Toxicity and removal efficiency of pharmaceutical metabolite clofibric acid by Typha spp.--potential use for phytoremediation?
A study was conducted to assess Typha spp.'s ability to withstand and remove, from water, a metabolite of blood lipid regulator drugs, clofibric acid (CA). At a concentration of 20 microg L(-1), Typha had removed >50% of CA within the first 48h, reaching a maximum of 80% by the end of the assay. Experimental conditions assured that photodegradation, adsorption to vessel walls and microbial degradation did not contribute to the removal. Exposure to higher CA concentrations did not affect Typha's photosynthetic pigments but the overall increase in enzyme activity (ascorbate and guaiacol peroxidases, catalase, superoxide dismutase) indicates that both roots and leaves were affected by the xenobiotic. Eventually, Typha seemed able to cope with the CA's induced oxidative damage suggesting its ability for phytoremediation of CA contaminated waters.
Dordio
Ana V
AV
Departamento de Química, Universidade de Evora, Evora, Portugal. avbd@uevora.pt
Duarte
Cátia
C
Barreiros
Margarida
M
Carvalho
A J Palace
AJ
Pinto
A P
AP
da Costa
Cristina Teixeira
CT
D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002995:Clofibric Acid / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D032401:Typhaceae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002995:Clofibric Acid