title: Adverse effects of erythromycin on the structure and chemistry of activated sludge.
abstract: This study examines the effects of erythromycin on activated sludge from two French urban wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Wastewater spiked with 10 mg/L erythromycin inhibited the specific evolution rate of chemical oxygen demand (COD) by 79% (standard deviation 34%) and the specific N-NH4+ evolution rate by 41% (standard deviation 25%). A temporary increase in COD and tryptophan-like fluorescence, as well as a decrease in suspended solids, were observed in reactors with wastewater containing erythromycin. The destruction of activated sludge flocs was monitored by automated image analysis. The effect of erythromycin on nitrification was variable depending on the sludge origin. Erythromycin inhibited the specific nitrification rate in sludge from one WWTP, but increased the nitrification rate at the other facility.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire des Sciences du Génie Chimique-CNRS, Nancy University, INPL, 1, rue Grandville, BP 20451, F-54001 Nancy Cedex, France.
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Louvet
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giammarino
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Potier
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Pons
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D019149:Bioreactors / Q000382:microbiology; D055598:Chemical Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005427:Flocculation / Q000187:drug effects; D010100:Oxygen / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D012722:Sewage; D004917:Erythromycin; D010100:Oxygen