Ecotoxicity and bioaccumulation of pharmaceuticals: evaluation of treatment in anaerobic bioreactors

• Grant number: 21/14789-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: November 01, 2022
• Status: Discontinued
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Sanitary Engineering - Environmental Sanitation
• Principal Investigator: Marcelo Zaiat
• Grantee: Allan Pretti Ogura
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/22067-4 - Evaluation of the Ecotoxicity of Sublethal Levels of Caffeine and Propranolol on Reproduction, Development, and Behavior in the Freshwater Amphipod Hyalella azteca, BE.EP.PD

Abstract

When released into the environment, pharmaceuticals can cause toxic effects and are liable to bioaccumulate in different organisms even at low concentrations. Thus, these emerging contaminants need to be removed in effluent treatment plants and anaerobic reactors, which have already shown potential for degradation, especially in the acidogenic phase. In this context, the project presented seeks to evaluate the ecotoxicity and bioaccumulation of drugs before and after treatment by anaerobic bioreactors. Six drugs will be studied: atenolol, carbamazepine, diclofenac, ibuprofen, propranolol and triclosan. This research is part of the Project SABESP-FAPESP ATIVA-ETE (2020/09912-6). In the first stage, the removal of target compounds will be carried out in batch to treat synthetic sanitary sewage, with an anaerobic system operated with phase separation (acidogenesis and methanogenesis). In the second stage, samples before and after the anaerobic system will be evaluated for lethal and sublethal ecotoxicity effects with two bioindicator species, the microalgae Raphidocelis subcapitata and the cladoceran Ceriodaphnia silvestrii. In the third step, the bioaccumulation of the studied pharmaceuticals in the samples before and after the anaerobic treatment will be analyzed for the species R. subcapitata, C. silvestrii, in addition to the macrophyte Salvinia auriculata and the microcrustacean Hyalella meinerti. Therefore, the results can show the application of ecotoxicological tests to evaluate the treatment by anaerobic bioreactors. There is expected to be a reduction in ecotoxicity to bioindicator organisms with the pharmaceutical's removal. Furthermore, the risks of bioaccumulation of these target compounds may indicate effects that are not commonly observed with species representative of tropical environments. (AU)

Scientific publications

(9)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

LIMA, JACQUELINE ZANIN; CASSARO, RAUL; OGURA, ALLAN PRETTI; VIANNA, MARILDA MENDONCA GUAZZELLI RAMOS. A systematic review of the effects of microplastics and nanoplastics on the soil-plant system. SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION, v. 38, p. 17-pg., 2023-05-05. (17/16961-0, 21/14789-1)

DA COSTA, VANESSA BORGES; OGURA, ALLAN PRETTI; ALEXANDRE, DAVID SILVA; SOARES, MATHEUS BORTOLANZA; ALLEONI, LUIS REYNALDO FERRACCIU; ESPINDOLA, EVALDO LUIZ GAETA; DA SILVA PINTO, THANDY JUNIO. How much biochar is safe? Exploring potential ecotoxicological consequences for soil invertebrates and plants. APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY, v. 202, p. 9-pg., 2024-07-30. (22/08032-8, 22/14293-9, 24/00791-2, 21/14789-1)

OGURA, ALLAN PRETTI; LIMA, JACQUELINE ZANIN; DA SILVA, LAIS CONCEICAO MENEZES DA; DIAS, MARIANA AMARAL; RODRIGUES, VALERIA GUIMARAES SILVESTRE; MONTAGNER, CASSIANA CAROLINA; ESPINDOLA, EVALDO LUIZ GAETA. Phytotoxicity of 2,4-D and fipronil mixtures to three green manure species. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND HEALTH PART B-PESTICIDES FOOD CONTAMIN, v. N/A, p. 11-pg., 2023-02-16. (15/18790-3, 17/16961-0, 21/14789-1)

OGURA, A. P.; DIAS, M. A.; MARESTONI, I. F.; BERNEGOSSI, A. C.; FELIPE, M. C.; MONTAGNER, C. C.; ESPINDOLA, E. L. G.. Chemical and ecotoxicological assessment of the uptake of pesticides 2,4-D and fipronil by free-floating aquatic macrophytes. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, v. N/A, p. 14-pg., 2024-12-21. (21/14789-1, 15/18790-3)

SOUSA, LUCAS MASSARO; OGURA, ALLAN PRETTI; ANCHIETA, CHAYENE GONCALVES; MORIN, MATHIEU; CANABARRO, NICHOLAS ISLONGO. Biomass Torrefaction for Renewable Energy: From Physicochemical, Bulk Properties, and Flowability to Future Perspectives and Applications. ENERGY & FUELS, v. 38, n. 19, p. 19-pg., 2024-09-18. (21/14789-1)

DE BRITO, LUIS FERNANDO PEREIRA; ESPINDOLA, EVALDO LUIZ GAETA; OGURA, ALLAN PRETTI. Tolerance of free-floating aquatic macrophytes to sugarcane vinasse and its implications for phytoremediation strategies. JOURNAL OF WATER SANITATION AND HYGIENE FOR DEVELOPMENT, v. 14, n. 4, p. 7-pg., 2024-03-22. (21/14789-1, 15/18790-3)

ALEXANDRE, DAVID SILVA; OGURA, ALLAN PRETTI; MOHEDANO, RODRIGO DE ALMEIDA; THIBAU, LORENA BITTENCOURT GUIMARAES. Potential of two floating aquatic macrophytes in improving water quality: A case study in two tropical streams. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE CIENCIAS AMBIENTAIS, v. 60, p. 14-pg., 2024-01-01. (24/00791-2, 21/14789-1)

MOREIRA, RAQUEL A.; GONZALEZ, MARIA PILAR; DIAS, MARIANA A.; OGURA, ALLAN P.; MENA, FREYLAN; MONTAGNER, CASSIANA C.; ESPINDOLA, EVALDO L. G.; BLASCO, JULIAN; PARRA, GEMA; ARAUJO, CRISTIANO V. M.. Ecological consequences when organisms avoid a contaminated environment: A study evaluating the toxicity of fipronil. Science of The Total Environment, v. 926, p. 7-pg., 2024-03-23. (21/14789-1)

ALEXANDRE, DAVID SILVA; OGURA, ALLAN PRETTI; PINTO, THANDY JUNIO DA SILVA; SOARES, MATHEUS BORTOLANZA; ALLEONI, LUIS REYNALDO FERRACCIU; MONTAGNER, CASSIANA CAROLINA; ZACHARIAS, TELMA DE OLIVEIRA; DIAS, MARIANA AMARAL; ESPINDOLA, EVALDO LUIZ GAETA. Biochar from Sugarcane Straw Reduces the Toxicity of Soils Contaminated with 2,4-D and Fipronil, Isolated and in a Mixture, on Multispecies Microcosms. WATER AIR AND SOIL POLLUTION, v. 234, n. 10, p. 16-pg., 2023-10-01. (22/14293-9, 15/18790-3, 21/14789-1, 22/08032-8)