Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.3390/ijerph16050883
Licence creative commons licence
Title (Primary) Combination of in situ feeding rate experiments and chemical body burden analysis to assess the influence of micropollutants in wastewater on Gammarus pulex
Author Könemann, S.; Müller, Y.; Tschentscher, D.; Krauss, M. ORCID logo ; Inostroza, P.A.; Brückner, I.; Pinnekamp, J.; Schiwy, S.; Hollert, H.
Source Titel International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Year 2019
Department WANA
Volume 16
Issue 5
Page From art. 883
Language englisch
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.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=21647
Könemann, S., Müller, Y., Tschentscher, D., Krauss, M., Inostroza, P.A., Brückner, I., Pinnekamp, J., Schiwy, S., Hollert, H. (2019):
Combination of in situ feeding rate experiments and chemical body burden analysis to assess the influence of micropollutants in wastewater on Gammarus pulex
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 16 (5), art. 883 10.3390/ijerph16050883