Combination of In Situ Feeding Rate Experiments and Chemical Body Burden Analysis to Assess the Influence of Micropollutants in Wastewater on Gammarus pulex

Sarah Könemann, Yvonne Müller, Daniel Tschentscher, Martin Krauss, Pedro A. Inostroza, Ira Brückner, Johannes Pinnekamp, Sabrina Schiwy and Henner Hollert
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Sarah Könemann: Department of Ecosystem Analysis, Institute for Environmental Research, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
Yvonne Müller: Department of Ecosystem Analysis, Institute for Environmental Research, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
Daniel Tschentscher: Department of Ecosystem Analysis, Institute for Environmental Research, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
Martin Krauss: Department Effect-Directed Analysis, Helmholtz Institute for Environmental Research-UFZ, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
Pedro A. Inostroza: Department Effect-Directed Analysis, Helmholtz Institute for Environmental Research-UFZ, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
Ira Brückner: Waterboard Eifel-Rur, Eisenbahnstrasse 5, 52353 Düren, Germany
Johannes Pinnekamp: Institute of Environmental Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Mies-van-der-Rohe-Strasse 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
Sabrina Schiwy: Department of Ecosystem Analysis, Institute for Environmental Research, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
Henner Hollert: Department of Ecosystem Analysis, Institute for Environmental Research, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 5, 1-13

Abstract: Wastewater discharge is one of the main sources of micropollutants within the aquatic environment. To reduce the risks for the aquatic environment, the reduction of the chemical load of wastewater treatment plant effluent is critical. Based on this need, additional treatment methods, such as ozonation, are currently being tested in several wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). In the present study, effects were investigated using in situ feeding experiments with Gammarus pulex and body burden analyses of frequently detected micropollutants which used a Quick Easy Cheap Effective Rugged and Safe (QuEChERS) multi-residue method to quantify internal concentrations in collected gammarids. Information obtained from these experiments complemented data from the chemical analysis of water samples and bioassays, which predominantly cover hydrophilic substances. When comparing up- and downstream feeding rates of Gammarus pulex for seven days, relative to the WWTPs, no significant acute effects were detected, although a slight trend of increased feeding rate downstream of the WWTP Aachen-Soers was observed. The chemical load released by the WWTP or at other points, or by diffuse sources, might be too low to lead to clear acute effects on G. pulex . However, some compounds found in wastewater are able to alter the microbial community on its leaves, leading to an increase in the feeding rate of G. pulex . Chemical analysis of internal concentrations of pollutants in the tissues of collected gammarids suggests a potential risk for chronic effects with the chemicals imidacloprid, thiacloprid, carbendazim, and 1H-benzotriazole when exceeding the critical toxic unit value of −3. This study has demonstrated that a combination of acute testing and measurement of the internal concentration of micropollutants that might lead to chronic effects is an efficient tool for investigating river systems, assuming all relevant factors (e.g., species or season) are taken into account.

Keywords: body burden analysis; feeding rate inhibition; Gammarus pulex; in situ monitoring; internal concentrations; micropollutants; wastewater; wastewater treatment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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