Dynamics of Soil Microbial Communities During Diazepam and Oxazepam Biodegradation in Soil Flooded by Water From a WWTP.

The demand for energy and chemicals is constantly growing, leading to an increase of the amounts of contaminants discharged to the environment. Among these, pharmaceutical molecules are frequently found in treated wastewater that is discharged into superficial waters. Indeed, wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are designed to remove organic pollution from urban effluents but are not specific, especially toward contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), which finally reach the natural environment.

Autotrophic denitrification supported by biotite dissolution in crystalline aquifers (1): New insights from short-term batch experiments.

We investigate denitrification mechanisms through batch experiments using crushed rock and groundwater from a granitic aquifer subject to long term pumping (Ploemeur, France). Except for sterilized experiments, extensive denitrification reaction induces NO decreases ranging from 0.3 to 0.

Massive arrival of desalinated seawater in a regional urban water cycle: A multi-isotope study (B, S, O, H).

"Man-made" or unconventional freshwater, like desalinated seawater or reclaimed effluents, is increasingly introduced into regional water cycles in arid or semi-arid countries. We show that the breakthrough of reverse osmosis-derived freshwater in the largely engineered water cycle of the greater Tel Aviv region (Dan Region) has profoundly changed previous isotope fingerprints. This new component can be traced throughout the system, from the drinking water supply, through sewage, treated effluents, and artificially recharged groundwater at the largest Soil-Aquifer Treatment system in the Middle East (Shafdan) collecting all the Dan region sewage.

The combined effect of abandoned mines and agriculture on groundwater chemistry.

Although it is well known that both mining and agriculture disturb groundwater quality, their mutual interactions are much less well documented, though agricultural activities may prevail once mining operations have ended. To study these potential interactions and their impacts on water chemistry, we monitored the chemical composition of groundwater at the outlet of a gold exploration gallery in an area of intensive agricultural activity along with an isotopic study of the groundwater, a reactive artificial tracer test that involved injecting H2O2 into the gallery, and geochemical modelling. The isotopic study revealed denitrification of the NO3-bearing groundwater that takes place through oxidation of the sulphide minerals associated with the gold deposit and leads to anomalous concentrations of some metals such as Zn, Co and Ni.