| Title | Degradation of Gemfibrozil and Naproxen in a river water ecosystem |
| Abstract | Pharmaceuticals are nowadays generally recognized to be environmental micropollutants owing to their
ubiquitous occurrence in water bodies at concentrations ranging from ng to ug/L. Since they are molecules
designed to be biologically active at very low concentrations, their presence is a source of concern for both
human and ecosystem health and the ecological effects on receiving ecosystems remain largely unknown.
Incomplete removal during biological wastewater treatments is the main source of surface water contamination.
Some of the molecules detected are reported to be persistent in surface water while others, although
they are not intrinsically persistent (being rapidly degraded), are being continuously introduced into the
aquatic ecosystem, so that they can be considered pseudo-persistent compounds. Degradation of a chemical
in the aquatic ecosystem depends on a variety of factors, including the compound's properties, environmental
factors and above all the presence of a natural microbial community able to degrade it via metabolic and/or
co-metabolic pathways.
Naproxen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug and Gemfibrozil, a fibrate drug used as a lipid regulator, have
been found in several natural EU and Italian surface waters, including the River Tiber (Rome). In this context,
the present work aims to evaluate if the natural bacterial community of the Tiber was able to degrade Naproxen
and Gemfibrozil. Moreover the effects of these chemicals on the bacterial community structure in terms of live
bacterial abundances and composition were also assessed.
For this purpose, different riverwater microcosmswere set up (in the presence/absence of the naturalmicrobial
community) and treated with 100 ug/L of Naproxen or Gemfibrozil in order to evaluate the disappearance time
of 50% of the initial concentrations (DT50).
The overall results showthat Gemfibrozil (DT50>70 days) wasmore persistent thanNaproxen (DT50=27 days)
and that the autochthonousmicrobial community had a key role in their degradation. The fact thatNaproxen was
found in river samples analyzed in a greater concentration was therefore due not to its persistence, but to its
pseudo-persistence linked to the spread in its use among the population. |
| Source | Microchemical journal (Print) 107, pp. 158–164 |
| Keywords | Pharmaceutical biodegradationGemfibrozilNaproxenSurface waterPersistencePseudo-persistence |
| Journal | Microchemical journal (Print) |
| Editor | Academic Press [etc.], New York,, Stati Uniti d'America |
| Year | 2013 |
| Type | Articolo in rivista |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.microc.2012.06.008 |
| Authors | Grenni P., Patrolecco L., Ademollo N., Tolomei A., Barra Caracciolo A. |
| Text | 201233 2013 10.1016/j.microc.2012.06.008 ISI Web of Science WOS 000315059500023 Pharmaceutical biodegradation Gemfibrozil Naproxen Surface water Persistence Pseudo persistence Degradation of Gemfibrozil and Naproxen in a river water ecosystem Grenni P., Patrolecco L., Ademollo N., Tolomei A., Barra Caracciolo A. Istituto di Ricerca sulle Acque, Roma Pharmaceuticals are nowadays generally recognized to be environmental micropollutants owing to their ubiquitous occurrence in water bodies at concentrations ranging from ng to ug/L. Since they are molecules designed to be biologically active at very low concentrations, their presence is a source of concern for both human and ecosystem health and the ecological effects on receiving ecosystems remain largely unknown. Incomplete removal during biological wastewater treatments is the main source of surface water contamination. Some of the molecules detected are reported to be persistent in surface water while others, although they are not intrinsically persistent being rapidly degraded , are being continuously introduced into the aquatic ecosystem, so that they can be considered pseudo persistent compounds. Degradation of a chemical in the aquatic ecosystem depends on a variety of factors, including the compound s properties, environmental factors and above all the presence of a natural microbial community able to degrade it via metabolic and/or co metabolic pathways. Naproxen, a non steroidal anti inflammatory drug and Gemfibrozil, a fibrate drug used as a lipid regulator, have been found in several natural EU and Italian surface waters, including the River Tiber Rome . In this context, the present work aims to evaluate if the natural bacterial community of the Tiber was able to degrade Naproxen and Gemfibrozil. Moreover the effects of these chemicals on the bacterial community structure in terms of live bacterial abundances and composition were also assessed. For this purpose, different riverwater microcosmswere set up in the presence/absence of the naturalmicrobial community and treated with 100 ug/L of Naproxen or Gemfibrozil in order to evaluate the disappearance time of 50% of the initial concentrations DT50 . The overall results showthat Gemfibrozil DT50>70 days wasmore persistent thanNaproxen DT50=27 days and that the autochthonousmicrobial community had a key role in their degradation. The fact thatNaproxen was found in river samples analyzed in a greater concentration was therefore due not to its persistence, but to its pseudo persistence linked to the spread in its use among the population. 107 Published version Articolo Pubblicato Pubblicazione Internazionale ISI MicrJou_2013_Grenni.pdf Articolo in rivista Academic Press etc. 0026 265X Microchemical journal Print Microchemical journal Print Microchemical journal. Print nicoletta.ademollo ADEMOLLO NICOLETTA luisa.patrolecco PATROLECCO LUISA anna.barracaracciolo BARRA CARACCIOLO ANNA paola.grenni GRENNI PAOLA TA.P04.005.011 Vulnerabilita degli ecosistemi delle acque sotterranee e attenuazione naturale degli inquinanti nel suolo e nel sottosuolo |
