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In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, contingency measures in the form of lockdowns were implemented all over the world, including in Croatia. The aim of this study was to detect if those severe, imposed restrictions of social interactions reflected on the water quality of rivers receiving wastewaters from urban areas. A total of 18 different pharmaceuticals (PhACs) and illicit drugs (IDrgs), as well as their metabolites, were measured for 16 months (January 2020–April 2021) in 12 different locations at in the Sava and Drava Rivers, Croatia, using UHPLC coupled to LCMS. This period encompassed two major Covid lockdowns (March–May 2020 and October 2020–March 2021). Several PhACs more than halved in river water mass flow during the lockdowns. The results of this study confirm that Covid lockdowns caused lower cumulative concentrations and mass flow of measured PhACs/IDrgs in the Sava and Drava Rivers. This was not influenced by the increased use of drugs for the treatment of the COVID-19, like antibiotics and steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The decreases in measured PhACs/IDrgs concentrations and mass flows were more pronounced during the first lockdown, which was stricter than the second. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Pharmaceuticals are present in an aquatic environment usually in low (ng/L) concentrations. Their continuous release can lead to unwanted effects on the nontarget organisms. The main points of their collection and release into the environment are wastewater treatment plants. The wastewater treatment plants should be upgraded by new technologies, like advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), to be able to degrade these new pollutants. In this study, the degradation of albendazole (ALB), a drug against parasitic helminths, was investigated using four UV-based AOPs: UV photolysis, UV photocatalysis (over TiO2 film), UV + O3, and UV + H2O2. The ranking of the degradation process degree of the ALB and its degradation products for studied processes is as follows: UV photolysis < UV photocatalysis with TiO2 < UV + O3 < UV + H2O2. The fastest degradation of ALB and its degradation products was obtained by UV-C + H2O2 process with a degradation efficiency of 99.95%, achieved in 15 minutes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Target screening of 463 organic contaminants in surface water using ultra high performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF-MS) with direct injection was performed in spring of 2015 in northern Macedonia, at six sampling sites in four rivers belonging to Vardar basin: Kriva, Zletovska, Bregalnica and Vardar. The aim of the study was to differentiate between various types of organic contamination characteristic for different types of anthropogenic activities, such as mining, agriculture, and urbanization. Depending on the studied river, 9–16% of analyzed compounds were detected. The highest total levels of organic contaminants were recorded in agriculturally impacted Bregalnica River (1839–1962 ng L −1 ) and Vardar River downstream from the city of Skopje (1945 ng L −1 ), whereas the lowest level was found in the mining impacted Zletovska River (989 ng L −1 ). The principal organic contaminants of the Bregalnica River were herbicides (45–55% of all detected compounds; 838–1094 ng L −1 ), with the highest concentrations of bentazone (407–530 ng L −1 ) and molinate (84–549 ng L −1 ), common herbicides in rice cultivation. The main organic contaminants in the other rivers were drugs (70–80% of all detected compounds), with antibiotics as a predominant drug class. The highest drug concentrations were measured in the Vardar River, downstream from Skopje (1544 ng L −1 ). Screening of surface water by UHPLC-QTOF-MS was proven as a practical tool for fast collection of comprehensive preliminary information on organic contamination of natural waters, which can present a significant contribution in the monitoring and preservation of good ecological status of freshwater ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focused on the short-term whole organism bioassays (WOBs) on fish (Danio rerio) and crustaceans (Gammarus fossarum and Daphnia magna) to assess the negative biological effects of water from the major European River Sava and the comparison of the obtained results with in vitro toxicity data (ToxCast database) and Risk Quotient (RQ) methodology. Pollution profiles of five sampling sites along the River Sava were assessed by simultaneous chemical analysis of 562 organic contaminants (OCs) of which 476 were detected. At each sampling site, pharmaceuticals/illicit drugs category was mostly represented by their cumulative concentration, followed by categories industrial chemicals, pesticides and hormones. An exposure-activity ratio (EAR) approach based on ToxCast data highlighted steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, antiepileptics/neuroleptics, industrial chemicals and hormones as compounds with the highest biological potential. Summed EAR-based prediction of toxicity showed a good correlation with the estimated toxicity of assessed sampling sites using WOBs. WOBs did not exhibit increased mortality but caused various sub-lethal biological responses that were dependant relative to the sampling site pollution intensity as well as species sensitivity. Exposure of G. fossarum and D. magna to river water-induced lower feeding rates increased GST activity and TBARS levels. Zebrafish D. rerio embryo exhibited a significant decrease in heartbeat rate, failure in pigmentation formation, as well as inhibition of ABC transporters. Nuclear receptor activation was indicated as the biological target of greatest concern based on the EAR approach. A combined approach of short-term WOBs, with a special emphasis on sub-lethal endpoints, and chemical characterization of water samples compared against in vitro toxicity data from the ToxCast database and RQs can provide a comprehensive insight into the negative effect of pollutants on aquatic organisms. [Display omitted] • Chemical analysis detected 476 organic pollutants in surface water. • Pharmaceuticals/Illicit drugs found as the main contaminants in Sava River. • ToxCast indicated steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs as chemicals of concern. • Activation of nuclear receptors as bio-targets of greatest concern. • Potential association of bioassays and ToxCast data for effect-based monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical analysis of plasma samples of wild fish from the Sava River (Croatia) revealed the presence of 90 different pharmaceuticals/illicit drugs and their metabolites (PhACs/IDrgs). The concentrations of these PhACs/IDrgs in plasma were 10 to 1000 times higher than their concentrations in river water. Antibiotics, allergy/cold medications and analgesics were categories with the highest plasma concentrations. Fifty PhACs/IDrgs were identified as chemicals of concern based on the fish plasma model (FPM) effect ratios (ER) and their potential to activate evolutionary conserved biological targets. Chemicals of concern were also prioritized by calculating exposure-activity ratios (EARs) where plasma concentrations of chemicals were compared to their bioactivities in comprehensive ToxCast suite of in vitro assays. Overall, the applied prioritization methods indicated stimulants (nicotine, cotinine) and allergy/cold medications (prednisolone, dexamethasone) as having the highest potential biological impact on fish. The FPM model pointed to psychoactive substances (hallucinogens/stimulants and opioids) and psychotropic substances in the cannabinoids category (i.e. CBD and THC). EAR confirmed above and singled out additional chemicals of concern - anticholesteremic simvastatin and antiepileptic haloperidol. Present study demonstrates how the use of a combination of chemical analyses, and bio-effects based risk predictions with multiple criteria can help identify priority contaminants in freshwaters. The results reveal a widespread exposure of fish to complex mixtures of PhACs/IDrgs, which may target common molecular targets. While many of the prioritized chemicals occurred at low concentrations, their adverse effect on aquatic communities, due to continuous chronic exposure and additive effects, should not be neglected. Image 1 • Ninety pharmaceuticals/illicit drugs and their metabolites were analyzed. • Fish plasma model and ToxCast data were used to identify chemicals of concern. • Nicotine, cotinine, prednisolone and dexamethasone: chemicals of concern. • Fish plasma model pointed psychoactive chemicals as potentially hazardous to fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Quantitative chemical analyses of 428 organic contaminants (OCs) indicated the presence of 313 OCs in the sediment extracts from Sava River, Croatia. Pharmaceuticals were present in higher concentrations than pesticides thus confirming their increasing threat to freshwater ecosystems. Toxicity evaluation of the sediment extracts from four locations (Jesenice, Rugvica, Galdovo and Lukavec) using zebrafish embryotoxicity test (ZET) accompanied with semi-quantitative histopathological analyses exhibited correlation with cumulative number and concentrations of OCs at the investigated sites (10.05, 15.22, 1.25, and 9.13 μg/g respectively). Toxicity of sediment extracts and sediment was predicted using toxic unit (TU) approach and persistence, bioaccumulation and toxicity (PBT) ranking. Additionally, influential OCs and genes were identified by graph mining of the prior knowledge informed, site-specific chemical-gene interaction models. Predicted toxicity of sediment extracts (TU ext ) was similar to the results obtained by ZET and associated histopathology with Rugvica sediment being the most toxic, followed by Jesenice, Lukavec and Galdovo. Sediment TU (TU sed ) favoured OCs with low octanol-water partition coefficients like herbicide glyphosate and antibiotics ciprofloxacin and sulfamethazine thus indicating locations containing higher concentrations of these OCs (Galdovo and Rugvica) as the most toxic. Results suggest that comprehensive in silico sediment toxicity predictions advocate providing equal attention to organic contaminants with either very low or very high log K ow. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Pharmaceuticals are a major component of river sediment pollution. • ZET and histopathological analysis are good indicators of sediment toxic potential. • In silico sediment toxicity predictions should include OCs with low or high log K ow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular pharmaceuticals (CVPs) are globally present in inland waters and have also been found in the sediment and plasma of fish from the Sava River, Croatia. Based on the previous research, CVPs amiodarone (AMI), ramipril (RAM), simvastatin (SIM), and verapamil (VER) have been selected for this study. Their effect has been investigated, individually and in a mixture, on the development of the zebrafish embryo Danio rerio (Hamilton, 1822) within the first 96 h of development. Upon exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of tested CVPs (0.1, 1, and 10 μg/L) zebrafish survival and development as apparent from observed morphological abnormalities, heartbeat rates and changes in behavior, hatching success, larval length and oxidative stress level were monitored. The CVP causing the highest mortality and pathological changes was SIM (1 and 10 μg/L), which corresponds well with the observed effects during zebrafish exposure to CVPs' mixtures (4 and 40 μg/L). All pharmaceuticals affected cardiac function and decreased heart rate. SIM (1 μg/L), VER and RAM (10 μg/L) decreased larval length, while induced oxidative stress was recorded in the SIM- and VER-exposed specimens. Behavioral alterations of zebrafish were observed only in AMI-treated group (10 μg/L). Our amino acid sequence comparison and structural and docking analysis showed a highly conserved binding site between human and zebrafish HMG-CoA reductase for SIM and its main metabolite simvastatin acid. Using these ecotoxicological bioassays on a zebrafish model with particular emphasis on sublethal endpoints, the risk of CVPs, especially statins, for fish in inland waters has been identified. [Display omitted] • Cardiovascular drugs are widespread in the aquatic environment. • Cardiovascular drugs affect cardiac physiology and growth, induced oxidative stress. • Simvastatin caused severe adverse effects on zebrafish embryonal development. • Mixture toxicity analysis highlights interaction of cardiovascular drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relating the treated wastewater quality and its impact on organismic biosensors (Prussian carp, Carassius gibelio and earthworm, Eisenia fetida ) was the main objective of the study. The impact on health status of fish living downstream, microbiological contamination and antimicrobial resistance, fish tissue structure, blood biochemistry, oxidative stress, genotoxic effects, as well as multixenobiotic resistance mechanism (MXR) was assessed. Treated wastewater discharged from the WWTP modified the environmental parameters and xenobiotic concentrations of the receiving surface waters. Potential bacterial pathogens from fish and respective waters were found in relatively low numbers, although they comprised aeromonads with a zoonotic potential. High resistance profiles were determined towards the tested antimicrobial compounds, mostly sulfamethoxazole and erythromycin. Histopathology primarily revealed gill lamellar fusion and reduction of interlamellar spaces of effluent fish. A significant increase in plasma values of urea, total proteins, albumins and triglycerides and a significant decrease in the activity of plasma superoxide dismutase were noted in carp from the effluent-receiving canal. Micronucleus test did not reveal significant differences between the examined groups, but a higher frequency of erythrocyte nuclear abnormalities was found in fish sampled from the effluent-receiving canal. Earthworms indicated to the presence of MXR inhibitors in water and sludge samples, thus proving as a sensitive sentinel organism for environmental pollutants. The integrative approach of this study could serve as a guiding principle in conducting evaluations of the aquatic habitat health in complex bio-monitoring studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]