Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1016/j.watres.2026.126138
Licence creative commons licence
Title (Primary) Wastewater-impacted Skagerrak Sea microbiomes anaerobically demethylate micropollutants
Author Gilevska, T.; Rotaru, A.-E.; Anestis, K.; Fonseca, A.; Kümmel, S. ORCID logo ; Krauss, M. ORCID logo ; Inostroza, P.A.; Bonaglia, S.
Source Titel Water Research
Year 2026
Department EXPO; TECH
Volume 302
Page From art. 126138
Language englisch
Topic T7 Bioeconomy
T9 Healthy Planet
Data and Software links https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15268727
Supplements Supplement 1
Supplement 2
Keywords Methanogenesis; O-demethylation; Micropollutants; Stable isotope tracing; Coastal sediments; Naproxen; Caffeine
Abstract

Methylated micropollutants such as naproxen and caffeine persist in wastewater effluents and accumulate in coastal sediments, including Hakefjorden, Skagerrak Sea, yet their anaerobic fate and role in methane emissions remain unresolved. In particular, it is unclear whether pollutant-derived methyl groups are routed mainly to CO₂ or can be transformed into CH₄ in sulfate-rich coastal sediments. Our primary objective was to resolve this routing by tracing the fate and microbiome responses to ¹³C-labeled naproxen and caffeine in sediment microcosms. We show that naproxen underwent rapid O-demethylation to desmethylnaproxen, with 90% ± 15.5% removed within 25 days, producing primarily ¹³CO₂ and some ¹³CH₄. Naproxen enriched methylotrophic and hydrogenotrophic Methanomicrobia, alongside Lokiarchaeia, Bathyarchaeia, and bacterial taxa like Eubacterium (Alkalibaculum A sporogenes) and Syntrophomonadaceae. Metagenomics revealed O-demethylation genes in enriched bacterial MAGs affiliated with uncultured Thermoanaerobaculia, indicating a bacterial demethylation potential. In contrast, caffeine was largely recalcitrant to degradation (∼85% ± 5% remaining), yet its 13C-labeled N-methyl groups fueled trace ¹³CH₄ production. These results show that methylated micropollutants can activate both bacterial and archaeal demethylation pathways in coastal sediment microbiomes.

Gilevska, T., Rotaru, A.-E., Anestis, K., Fonseca, A., Kümmel, S., Krauss, M., Inostroza, P.A., Bonaglia, S. (2026):
Wastewater-impacted Skagerrak Sea microbiomes anaerobically demethylate micropollutants
Water Res. 302 , art. 126138
10.1016/j.watres.2026.126138