Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117349
Licence creative commons licence
Title (Primary) Removal of micropollutants and biological effects by conventional and intensified constructed wetlands treating municipal wastewater
Author Sossalla, N.A.; Nivala, J.; Reemtsma, T.; Schlichting, R.; König, M.; Forquet, N.; van Afferden, M.; Müller, R.A.; Escher, B.I.
Source Titel Water Research
Year 2021
Department ANA; ZELLTOX; UBZ
Volume 201
Page From art. 117349
Language englisch
Topic T7 Bioeconomy
T9 Healthy Planet
Supplements https://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S0043135421005479-mmc1.xlsx
https://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S0043135421005479-mmc2.docx
Keywords Effect-based method; Effect-based trigger values; Emerging organic contaminant; In vitro bioassay Nature-based solution Treatment wetland
Abstract Seven treatment wetlands and a municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) were weekly monitored over the course of one year for removal of conventional wastewater parameters, selected micropollutants (caffeine, ibuprofen, naproxen, benzotriazole, diclofenac, acesulfame, and carbamazepine) and biological effects. The treatment wetland designs investigated include a horizontal subsurface flow (HF) wetland and a variety of wetlands with intensification (aeration, two-stages, or reciprocating flow). Complementary to the common approach of analyzing individual chemicals, in vitro bioassays can detect the toxicity of a mixture of known and unknown components given in a water sample. A panel of five in vitro cell-based reporter gene bioassays was selected to cover environmentally relevant endpoints (AhR: indicative of activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor; PPARγ: binding to the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma; ERα: activation of the estrogen receptor alpha; GR: activation of the glucocorticoid receptor; oxidative stress response). While carbamazepine was persistent in the intensified treatment wetlands, mean monthly mass removal of up to 51% was achieved in the HF wetland. The two-stage wetland system showed highest removal efficacy for all biological effects (91% to >99%). The removal efficacy for biological effects ranged from 56% to 77% for the HF wetland and 60% to 99% for the WWTP. Bioanalytical equivalent concentrations (BEQs) for AhR, PPARγ, and oxidative stress response were often below the recommended effect-based trigger (EBT) values for surface water, indicating the great benefit for using nature-based solutions for water treatment. Intensified treatment wetlands remove both individual micropollutants and mixture effects more efficiently than conventional (non-aerated) HF wetlands, and in some cases, the WWTP.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=24808
Sossalla, N.A., Nivala, J., Reemtsma, T., Schlichting, R., König, M., Forquet, N., van Afferden, M., Müller, R.A., Escher, B.I. (2021):
Removal of micropollutants and biological effects by conventional and intensified constructed wetlands treating municipal wastewater
Water Res. 201 , art. 117349 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117349