Experimental dataset on the effects of three model pharmaceuticals on river periphytic microbial communities
The effects of diclofenac, ofloxacin, and sulfamethazine on periphytic microbial communities were assessed in a 27-day microcosm experiment. Natural communities, initially developed in a river, were exposed in laboratory channels to five concentrations (0.05–500 µg L?¹) of each pharmaceutical. Periphyton was sampled at the start and on days 14 and 27 in 18 microcosms (including three references) to evaluate bioaccumulation, growth, microbial activities (photosynthesis, enzymatic activities), and diversity (qPCR, culture-based, and amplicon metabarcoding analyses). Community tolerance to acute toxicity of sulfamethazine, diclofenac, and copper, as well as the abundance of antimicrobial resistance genes, resistant bacteria, and selected pathogens, was also assessed. By integrating detailed exposure measurements with structural and functional microbial metrics (including activity, tolerance, resistance, and targeted monitoring of specific taxa), this dataset enables analysis of the relationships between pharmaceutical exposure and periphytic community responses. Temporal dynamics of physicochemical water parameters are included, providing a robust basis for assessing microbiological hazards and understanding the ecotoxicological impacts of pharmaceuticals on aquatic microbial communities and ecosystem health.