Characterization of wastewater effluents in the Danube River Basin with chemical screening, in vitro bioassays and antibiotic resistant genes analysis

Nikiforos A Alygizakis; Harrie Besselink; Gabriela K Paulus; Peter Oswald; Luc M Hornstra; Martina Oswaldova; Gertjan Medema; Nikolaos S Thomaidis; Peter A Behnisch; Jaroslav Slobodnik

doi:10.1016/j.envint.2019.03.060

Characterization of wastewater effluents in the Danube River Basin with chemical screening, in vitro bioassays and antibiotic resistant genes analysis

Environ Int. 2019 Jun:127:420-429. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.03.060. Epub 2019 Apr 5.

Affiliations

¹ Environmental Institute, Okružná 784/42, 97241 Koš, Slovak Republic; Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece. Electronic address: alygizakis@ei.sk.
² BioDetection Systems b.v., Science Park 406, 1098 XH Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
³ KWR Watercycle Research Institute, 3433 PE Nieuwegein, the Netherlands; Department of Water Management, Faculty Civil Engineering & Geosciences, Delft University of Technology, Stevinweg 1, 2628 CN Delft, the Netherlands.
⁴ Environmental Institute, Okružná 784/42, 97241 Koš, Slovak Republic.
⁵ KWR Watercycle Research Institute, 3433 PE Nieuwegein, the Netherlands.
⁶ Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece. Electronic address: ntho@chem.uoa.gr.

PMID: 30959307
DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.03.060

Abstract

Averaged 7-day composite effluent wastewater samples from twelve wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in nine countries (Romania, Serbia, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Slovakia, Czechia, Austria, Germany) in the Danube River Basin were collected. WWTPs' selection was based on countries' dominant technology and a number of served population with the aim to get a representative holistic view of the pollution status. Samples were analyzed for 2248 chemicals of emerging concern (CECs) by wide-scope target screening employing LC-ESI-QTOF-MS. 280 compounds were detected at least in one sample and quantified. Spatial differences in the concentrations and distribution of the compounds classes were discussed. Additionally, samples were analyzed for the possible agonistic/antagonistic potencies using a panel of in vitro transactivation reporter gene CALUX® bioassays including ERα (estrogenics), anti-AR (anti-androgens), GR (glucocorticoids), anti-PR (anti-progestins), PPARα and PPARγ (peroxisome proliferators) and PAH assays. The potency of the wastewater samples to cause oxidative stress and induce xenobiotic metabolism was determined using the Nrf2 and PXR CALUX® bioassays, respectively. The signals from each of the bioassays were compared with the recently developed effect-based trigger values (EBTs) and thus allowed for allocating the wastewater effluents into four categories based on their measured toxicity, proposing a putative action plan for wastewater operators. Moreover, samples were analyzed for antibiotics and 13 antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs) and one mobile genetic element (intl1) with the aim to assess the potential for antibiotic resistance. All data collected from these various types of analysis were stored in an on-line database and can be viewed via interactive map at https://norman-data.eu/EWW_DANUBE.

Keywords: Antibiotic resistant genes; Bioassays; Danube River Basin; Effluent wastewater; Emerging substances; Wide-scope target screening.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents / analysis*
Biological Assay
Drug Resistance, Microbial* / genetics
Rivers / chemistry*
Wastewater / chemistry*
Water Pollutants, Chemical / analysis

Substances

Anti-Bacterial Agents
Waste Water
Water Pollutants, Chemical