title: Toxicological and chemical assessment of arsenic-contaminated groundwater after electrochemical and advanced oxidation treatments.
abstract: Owing to its proven toxicity and mutagenicity, arsenic is regarded a principal pollutant in water used for drinking. The objective of this study was the toxicological and chemical evaluation of groundwater samples obtained from arsenic enriched drinking water wells before and after electrochemical and ozone-UV-H2O2-based advanced oxidation processes (EAOP). For this purpose, acute toxicity test with Daphnia magna and chronic toxicity test with Lemna minor L. were employed as well as in vitro bioassays using human peripheral blood lymphocytes (HPBLs). Several oxidative stress parameters were estimated in L.minor. Physicochemical analysis showed that EAOP treatment was highly efficient in arsenic but also in ammonia and organic compound removal from contaminated groundwater. Untreated groundwater caused only slight toxicity to HPBLs and D. magna in acute experiments. However, 7-day exposure of L. minor to raw groundwater elicited genotoxicity, a significant growth inhibition and oxidative stress injury. The observed genotoxicity and toxicity of raw groundwater samples was almost completely eliminated by EAOP treatment. Generally, the results obtained with L. minor were in agreement with those obtained in the chemical analysis suggesting the sensitivity of the model organism in monitoring of arsenic-contaminated groundwater. In parallel to chemical analysis, the implementation of chronic toxicity bioassays in a battery is recommended in the assessment of the toxic and genotoxic potential of such complex mixtures.
authors.affiliation: University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, HR-10 000, Croatia. Electronic address: sandra@biol.pmf.hr.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Radić
authors.affiliation: Croatian Waters, Main Water Management Laboratory, HR-10 000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Crnojević
authors.affiliation: University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, HR-10 000, Croatia.
authors.forename: Valerija
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vujčić
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Mutagenesis Unit, HR-10 000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Goran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gajski
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Mutagenesis Unit, HR-10 000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Marko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gerić
authors.affiliation: Institute of Public Health "Dr. Andrija Štampar", Department of Environmental Protection and Health Ecology, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Želimira
authors.initials: Ž
authors.lastname: Cvetković
authors.affiliation: University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, HR-10 000, Croatia.
authors.forename: Cvjetko
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Petra
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Mutagenesis Unit, HR-10 000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Garaj-Vrhovac
authors.affiliation: ORESCANIN Ltd., HR-10 000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Višnja
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Oreščanin
mesh_terms: D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation / Q000379:methods*; D060587:Groundwater / Q000737:chemistry; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D001151:Arsenic
keywords: Advanced treatment; Arsenic; Daphnia magna; Human lymphocytes; Lemna minor; Toxicity