Factors affecting mass inflow of quaternary ammonium compounds into Japanese sewage treatment plants.

Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs), ecotoxic organic chemicals linked to multidrug resistance, are being used increasingly, for example to prevent the transmission of infections such as covid-19, in households, hospitals, and industry. To understand the locations, fluctuations, and fractions of QACs entering sewers, we monitored 14 QACs (benzalkonium chloride [BAC]-C8, C10, C12, C14, C16, and C18; dialkyldimethylammonium chloride [DDAC]-C8, C10, and C12; alkyltrimethylammonium chloride [ATAC]-C12, C16, and C18; benzethonium chloride; and cetylpyridinium chloride), and a disinfectant (chlorhexidine) in influent at four Japanese sewage treatment plants (STPs) five times throughout a year. Mass inflows were relatively stable throughout the year, indicating that the recent seasonal covid-19 epidemic did not greatly influence them.

Occurrence and source identification of the disinfectant didecyldimethylammonium chloride in a Japanese watershed receiving effluent from swine farms.

Didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC), a toxic quaternary ammonium compound (QAC) linked to multidrug resistance, is used widely in households and hospitals and on swine farms to prevent disease transmission. However, little is known about its occurrence in watersheds receiving livestock wastewaters or manure. We monitored DDAC and tracers (veterinary and human drugs) once a season over a year at 14 sites in a Japanese watershed where swine outnumbered humans 1.

Localized pollution of veterinary antibiotics in watersheds receiving treated effluents from swine farms.

Swine excrement is discharged into surface waters mainly as effluent in Asian countries. As swine production consumes more antibiotics and less water than humans, a mismatch of the size of swine farms and that of the rivers receiving their effluent could create severe pollution by antibiotics. However, little is known about the occurrence of antibiotics in such rivers.

Applicability of F-specific bacteriophage subgroups, PMMoV and crAssphage as indicators of source specific fecal contamination and viral inactivation in rivers in Japan.

To date, several microbes have been proposed as potential source-specific indicators of fecal pollution. 16S ribosomal RNA gene markers of the Bacteroidales species are the most widely applied due to their predominance in the water environment and source specificity. F-specific bacteriophage (FPH) subgroups, especially FRNA phage genogroups, are also known as potential source-specific viral indicators.

Spatiotemporal distribution of veterinary and human drugs and its predictability in Japanese catchments.

Little is known about the predictability of mass flows of veterinary drugs in Asian catchments, where effluent from livestock farms is a major source. We therefore conducted this study to understand the applicability and limitations of a population-based emission model, which assumed usage of veterinary and human drugs to be evenly distributed over the national livestock or human population throughout the year, and sources to be effluent discharges at livestock farms, households, and sewage treatment plants in Japanese catchments. We monitored five veterinary drugs (lincomycin, sulfamonomethoxine, tiamulin, tylosin, and tilmicosin), two human and livestock drugs (sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim), two human drugs (carbamazepine and clarithromycin), and a metabolite (sulfapyridine) of a human drug once a month over 2 years in eight Japanese rivers which have active livestock farming in their catchments.

Complex behavior between microplastic and antibiotic and their effect on phosphorus-removing Shewanella strain during wastewater treatment.

Owing to their widespread application and use, microplastics (MPs) and antibiotics coexist in the sewage treatment systems. In this study, the effects and mechanisms of the combined stress of MPs and ciprofloxacin (CIP) on phosphorus removal by phosphorus-accumulating organisms (PAOs) were investigated. This study found that the four types of MPs and CIP exhibited different antagonistic effects on the inhibition of phosphorus removal by PAO.

In-stream sorption of azithromycin and levofloxacin in a river receiving sewage treatment plant effluent.

Modelling natural attenuation is crucial to managing pharmaceuticals. However, little is known about the mechanism behind their in-stream sorption. To better understand the in-stream attenuation of the highly sorptive antibiotics azithromycin (AZM) and levofloxacin (LVF), we monitored them in a 2.

Toxicity and combined effects of antibiotics and nano ZnO on a phosphorus-removing Shewanella strain in wastewater treatment.

Antibiotics and nanoparticles, which are emerging contaminants, can occur simultaneously in biological wastewater treatment systems, potentially resulting in complex interactive effects. This study investigated the effects of individual and complex zinc oxide nanoparticles (nZnO) and antibiotics (quinolone and sulfonamide), on the Shewanella strain used to remove phosphorus (PO), metabolic processes, as well as its complexing and toxicity mechanisms. The inhibition of PO removal increased from 30.

Modeling in-stream attenuation of N-nitrosodimethylamine and formaldehyde during urban river transportation based on seasonal and diurnal variation.

Disinfection by-products (DBPs) discharged from sewage treatment plants (STPs) could harm downstream receiving waters and drinking water resources. In-stream attenuation of photo- and non-photodegradable DBPs during river transportation is currently not well understood. Here we sought to fill this knowledge gap by meta-data-analysis for modeling in-stream attenuation of DBPs.

Wastewater-derived antagonistic activities of G protein-coupled receptor-acting pharmaceuticals in river water.

Pharmaceuticals are widely detected in aquatic environments, and their potential risks to aquatic species are of concern because they are designed to be biologically active. Here, we used an in vitro assay, called the transforming growth factor α shedding assay, to measure the biological activities of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)-acting pharmaceuticals present in river water and effluents from municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Japan from 2014 to 2016. Antagonistic activities against angiotensin (AT1), dopamine (D2), adrenergic (β1), acetylcholine (M1) and histamine (H1) receptors were detected in river water, and were stronger downstream than upstream owing to effluent from WWTPs along the river.

Diurnal patterns of N-nitrosodimethylamine and formaldehyde behaviors in different seasons in surface water influenced by effluent from sewage treatment plants.

N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) and formaldehyde (FAH) are probable carcinogenic disinfection by-products and have been found to occur in areas of the Yodo River basin that are influenced by treated wastewater. The diurnal patterns of them were examined with water samples collected over 4 years in different seasons at five outlets of four sewage treatment plants (STPs), seven main stream sites, and five tributary sites in the basin. Based on mass flux calculations, STPs were shown to be the main sources of the downstream for NDMA and FAH loads in the study area.

Predicting the sorption of azithromycin and levofloxacin to sediments from mineral and organic components.

Despite the strong association of azithromycin (AZM), a macrolide antibiotic, and levofloxacin (LVF), a quinolone antibiotic, to sediment, sorption data are scarce. We conducted sorption experiments with eight river sediments, their major clay minerals (illite and chlorite), a highly negatively charged clay mineral (montmorillonite), and an organic-matter-rich soil (Andosol). The sorption of AZM and LVF to the sediments was influenced by the concentration and type of coexisting inorganic cations as much as by reported organic cations.

Quantification of Pharmaceutical Related Biological Activity in Effluents from Wastewater Treatment Plants in UK and Japan.

While pharmaceuticals are now routinely detected in aquatic environments, we know little of the biological activity their presence might provoke. It is estimated that nearly 40% of all marketed pharmaceuticals are G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) acting pharmaceuticals. Here, we applied an in-vitro assay, called the TGFα shedding assay, to measure the biological activities of GPCRs-acting pharmaceuticals present in effluents from municipal wastewater treatment plants in the United Kingdom (UK) and Japan from 2014 to 2016.

Comprehensive Study on Enteric Viruses and Indicators in Surface Water in Kyoto, Japan, During 2014-2015 Season.

Certain enteric viruses that are present in the water environment are potential risk factors of waterborne infections. To better understand the impact of viruses in water, both enteric viruses and their potential indicators should be comparatively investigated. In this study, occurrences of GI- and GII-noroviruses (NoVs), sapovirus (SaV), rotavirus (RoV), Aichi virus 1 (AiV-1), enterovirus (EV), and pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) were quantitatively determined in surface water samples in Japan.

Source estimation of pharmaceuticals based on catchment population and in-stream attenuation in Yodo River watershed, Japan.

Fifty-five pharmaceuticals were monitored at four rivers and inlets and/or outlets of three sewage treatment plants (STPs) in Yodo River watershed, Japan over 17 sampling events. Twenty-six quantified pharmaceuticals were classified by source and fate. The load per person (LPP) of nine pharmaceuticals, including six with observed mass balance in studied river stretch of <80%, was appreciably lower in river water (RW) than in the effluent (EF) of STPs (RW/EF <0.

[Detection of Physiological Activity of Pharmaceuticals in Wastewater and River Water].

　Pharmaceuticals are widely found in aquatic environments worldwide. Concern about their potential risks to aquatic species has been raised because they are designed to be biologically active. To address this concern, we must know whether biological activity of pharmaceuticals can be detected in waters.

The different fate of antibiotics in the Thames River, UK, and the Katsura River, Japan.

Little is known about the mechanisms influencing the differences in attenuation of antibiotics between rivers. In this study, the natural attenuation of four antibiotics (azithromycin, clarithromycin, sulfapyridine, and sulfamethoxazole) during transport along the Thames River, UK, over a distance of 8.3 km, and the Katsura River, Japan, over a distance of 7.

Linking changes in antibiotic effluent concentrations to flow, removal and consumption in four different UK sewage treatment plants over four years.

The arrival and discharge of seven antibiotics were monitored at two trickling filter sewage treatment plants of 6000 and 11,000 population equivalents (PE) and two activated sludge plants of 33,000 and 162,000 PE in Southern England. The investigation consisted of 24 h composite samples taken on two separate days every summer from 2012 to 2015 and in the winter of 2015 (January) from influent and effluent. The average influent concentrations generally matched predictions based on England-wide prescription data for trimethoprim, sulfamethoxazole, azithromycin, oxytetracycline and levofloxacin (within 3-fold), but were 3-10 times less for clarithromycin, whilst tetracycline influent concentrations were 5-17 times greater than expected.

Assessing the population equivalent and performance of wastewater treatment through the ratios of pharmaceuticals and personal care products present in a river basin: Application to the River Thames basin, UK.

The quality of surface waters in lowland rivers is largely dependent on the efficiency of wastewater treatment. Even in the developed countries, there have been difficulties in evaluating the effectiveness of wastewater management and the proportion of wastewater content (WWC) in the river, as well as in estimating the contributing human population. This study aimed to develop a wastewater quality and quantity assessment based on the occurrence of pharmaceuticals in the receiving waters.

Modeling the fate of a photoproduct of ketoprofen in urban rivers receiving wastewater treatment plant effluent.

Photoproducts of pharmaceuticals have been studied in order not to overlook their potential risks to aquatic organisms. However, no studies have verified an equation for predicting the fate of photoproducts in aquatic environment (Poiger equation) by field measurements, leaving uncertainties in its practical utility. Therefore, we conducted this study to test the applicability of the Poiger equation to 3-ethylbenzophenone (EBP), a photoproduct of ketoprofen (KTP).

Quantitative Distribution of Infectious F-Specific RNA Phage Genotypes in Surface Waters.

Unlabelled: F-specific RNA phages (FRNAPHs) are considered potential viral indicators of water pollution due to their occurrence and stability in water environments. However, their suitability as viral indicators is not fully elucidated because the characteristics of FRNAPHs are variable depending on the genotype. In this study, for the characterization of infectious FRNAPH genotypes, integrated culture reverse transcription-PCR coupled with the most probable number approach was applied to surface water samples.

Detection of physiological activities of G protein-coupled receptor-acting pharmaceuticals in wastewater.

Although pharmaceuticals are generally found at very low levels in aquatic environments, concern about their potential risks to humans and aquatic species has been raised because they are designed to be biologically active. To resolve this concern, we must know whether the biological activity of pharmaceuticals can be detected in waters. Nearly half of all marketed pharmaceuticals act by binding to the G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs).

Pepper mild mottle virus as an indicator and a tracer of fecal pollution in water environments: comparative evaluation with wastewater-tracer pharmaceuticals in Hanoi, Vietnam.

We analyzed pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) in 36 samples taken from surface water, wastewater, groundwater, tap water and bottled water in Hanoi, Vietnam. We then compared the occurrence and fates of PMMoV with pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), which are known wastewater tracers. PMMoV was detected in 94% of the surface water samples (ponds, water from irrigated farmlands and rivers) and in all the wastewater samples.

Evaluation of the photolysis of pharmaceuticals within a river by 2 year field observations and toxicity changes by sunlight.

To improve the risk assessment of pharmaceuticals, it is helpful to know how rapidly they are removed from river water. Direct photolysis by sunlight could be an important process, but so far few studies have attempted to compare modeled with actual losses in a river. Therefore, we quantified natural attenuation by monitoring 56 pharmaceuticals and personal care products over 2 full years in a 2.

Co-occurrence of estrogenic and antiestrogenic activities in wastewater: quantitative evaluation of balance by in vitro ERα reporter gene assay and chemical analysis.

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals are exogenous substances that alter the function of the endocrine system, with adverse health effects on organisms or their progeny. In vitro estrogen receptor (ER) reporter gene assays have long been used to measure estrogenic activity in wastewater. Nevertheless, there is still uncertainty about their usefulness in environmental monitoring on account of a discrepancy between the estrogenic response of the in vitro assay and concentrations of estrogenic compounds determined by chemical analysis.