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Sixty percent of discrete surface water bodies in Europe do not meet the requirements for good ecological and chemical status and in Germany, the situation is even worse with over 90% of surface water bodies failing to meet the threshold. In addition to hydromorphological degradation, intensive land use and invasive species, chemical pollution is primarily considered to be responsible for the inadequate ecological status of the water bodies. As a quantitatively important source of micropollutants, wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) represent an important entry path for chemical stressors. It is therefore important to analyze the effectiveness of the WWTPs in eliminating micropollutants and other chemical stressors to mitigate the negative impacts of the treated wastewater (WW) in aquatic ecosystems. Accordingly, in this study, we evaluated the impacts of two conventional, medium-sized WWTPs on their small receiving water systems in the southwestern region of Hessen in Germany during two sampling campaigns (spring and fall) using effect-based methods (EBM). We hypothesized that due to the insufficient elimination of micropollutants, a broad spectrum of toxic effects would be detected in conventionally treated WW and also in the receiving surface waters downstream the WWTPs. As EBMs a battery of in vitro assays and active biomonitoring using two in vivo assays were applied. The results supported our hypothesis and showed that the untreatedWWhad a very high baseline toxicity and also high endocrine and mutagenic activities. ConventionalWWtreatment, consisting of mechanical and biological treatment with nitrification, denitrification and phosphate precipitation, reduced baseline toxicity by more than 90% and endocrine activities by more than 80% in both WWTPs. Despite these high elimination rates, the remaining baseline toxicity, the endocrine, dioxin-like and mutagenic activities of the conventionally treated WW were so high that negative effects on the two receiving waters were to be expected. This was confirmed in the active monitoring with the amphipod Gammarus fossarum and the mudsnail Potamopyrgus antipodarum, as mortality of both species increased downstream of the WWTPs and reproduction in P. antipodarum was also affected. These results indicate that advanced WW treatment is needed to more effectively eliminate chemical stressors to prevent negative impacts of treated WW particularly in small receiving waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Central European riverine networks are subject to widely varying local anthropogenic pressures, forcing species with limited dispersal abilities to adapt or become locally extinct. Previous catchment-wide studies have shown that some invertebrates tend to have pronounced population structuring throughout mountainous river networks, raising the question of whether this also translates into small-scale phenotypic differentiation and adaptation to local stressors. One such species is the headwater crustacean species Gammarus fossarum clade 11 (or lineage B), which we restudied in terms of population structure four years after first assessment. Our aim was not only to document the temporal stability/dynamics of the population structure, but we asked whether a small-scale genetic structuring also results in phenotypic differentiation and different susceptibility to a commonly applied pesticide. Therefore, we re-assessed population structure based on COI haplotypes and their frequencies, and quantified key parameters related to morphological and life-history differentiation. Furthermore, we examined the difference in sensitivity towards the pyrethroid insecticide deltamethrin. COI haplotype patterns were found to be stable over time and confirmed the small-scale population structuring within the catchment, with isolated headwater populations and connected downstream populations. While little life-history differentiation was observed, marked differences in susceptibility to the pyrethroid insecticide were found. Populations from pristine sites responded significantly more tolerant than populations from anthropogenically impacted sites—showing that prior exposure to a spectrum of stressors does not automatically increase tolerance to a specific stressor. Therefore, our study demonstrates that limited dispersal capacity is reflected not only in population structure, but also in small-scale variation in susceptibility to anthropogenic disturbance. The system thus provides a suitable experimental landscape to test the impact of further stressors (e.g., other novel entities, including pesticides with other modes of action) on locally isolated populations. Based on these findings, important recommendations for the protection of riverine species and their intraspecific genetic variation can be developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past two decades, an increasing body of studies has been published on the intersex phenomenon in separate-sexed crustaceans from marine and freshwater ecosystems. Various causes are being considered that could have an influence on the occurrence of intersex. Besides genetic factors, environmental conditions such as photoperiodicity, temperature, salinity and parasitism, but also environmental pollution with endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are discussed. As part of a long-term monitoring (2012 – 2020) in north-west Brittany, we recorded the occurrence of intersex in the marine amphipod Echinogammarus marinus. We quantified the intersex incidence at marine and estuarine sites and analyzed the incidence in relation to the endocrine potential of the sediments. Intersex occurred with mean frequencies between 0.87% and 12%. It was striking that the incidence of intersex increased with increasing distance from the sea. Since the highest incidence was observed at the range boundary of this stenohaline species, we assume that intersex is triggered by endocrine potential and increasing stress due to increasing freshwater content − and thus an interplay of different environmental factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Many studies about endocrine pollution in the aquatic environment reveal changes in the reproduction system of biota. We analysed endocrine activities in two rivers in Southern Germany using three approaches: (1) chemical analyses, (2) invitro bioassays, and (3) invivo investigations in fish and snails. Chemical analyses were based on gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. For invitro analyses of endocrine potentials in water, sediment, and waste water samples, we used the E-screen assay (human breast cancer cells MCF-7) and reporter gene assays (human cell line HeLa-9903 and MDA-kb2). In addition, we performed reproduction tests with the freshwater mudsnail Potamopyrgus antipodarum to analyse water and sediment samples. We exposed juvenile brown trout (Salmo trutta f. fario) to water downstream of a wastewater outfall (Schussen River) or to water from a reference site (Argen River) to investigate the vitellogenin production. Furthermore, two feral fish species, chub (Leuciscus cephalus) and spirlin (Alburnoides bipunctatus), were caught in both rivers to determine their gonadal maturity and the gonadosomatic index. Chemical analyses provided only little information about endocrine active substances, whereas the invitro assays revealed endocrine potentials in most of the samples. In addition to endocrine potentials, we also observed toxic potentials (E-screen/reproduction test) in waste water samples, which could interfere with and camouflage endocrine effects. The results of our invivo tests were mostly in line with the results of the invitro assays and revealed a consistent reproduction-disrupting (reproduction tests) and an occasional endocrine action (vitellogenin levels) in both investigated rivers, with more pronounced effects for the Schussen river (e.g. a lower gonadosomatic index). We were able to show that biological invitro assays for endocrine potentials in natural stream water reasonably reflect reproduction and endocrine disruption observed in snails and field-exposed fish, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the 1980s, advances in wastewater treatment technology have led to considerably improved surface water quality in the urban areas of many high income countries. However, trace concentrations of organic wastewater-associated contaminants may still pose a key environmental hazard impairing the ecological quality of surface waters. To identify key impact factors, we analyzed the effects of a wide range of anthropogenic and environmental variables on the aquatic macroinvertebrate community. We assessed ecological water quality at 26 sampling sites in four urban German lowland river systems with a 0–100% load of state-of-the-art biological activated sludge treated wastewater. The chemical analysis suite comprised 12 organic contaminants (five phosphor organic flame retardants, two musk fragrances, bisphenol A, nonylphenol, octylphenol, diethyltoluamide, terbutryn), 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and 12 heavy metals. Non-metric multidimensional scaling identified organic contaminants that are mainly wastewater-associated (i.e., phosphor organic flame retardants, musk fragrances, and diethyltoluamide) as a major impact variable on macroinvertebrate species composition. The structural degradation of streams was also identified as a significant factor. Multiple linear regression models revealed a significant impact of organic contaminants on invertebrate populations, in particular on Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera species. Spearman rank correlation analyses confirmed wastewater-associated organic contaminants as the most significant variable negatively impacting the biodiversity of sensitive macroinvertebrate species. In addition to increased aquatic pollution with organic contaminants, a greater wastewater fraction was accompanied by a slight decrease in oxygen concentration and an increase in salinity. This study highlights the importance of reducing the wastewater-associated impact on surface waters. For aquatic ecosystems in urban areas this would lead to: (i) improvement of the ecological integrity, (ii) reduction of biodiversity loss, and (iii) faster achievement of objectives of legislative requirements, e.g., the European Water Framework Directive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Resulting from their intensive use as corrosion inhibitors in aircraft deicing and anti-icing fluids (ADAF) and for silver protection in dishwasher detergents benzotriazoles (BTs) are widespread in European surface waters. The current study aimed on an ecotoxicological characterization of 1 H-benzotriazole (1 H-BT) and 5-methyl-1 H-benzotriazole (5MBT). Methods: Acute and chronic OECD guideline tests were conducted with primary producers ( Desmodesmus subspicatus, Lemna minor) and two daphnia species ( Daphnia magna, Daphnia galeata) to characterize the hazard of these chemicals. Additionally, the estrogenic activity of both BTs was analyzed in vitro using a recombinant yeast estrogen screen (YES). Results: Both BTs revealed significant effects in acute and chronic experiments, but exhibited no estrogenic activity in the YES. The algal growth test displayed an inhibited cell number increase with effect concentration (EC) values of EC 1.18 and 2.86 mg l for 1 H-BT and 5MBT, respectively. In the Lemna test, EC values were 3.94 mg l (1 H-BT) and 2.11 mg l (5MBT). D. magna was also affected with EC (48 h) values of 107 mg l for 1 H-BT and 51.6 mg l for 5MBT. D. galeata was more sensitive with an EC (48 h) of 14.7 mg 1 H-BT l and 8.13 mg 5MBT l. In the 21-day reproduction tests with D. magna, the EC for 5MBT was 5.93 mg l while 1 H-BT showed no adverse effects. D. galeata turned out to be more sensitive in the chronic study with EC values of 0.97 mg l for 1 H-BT and 0.40 mg l for 5 MBT. Conclusion: Because BTs are regularly found in the aquatic environment at lower μg l concentrations reflecting their persistence and poor elimination during wastewater treatment processes, a preliminary risk assessment was conducted. There is little indication that BTs pose a risk for aquatic ecosystems at current exposure levels during most of the year. However, it cannot be excluded that in winter with a higher usage of ADAFs environmental concentrations may well exceed the level that is considered safe for aquatic organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Terrestrial ecotoxicology includes the investigation of the impact of chemicals on soils and soil-inhabiting organisms, whereby ecotoxicological effects are mainly assessed using single-species laboratory tests. As part of laboratory testing, reference substances, with known toxicity, are regularly used to confirm the sensitivity of the cultivated test organisms over time. Furthermore, reference substances are also applied in ring test evaluations for the validation of new test methods. The present work evaluates boric acid for its suitability as a potential reference substance for tests with higher plants and soil organisms (e.g., invertebrates and microbial communities). Materials and methods: To enhance our existing knowledge, standardized acute and chronic laboratory tests with boric acid were performed and statistically evaluated using the following organism groups: microorganisms, higher plants, nematodes, enchytraeids, earthworms, collembolans, and beetles. Results and discussion: The results demonstrated that boric acid was amenable for use in standardized laboratory tests using a wide range of microbes, plants, and soil invertebrates. Methodological problems were not identified. In addition, several organism groups demonstrated a hormetic response that must be taken into consideration when determining appropriate test concentration ranges for the use of boric acid as a reference substance. Finally, it was clear that the sensitivity of the different test species differed by about an order of magnitude (with the exclusion of microorganisms), which seems little when considering the wide taxonomic and physiological range of the organisms tested. Conclusions: Based on the present results boric acid can be considered as a suitable reference substance in soil ecotoxicology. It is also recommended that the suitability (i.e., sensitivity, robustness, and practicability) be proven in international ring tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The ecotoxicological implications of a flooding disaster were investigated with the exceptional Elbe flood in August 2002 as an example. Sediment samples were taken shortly after the flood at 37 sites. For toxicity assessment the midge Chironomus riparius (Insecta) and the mudsnail Potamopyrgus antipodarum (Gastropoda) were exposed to the sediment samples for 28 days. For a subset of 19 sampling sites, the contamination level and the biological response of both species were also recorded before the flood in 2000. The direct comparison of biological responses at identical sites revealed significant differences for samples taken before and immediately after the flood. After flood sediments of the river Elbe caused both higher emergence rates in the midge and higher numbers of embryos in the mudsnail. Contrary to expectations the toxicity of the sediments decreased after the flood, probably because of a dilution of toxic substances along the river Elbe and a reduction in bioavailability of pollutants as a result of increasing TOC values after the flood. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Approximately 90% of German surface waters do not meet the objectives of the European Water Framework Directive (EU-WFD). This is primarily due to deficits in water body structure and biological quality components, which in turn are negatively affected by chemical pollution. In this context, hydromorphological restoration measures have often been conducted to improve habitat and species diversity and, therefore, the ecological status of water bodies. However, habitat improvement is not necessarily accompanied by biota enhancement and thus by the improvement of the ecological status of rivers. To prioritize water management measures, decision criteria for the water management practice are necessary, which enable the prognosis, whether chemical pollution and its resulting effects or other factors, such as structural deficits of the water bodies, are the main cause for the failure to meet the objective of a good ecological status.Results: To address this need, we applied the freshwater mudsnail Potamopyrgus antipodarum and the amphipod Gammarus fossarum in active monitoring campaigns and in laboratory experiments with combined water/sediment samples and analyzed water and sediment samples with in vitro assays quarterly over the course of 1 year to provide evidence and guideline to assess if chemical contamination is a relevant stress factor for the aquatic biodiversity in rivers of the Nidda catchment (Hessen, Germany). On the basis of these results, an ecotoxicological, WFD-compliant assessment system was developed which, in comparison with the ecological status classes of the EU-WFD, permits the identification of the probable causes for the failure to meet the objectives of the EU-WFD. From these findings, recommendations for action were derived for the implementation of priority measures in water management practice. For the rivers Nidda, Usa, and Horloff, we identified a need for action to improve water and sediment quality at all investigated sampling sites except for the reference sites in the headwaters. The ecotoxicological assessment system also highlighted that hydromorphological restoration measures on their own will not lead to a good ecological status of rivers, as long as water and sediment quality are deficient.Conclusion: Hydromorphological restoration measures should be performed in conjunction with measures to reduce chemical contamination to achieve a good ecological status of the rivers Nidda, Usa, and Horloff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Impact of toxic substances for aquatic communities cannot be solely derived by single exposure tests. [•] The identification of interactive effects between abiotic, biotic and man-made stresses can be assessed with multifactorial test designs. [•] The results show clearly that multiple stress factors affect organisms integratively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We report results of a multigenerational experiment with Chironomus riparius. Two strains with a high and a low level of genetic variability were exposed to a low, environmentally relevant TBT concentration of 80μgSnkg−1 sedimentdw nominally (time weighted mean, based on measured concentrations: 4.5μgSnkg−1 sedimentdw), and various life history traits as well as genetic diversity were monitored for eleven consecutive generations. While TBT effects are hardly visible in the outbred and genetically diverse strain, the inbred and genetically impoverished strain shows a clearly reduced population growth rate compared to the control. Moreover, the impoverished strain shows an increase in fitness over time. Analyses of variation at five microsatellite loci revealed that the level of genetic variation is strongly reduced in the inbred compared to the outbred strain. Moreover, genetic diversity increases over time in the inbred strain. This finding explains the observed increase in fitness in both inbred lineages (control and TBT exposed). The results document that inbreeding and the level of genetic diversity might be of crucial importance in populations under pollution stress. Furthermore, ecotoxicological bioassays have to consider genetic diversity if results between laboratories should be comparable. Our data provides evidence that genetic diversity strongly contributes to the survival of a population exposed to chemical pollution. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Studying effect of 170 wastewater treatment plants on aquatic communities. • Massive community turnover rates of 61%. • Taxon specific abundance change with winners and losers. • Commonly used diversity indices failed to reflect community changes. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) are essential infrastructure in our developing world. However, with the development and release of novel entities and without modern upgrades, they are ineffective at fully removing micropollutants before treated effluents are released back into aquatic environments. Thus, WWTPs may represent additional point source impacts to freshwater environments, further pressuring aquatic fauna and already vulnerable insect communities. Previous studies – mostly focusing on single WWTPs – have shown general trends of freshwater invertebrate communities becoming dominated by pollution tolerant taxa. To expand on these findings, the current study is the first to comprehensively investigate data on the effects of 170 WWTPs on invertebrate taxonomic composition. We compared data for several diversity and pollution indices, as well as the taxonomic composition both upstream and downstream of the WWTPs (366 sampling sites). In terms of abundance, the three most frequent and negatively impacted orders were the Plecoptera, Trichoptera and Gastropoda, while the Turbellaria, Hirudinea and Crustacea increased in abundance. Although strong changes in community composition were observed between upstream and downstream sites (mean species turnover of 61%), commonly used diversity indices were not sensitive to these changes, highlighting their potential inadequacy in accurately assessing ecological health. Our results indicate that WWTPs change downstream conditions in favour of pollution tolerant taxa to the detriment of sensitive taxa. Order-level taxonomic responses can be informative but should be interpreted with caution, since they can be driven by a few taxa, or opposing responses of species in the same group can result in an overall low order-level response. Upgrading WWTPs via additional treatment steps or merging may be beneficial, provided upstream sections are unimpacted and/or are in a good chemical and structural condition. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The knowledge we have gained in recent years on the presence and effects of compounds discharged by wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) brings us to a point where we must question the appropriateness of current water quality evaluation methodologies. An increasing number of anthropogenic chemicals is detected in treated wastewater and there is increasing evidence of adverse environmental effects related to WWTP discharges. It has thus become clear that new strategies are needed to assess overall quality of conventional and advanced treated wastewaters. There is an urgent need for multidisciplinary approaches combining expertise from engineering, analytical and environmental chemistry, (eco)toxicology, and microbiology. This review summarizes the current approaches used to assess treated wastewater quality from the chemical and ecotoxicological perspective. Discussed chemical approaches include target, non-target and suspect analysis, sum parameters, identification and monitoring of transformation products, computational modeling as well as effect directed analysis and toxicity identification evaluation. The discussed ecotoxicological methodologies encompass in vitro testing (cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, mutagenicity, endocrine disruption, adaptive stress response activation, toxicogenomics) and in vivo tests (single and multi species, biomonitoring). We critically discuss the benefits and limitations of the different methodologies reviewed. Additionally, we provide an overview of the current state of research regarding the chemical and ecotoxicological evaluation of conventional as well as the most widely used advanced wastewater treatment technologies, i.e. , ozonation, advanced oxidation processes, chlorination, activated carbon, and membrane filtration. In particular, possible directions for future research activities in this area are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Ozonation as advanced wastewater treatment method is an effective technique for micropollutant removal. However, the application of this method carries the inherent danger to produce toxic oxidation byproducts. For an ecotoxicological assessment conventionally treated wastewater, wastewater after ozonation and ozonated wastewater after sand filtration were evaluated in parallel at an operating treatment plant via the fish early life stage toxicity test (FELST) using rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). The FELST revealed a considerable developmental retardation of test organisms exposed to ozonated WW. This was accompanied by a significant decrease in body weight and length compared to reference water, to the conventionally treated WW and to the ozonated water after sand filtration. Hence sand filtration obviously prevents from adverse ecotoxicological effects of ozonation. An additional test with yolk-sac larvae resulted in a significant reduction of vitellogenin levels in fish exposed to ozonated wastewater compared to fish reared in conventionally treated wastewater. This demonstrates the effective removal of estrogenic activity by ozonation. Adverse ozonation effects may have been a result of the conversion of chemicals into more toxic metabolites. However, sand filtration reduced toxication effects indicating that these oxidation byproducts are readily degradable or adsorbable. The results indicate that in any case ozonation should not be applied without subsequent post treatment appropriate for oxidation byproducts removal (e.g. sand filtration). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Differently formulated plastic pellets are evaluated. • Plastics release chemicals that are toxic in in vitro bioassays. • UV irradiation exacerbates the plastics' toxicity. • UV induces toxicity in plastics of low chemical complexity. • UV weathering generates low-molecular fragments. Plastics can release numerous chemicals and thereby, contribute to the chemical pollution in aquatic systems. To which extent environmental degradation processes influence the release of plastic chemicals, is currently unknown and subject of research. We therefore evaluated aqueous leachates of 12 differently formulated plastics (e.g., pre-production, post-industrial and recycled pellets as well as final products) using in vitro bioassays and chemical analysis via LC-HRMS nontarget approach. We weathered these plastics by UV irradiation (UV-C and UV-A/B) under laboratory conditions in dryness and a subsequent leaching period in ultrapure water ('atmospheric' weathering) or directly in water ('aquatic' weathering, UV-A/B aq). A dark control (DC) without UV light served as a reference treatment. Some plastics triggered several toxicological endpoints (low-density polyethylene recyclate (LDPE-R), starch blend (SB), bio-based polybutylene succinate (Bio-PBS) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC)), whereas others caused little to no effects (polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP) and LDPE). UV irradiation enhanced the plastics' toxicity, even for samples initially evaluated as toxicologically inconspicuous. The plastic samples caused oxidative stress (85%), baseline toxicity (42%), antiestrogenicity (40%) and antiandrogenicity (27%). Positive findings were measured after UV-C (63%) and UV-A/B aq (50%) treatments, followed by UV-A/B (48%) and DC (33%). Overall, we detected between 42 (DC) and 2896 (UV-A/B aq) chemical compounds. Our study demonstrates that differently formulated plastics leach toxic chemicals. UV exacerbates the plastics' toxicity by either generating active compounds and/or by facilitating their release. UV light even leads to the release of bioactive compounds from plastics of low chemical complexity. To prevent the exposure to plastic-associated chemicals, the application of chemicals could be reduced to a minimum, while on a regulatory level the evaluation of plastic eluates could be another focal point next to singular compounds. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the environmental monitoring of pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment based on analytical chemistry of single substances such as the sheer number of compounds, metabolites and new product developments. It reflects on the pollution brought by the pharmaceuticals in the environment. It notes the paper submitted to the United Nations that proposed pharmaceutical pollutants as an emerging policy issue to international chemicals management.