title: Evaluating the treatment of a synthetic wastewater containing a pharmaceutical and personal care product chemical cocktail: compound removal efficiency and effects on juvenile rainbow trout.
abstract: Pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) can evade degradation in sewage treatment plants (STPs) and can be chronically discharged into the environment, causing concern for aquatic organisms, wildlife, and humans that may be exposed to these bioactive chemicals. The ability of a common STP process, conventional activated sludge (CAS), to remove PPCPs (caffeine, di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, estrone, 17α-ethinylestradiol, ibuprofen, naproxen, 4-nonylphenol, tonalide, triclocarban and triclosan) from a synthetic wastewater was evaluated in the present study. The removal of individual PPCPs by the laboratory-scale CAS treatment plant ranged from 40 to 99.6%. While the efficiency of removal for some compounds was high, remaining quantities have the potential to affect aquatic organisms even at low concentrations. Juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were exposed to influent recreated model wastewater with methanol (IM, solvent control) or with PPCP cocktail (IC), or CAS-treated effluent wastewater with methanol (EM, treated control) or with PPCP cocktail (EC). Alterations in hepatic gene expression (evaluated using a quantitative nuclease protection plex assay) and plasma vitellogenin (VTG) protein concentrations occurred in exposed fish. Although there was partial PPCP removal by CAS treatment, the 20% lower VTG transcript levels and 83% lower plasma VTG protein concentration found in EC-exposed fish compared to IC-exposed fish were not statistically significant. Thus, estrogenic activity found in the influent was retained in the effluent even though typical percent removal levels were achieved raising the issue that greater reduction in contaminant load is required to address hormone active agents.
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada V5A 1S6; Environment Canada, Pacific Environmental Science Centre, 2645 Dollarton Hwy., North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V7H 1B1.
authors: Heather L
authors: HL
authors: Osachoff
authors: Department of Civil Engineering, 2002 - 6250 Applied Science Lane, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4.
authors: Mehrnoush
authors: M
authors: Mohammadali
authors: Environment Canada, Pacific Environmental Science Centre, 2645 Dollarton Hwy., North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V7H 1B1.
authors: Rachel C
authors: RC
authors: Skirrow
authors: Department of Civil Engineering, 2002 - 6250 Applied Science Lane, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4.
authors: Eric R
authors: ER
authors: Hall
authors: Environment Canada, Pacific Environmental Science Centre, 2645 Dollarton Hwy., North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V7H 1B1.
authors: Lorraine L Y
authors: LL
authors: Brown
authors: Environment Canada, Pacific Environmental Science Centre, 2645 Dollarton Hwy., North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V7H 1B1.
authors: Graham C
authors: GC
authors: van Aggelen
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada V5A 1S6.
authors: Christopher J
authors: CJ
authors: Kennedy
authors: Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, PO Box 3055 STN CSC, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada V8W 3P6. Electronic address: chelbing@uvic.ca.
authors: Caren C
authors: CC
authors: Helbing
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006795:Household Products / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D017686:Oncorhynchus mykiss / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014819:Vitellogenins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000633:toxicity*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014819:Vitellogenins; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Conventional activated sludge; Estrogenic activity; Gene expression; Oncorhynchus mykiss; Synthetic wastewater; Vitellogenin protein