nitrifying bacteria characterized by simple chemolithoautotrophic metabolism. The description of reaction kinetics through multiparameter modeling in combination with stability analysis can find application in process control in biotechnology, biodetection and environmental research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecotoxicity of Wastewater in Urban and Industrial Areas)
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Review

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19 pages, 415 KiB  
Review
Evaluation of Ecotoxicity of Wastewater from the Full-Scale Treatment Plants
by Ewa Liwarska-Bizukojc
Water 2022, 14(20), 3345; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14203345 - 21 Oct 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3164
Abstract
In this work, the influence of wastewater from full-scale wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) on aquatic and soil biota was reviewed and presented. Moreover, the methods and model organisms used in testing the ecotoxicity of wastewater were shown. It was found that wastewater usually [...] Read more.
In this work, the influence of wastewater from full-scale wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) on aquatic and soil biota was reviewed and presented. Moreover, the methods and model organisms used in testing the ecotoxicity of wastewater were shown. It was found that wastewater usually affected the biochemical activity and growth of organisms such as bacteria, algae and protozoa. They contributed to the immobilization and death of inter alia crustaceans and fishes. The values of degree of inhibition or lethality widely varied dependent on the type of wastewater, the sampling point (influent or effluent) and the model organisms applied in the biotests. Thus, a battery of ecotoxicity tests using model organisms of different sensitivities should be employed. So far, bacteria (e.g., Vibrio fischeri), green microalgae (e.g., Raphidocelis subcapitata) and crustaceans (Daphnia magna) have been frequently used organisms in the biological assessment of wastewater. They were applied in almost half (bacteria) or more than half (microalgae, crustaceans) of papers analyzed in this study. In almost all studies, the reduction of wastewater toxicity after treatment processes was found. It was proven that the conventional activated sludge systems were efficient in the removal of wastewater toxicity from both municipal and industrial wastewater, while the tertiary stage of treatment, in particular chlorination or ozonation, contributed to the increase in wastewater toxicity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecotoxicity of Wastewater in Urban and Industrial Areas)
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