title: Removal of pharmaceuticals from wastewater by fungal treatment and reduction of hazard quotients.
abstract: The elimination of 81 pharmaceuticals (PhACs) by means of a biological treatment based on the fungus Trametes versicolor was evaluated in this work. PhAC removal studied in different types of wastewaters (urban, reverse osmosis concentrate, hospital, and veterinary hospital wastewaters) were reviewed and compared with conventional activated sludge (CAS) treatment. In addition, hazard indexes were calculated based on the exposure levels and ecotoxicity for each compound and used for the evaluation of the contaminants removal. PhAC elimination achieved with the fungal treatment (mean value 76%) was similar or slightly worse than the elimination achieved in the CAS treatment (85%). However, the fungal reactor was superior in removing more hazardous compounds (antibiotics and psychiatric drugs) than the conventional activated sludge in terms of environmental risk reduction (93% and 53% of reduction respectively). Fungal treatment can thus be considered as a good alternative to conventional treatment technologies for the elimination of PhACs from wastewaters.
authors.affiliation: Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), H2O Building, Scientific and Technological Park of the University of Girona, 17003 Girona, Spain.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lucas
authors.affiliation: Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), H2O Building, Scientific and Technological Park of the University of Girona, 17003 Girona, Spain; Water and Soil Quality Research Group, Department of Environmental Chemistry (IDAEA-CSIC), Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barceló
authors.affiliation: Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), H2O Building, Scientific and Technological Park of the University of Girona, 17003 Girona, Spain. Electronic address: srodriguez@icra.cat.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Mozaz
mesh_terms: D019149:Bioreactors; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000032:analysis*; D055454:Trametes / Q000378:metabolism*; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods; D062065:Wastewater / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Environmental risk assessment; Fungal treatment; Hazard quotients; Pharmaceuticals; Trametes versicolor; Wastewater treatment