Biogenic palladium enhances diatrizoate removal from hospital wastewater in a microbial electrolysis cell

decrease the load of pharmaceuticals to the environment, decentralized wastewater treatment has been proposed for important point-sources such as hospitals. In this study, a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) was used for the dehalogenation of the iodinated X-ray contrast medium diatrizoate. The presence of biogenic palladium nanoparticles (bio-Pd) in the cathode significantly enhanced diatrizoate removal by direct electrochemical reduction and by reductive catalysis using the H(2) gas produced at the cathode of the MEC. Complete deiodination of 3.3 mu M (2 mg L(-1)) diatrizoate from a synthetic medium was achieved after 24 h of recirculation at an applied voltage of -0.4 V. An equimolar amount of the deiodinated metabolite 3,5-diacetamidobenzoate (DAB) was detected. Higher cell voltages increased the dehalogenation rates, resulting in a complete removal after 2 h at -0.8 V. At this cell Voltage, the MEC was also able to remove 85% of diatrizoate from hospital effluent containing 0.5 mu M (292 mu g L(-1)), after 24 h of recirculation. Complete removal was obtained when the effluent was continuously fed at a volumetric loading rate of 204 mg diatrizoate m(-3) total cathodic compartment (TCC) day(-1) to the MEC with a hydraulic retention time of 8 h. At -0.8 V, the MEC system could also eliminate 54% of diatrizoate from spiked urine during a 24 h recirculation experiment. The final product DAB was demonstrated to be removable by nitrifying biomass, which suggests that the combination of a MEC and bio-Pd in its cathode offers potential to dehalogenate pharmaceuticals, and to significantly lower the environmental burden of hospital waste streams

Emerging contaminants in Belgian marine waters: single toxicant and mixture risks of pharmaceuticals

Knowledge on the effects of pharmaceuticals on aquatic marine ecosystems is limited. The aim of this study was therefore to establish the effect thresholds of pharmaceutical compounds occurring in the Belgian marine environment for the marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum, and subsequently perform an environmental risk assessment for these substances. Additionally, a screening-level risk assessment was performed for the pharmaceutical mixtures.No immediate risk for acute toxic effects of these compounds on P. tricornutum were apparent at the concentrations observed in the Belgian marine environment. In two Belgian coastal harbours however, a potential chronic risk was observed for the ß-blocker propranolol. No additional risks arising from the exposure to mixtures of pharmaceuticals present in the sampling area could be detected. However, as risk characterization ratios for mixtures of up to 0.5 were observed, mixture effects could emerge should more compounds be taken into account

Detection of macrocyclic lactones in porcine liver, meat and fish tissue using LC-APCI-MS-MS

A selective and sensitive method for the simultaneous determination of five avermectins (abamectin, ivermectin, doramectin, emamectin and eprinomectin) and one milbemycin (moxidectin) in porcine liver, bovine meat and fish tissue was developed. The method involved extraction with acetonitrile and purification by C18 solid-phase extraction. Detection was carried out using liquid chromatography coupled to multiple mass spectrometry (LC-MS2) equipped with APCI in the negative mode. This method was validated according to the requirements of Commission Decision EC/2002/657 (Implementing Council Directive 96/23/EC concerning the performance of analytical methods and the interpretation of results. Off J Eur Commun. L221: 8-36.). In addition to the linear response (R2 between 59 and 97%), good repeatability (CV between 20 and 35%), reproducibility (CV between 20 and 35%) and detection (CC) and quantification (CC) limits were obtained for all compounds in all matrices considered