Validation of an FT-IR microscopy method for the monitorization of microplastics in water for human consumption in Portugal: Lisbon case study.

The growing anthropogenic contamination of natural water by microplastics (MPs) confirms the urgent need to preserve this precious resource. MPs are part of the group of contaminants of emerging concern, and the occurrence studies in surface water and water for human consumption (WHC) are mandatory for environmental and human health risk assessment. This study aims to optimize and validate a Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy method coupled with optical microscopy (micro-FTIR) in transmission mode to monitor MPs in WHC. Water sample (250 mL; without sample pre-treatment) was filtered through 5 µm silicon filters. The infrared spectra identification was performed by OMNIC mathematical correlation, using various spectra libraries for polymers (including the in-house IR spectra library), a background reading on a clean silicon filter, and an aperture of 100 µm × 100 µm. The validated method showed good accuracy, with an average recovery for representative polymers of 91%, a relative standard deviation of 13%, and a reporting limit (RL) of 44 MPs/L. Sixty WHC samples from the Lisbon water supply system showed MPs ranging from 0 (< RL) to 934 MPs/L, with an average value of 309 MPs/L. The most representative polymers were polyethylene (PE, 76.8%), polyethylene terephthalate (PET, 6.9%), polypropylene (PP, 6%), polystyrene (PS, 4%), and polyamide (PA,4%). In terms of size, the microplastic particles had an average length and width of 76 µm and 39 µm, respectively.

Development of multi-residue gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry methodologies for the measurement of 15 chemically different disinfection by-products (DBPs) of emerging concern in drinking water from two different Portuguese water treatment plants.

In water treatment plants (WTPs), chemical agents, such as chlorine and ozone, might react with organic matter and anthropogenic contaminants, forming a high diversity of disinfection by-products (DBPs). Due to the potential toxicological effects, the identification of unregulated DBPs (UR-DBPs) is critical to help water managers in the selection of effective water treatment processes, contributing to improving water safety plans. Given the limited validated analytical methods to detect UR-DBPs, here we developed new multi-residue gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry methodologies for the detection and quantification of 15 UR-DBPs, including aldehydes, haloketones (HKs), nitrosamines and alcohols, in drinking water matrices. Solid-phase extraction (SPE), for the nitrosamine group, and solid-phase micro extraction (SPME), for the remaining DBPs, were used as sample preparation methods. The developed methodologies allowed the quantification of target UR-DBPs at trace concentration levels (ng L-1), with method quantification limits (MQLs) ranging from 14.4 ng L-1 to 26.0 ng L-1 (SPE-GC-MS) and 2.3 ng L-1 and 1596 ng L-1 (SPME-GC-MS). The methods were applied to different drinking water matrices, considering distinct delivery points of EPAL - Empresa Portuguesa das Águas Livres WTPs. Overall, the aldehyde group, represented by decanal, nonanal and 2-ethylheaxanal, showed the highest occurrence, followed by HKs and nitrosamines. The results of this study suggested that the formation of these UR-DBPs should be further monitored in WTPs.

Responses of benthic diatoms to waters affected by post-fire contamination.

Wildfire effects go beyond direct impact in terrestrial ecosystems. Specifically, the periphytic communities of aquatic ecosystems standing within and downstream the burnt areas are relevant ecological receptors of post-fire runoff contamination. Nevertheless, the off-site impacts of wildfires in these communities are limitedly studied so far. The present study aimed to assess the effects of river water contaminated with ash-loaded runoff in the growth benthic diatom Navicula libonensis (Schoeman 1970). Four surface water samples were collected approximately one year after the wildfire for laboratory testing with the diatom: one was collected from a site upstream the burnt area, within the Unhais river (UU); three were collected from sites standing within the burnt area, one in the Unhais river (UB) and two in the Zêzere river (Z1 and Z2), reflecting different hydrological regimes. N. libonensis was proven able to discriminate among river sites affected and unaffected by wildfire runoff, reflecting, in general, the expected trends considering the physico-chemical characterization of the water samples. The water samples from the sites standing within the burnt area inhibited the biomass yield and growth rate of the tested diatom, ranking the samples regarding toxicity as follows: Z1 > UB > Z2 > UU. However, UB rather than Z1 presented the highest contaminant burden, namely metal elements, and some were found above widely accepted safety benchmarks (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were not detected). This inconsistency can be linked to unknown interactions among metals within each water sample, to differential nutrient enrichment of samples, as well as hydrological factors. Overall, our results suggest that monospecific laboratory assays with sensitive diatoms can be valuable as cost-effective screening tools to prioritize sites affected by wildfires runoff requiring in-depth monitoring of negative effects in benthic producer communities.

Toxicological assessment of seven unregulated drinking water Disinfection By-products (DBPs) using the zebrafish embryo bioassay.

Disinfection By-products (DBPs) are formed during the chemical treatment of water for human consumption, by the reaction of raw water with chemical agents used in the different steps of the process. Disinfection is one of the most important steps, inactivating pathogens and preventing their regrowth during water distribution. However, it is also involved in DBPs formation due to the use of disinfectant agents, such as chlorine, which reacts with dissolved precursors, such as pharmaceuticals, toxins, pesticides, among others. Given their widespread occurrence, potential human health and (eco) toxicological impacts are of particular interest due to their potential carcinogenicity and various non-carcinogenic effects, such as endocrine disruption. In this study, the developmental toxicity of chemically- different unregulated DBPs was evaluated using zebrafish embryo bioassay. Embryos were exposed to different concentrations of the target DBPs and multiple endpoints, including, mortality, morphological abnormalities and locomotor behavior were assessed at specific developmental stages (24, 48, 72 and 96 hpf). The different families of DBPs tested included nitrosamines, aldehydes, alcohols and ketones. The results show that the effects were compound dependent, with EC10 values varying between 0.04 mg/L (2-ethyl-1-hexanal) to 9.2 mg/L (hexachloroacetone). Globally, several of the tested unregulated DBPs displayed higher toxicity when compared with the available data for some already regulated, such as trihalomethanes (THMs), which highlights the importance of screening the toxicity of still untested and poorly characterized DBPs.

Hazard and mode of action of disinfection by-products (DBPs) in water for human consumption: Evidences and research priorities.

Disinfection of water system is an essential strategy to protect human health from pathogens and prevent their regrowth during water distribution, but the reaction of disinfectant agents with organic matter can lead to the formation of disinfection by-products (DBPs). Given their widespread occurrence, potential human health impacts and (eco)toxicity associated with exposure to DBPs are of particular interest due to their potential carcinogenicity and vary non-carcinogenic effects, such as endocrine disruption. Understanding the public health implications of this emerging issue is crucial for societies and decision-makers, supporting more effective water safety plans. Here, we review the recent literature on the effects of DBPs presented in drinking water and treated swimming pools water, focusing particularly in unregulated compounds and the putative underlying mode of action, linking the available data with adverse health outcomes. Overall, the majority of studies highlight the limited knowledge in the understanding of the underlying mode of action of DBPs. Yet, available evidences indicate that different signaling pathways seem to be involved in the adverse outcomes associated with distinct DBPs classes. The main knowledge gaps in this field are also identified, and future research priorities discussed.

Comparison of UV photolysis, nanofiltration, and their combination to remove hormones from a drinking water source and reduce endocrine disrupting activity.

A sequential water treatment combining low pressure ultraviolet direct photolysis with nanofiltration was evaluated to remove hormones from water, reduce endocrine disrupting activity, and overcome the drawbacks associated with the individual processes (production of a nanofiltration-concentrated retentate and formation of toxic by-products). 17ß-Estradiol, 17α-ethinylestradiol, estrone, estriol, and progesterone were spiked into a real water sample collected after the sedimentation process of a drinking water treatment plant. Even though the nanofiltration process alone showed similar results to the combined treatment in terms of the water quality produced, the combined treatment offered advantage in terms of the load of the retentate and decrease in the endocrine-disrupting activity of the samples. Moreover, the photolysis by-products produced, with higher endocrine disrupting activity than the parent compounds, were effectively retained by the membrane. The combination of direct LP/UV photolysis with nanofiltration is promising for a drinking water utility that needs to cope with sudden punctual discharges or deterioration of the water quality and wants to decrease the levels of chemicals in the nanofiltration retentate.