Removal of pharmaceuticals and unspecified contaminants in sewage treatment effluents by activated carbon filtration and ozonation: Evaluation using biomarker responses and chemical analysis

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) 2017-06, Vol.176, p.342-351
• Main Authors: Beijer, Kristina, Björlenius, Berndt, Shaik, Siraz, Lindberg, Richard H., Brunström, Björn, Brandt, Ingvar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activated carbon; Animals; Biomarkers; Biomarkers - metabolism; Charcoal - chemistry; Filtration; Gills - drug effects; Gills - enzymology; Liver - drug effects; Liver - enzymology; Oncorhynchus mykiss - metabolism; Ozonation; Ozone - chemistry; Pharmaceutical Preparations - analysis; Pharmaceuticals; Rainbow trout; Sewage - chemistry; Sweden; Wastewater; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water Pollutants, Chemical - toxicity; Water Purification - methods
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.02.127

Traces of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and other chemicals are demonstrated in effluents from sewage treatment plants (STPs) and they may affect quality of surface water and eventually drinking water. Treatment of effluents with granular activated carbon (GAC) or ozone to improve removal of APIs and other contaminants was evaluated at two Swedish STPs, Käppala and Uppsala (88 and 103 APIs analyzed). Biomarker responses in rainbow trout exposed to regular and additionally treated effluents were determined. GAC and ozone treatment removed 87–95% of the total concentrations of APIs detected. In Käppala, GAC removed 20 and ozonation (7 g O3/m3) 21 of 24 APIs detected in regular effluent. In Uppsala, GAC removed 25 and ozonation (5.4 g O3/m3) 15 of 25 APIs detected in effluent. GAC and ozonation also reduced biomarker responses caused by unidentified pollutants in STP effluent water. Elevated ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity in gills was observed in fish exposed to effluent in both STPs. Gene expression analysis carried out in Käppala showed increased concentrations of cytochrome P450 (CYP1As and CYP1C3) transcripts in gills and of CYP1As in liver of fish exposed to effluent. In fish exposed to GAC- or ozone-treated effluent water, gill EROD activity and expression of CYP1As and CYP1C3 in gills and liver were generally equal to or below levels in fish held in tap water. The joint application of chemical analysis and sensitive biomarkers proved useful for evaluating contaminant removal in STPs with new technologies. •Ozonation and GAC removed total pharmaceutical load in STP effluents by 89–95%.•Ozonation and GAC removed most pharmaceuticals to concentrations below LOQ.•GAC and ozonation strongly reduced biomarker responses related to AhR activation.•Combining chemical and biomarker analysis supports evaluation of WWTP technologies.