Emergent Contaminants in Freshwater Ecosystem: A case study from Turkey

Year 2023, Volume: 16 Issue: 1, 1 - 15, 31.03.2023

Ayhan Filazi , Özgür Kuzukıran , Gülçin Akca , Begüm Yurdakök Dikmen , Selin Özkan Kotiloğlu , Mahmut Selvi , Figen Erkoç

https://doi.org/10.30607/kvj.1195207

Abstract

The current study evaluated certain emerging contaminants in the Susurluk sub-basin, an area under significant anthropogenic pollution pressure. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), organochlorine insecticides, and microplastics were investigated both from surface and sediment samples collected in dry and wet seasons. γ-HCH and β-HCH were detected in the dry season from Kocaçay River reaching the Marmara Sea. Dieldrin concentrations were also very high in river sediments during the dry season. Nilüfer Stream is a significant waterway close to industrial and urban areas and under impact of pollution due to high concentrations of PCBs, DDT, and its’ metabolites. Sediment samples contained higher levels of contaminants: DDT and metabolites were found in sediments from almost all stations. According to the Hazard quotient coefficient, all detected pollutants were found to be >1, indicating a high risk in the river system. Fiber was the dominant microplastic. The water quality of Nilüfer Stream was poor/bad in quality both in dry and wet seasons, while Kocaçay River was moderate and poor/bad quality in dry and wet seasons, respectively. The findings of bacterial growth augmented and worsened water quality in the river basin with coliforms dominating, as assessed at the genus/species level and were very abundant. 

Keywords

Aquatic Contaminants, Fecal coliform, Microplastics, POPs, Susurluk Basin, Water quality.

Supporting Institution

Gazi University BAP unit

Project Number

04/2018-08

Thanks

This research was funded by Gazi University BAP unit, Project No: 04/2018-08. We would like to thank Ülkü Nihan Tavşanoğlu, Gökben Başaran, Belda Erkmen, Tamer Çırak, Gizem Bezirci and Tuba Bucak for their contribution to field and laboratory studies, Elif Paçal, Fatma Feisal Almas, Tülay Pekmez and Recep Uyar for lab assistance, and Ali Serhan Çağan for field assistance.

Tatlısu Ekosisteminde Endişe Yaratan Kirleticiler: Türkiye’den Bir Vaka Çalışması

Abstract

Bu çalışma, önemli antropojenik kirlilik baskısı altındaki bir alan olan Susurluk alt havzasında ortaya çıkan bazı endişe yaratan kirleticiler değerlendirmiştir. Kurak ve yağışlı mevsimlerde toplanan yüzey ve sediman örneklerinde poliklorlu bifeniller (PCBler), polibromlu bifeniller difenil eterler (PBDEler), organoklorlu insektisitler ve mikroplastikler araştırılmıştır. γ-HCH and β-HCH, Kocaçay Nehri’nin Marmara Denizi’ne dökülen bölgesinde kurak mevsimde tespit edilmiştir. Dieldrin konsantrasyonları da kurak mevsim boyunca nehir sedimanlarında çok yüksektir. Nilüfer çayı endüstriyel ve kentsel alanlara yakın olan önemli bir su yoludur ve yüksek konsantrasyondaki PCBler, DDT ve metabolitleri nedeniyle kirlilik etkisi altındadır. Sediman örnekleri daha yüksek seviyede kirletici içermektedir: DDT ve metabolitleri neredeyse tüm istasyonlardan alınan sediman örneklerinde bulunmuştur. Tehlike oranı katsayısına (Hazard Quotient) göre tesbit edilen tüm kirleticiler >1 olarak bulunmuş ve bu da nehir sisteminde yüksek risk olduğunu göstermiştir. Mikroplastikler içinde fiber en baskın olanıdır. Nilüfer Çayı’nın su kalitesi hem kurak hem de yağışlı sezonda kötü iken, Kocaçay Nehri’nin su kalitesi kurak mevsimde orta ve yağışlı mevsimde kötüdür. Cins/tür düzeyinde değerlendirildiğinde koliformların hakim olduğu ve çok miktarda olan bakteriyel büyüme bulguları da nehir havzasındaki su kalitesini kötüleştirmiştir. 

Keywords

Sucul kirleticiler, Fekal koliform, Mikroplastikler, Kalıcı organik kirleticiler, Susurluk Havzası, Su kalitesi

Project Number

04/2018-08

References

• Aydın H, Ustaoğlu F, Tepe Y, Soylu EN. Assessment of water quality of streams in northeast Turkey by water quality index and multiple statistical methods. Environ Forensic 2021; 22(1-2):270-287.
• Battaglin WA, Bradley PM, Iwanowicz L, Journey CA, Walsh HL, Blazer VS. Pharmaceuticals, hormones, pesticides, and other bioactive contaminants in water, sediment, and tissue from Rocky Mountain National Park, 2012-2013. Sci Total Environ. 2018; 643: 651-673.
• Chaturvedi P, Shukla P, Shekher Giri B, Chowdharya P, Chandrad R, Gupta P, Pandey A. Review article Prevalence and hazardous impact of pharmaceutical and personal care products and antibiotics in environment: A review on emerging contaminants. Environmental Research 2021; 194: 110664.
• Davidsen N, Lauvås AJ, Myhre O, Ropstad E, Carpi D, Mendoza-de Gyves E, Bernsten HF, Dirven H, Paulsen RE, Bal-Price A, Pistollato F. Exposure to human relevant mixtures of halogenated persistent organic pollutants (POPs) alters neurodevelopmental processes in human neural stem cells undergoing differentiation. Reproductive Toxicology 2021; 100: 17-34.
• Di M, Wang J. Microplastics in surface waters and sediments of the Three Gorges Reservoir, China. Sci. Total. Environ. 2018; 616–617: 1620-1627.
• Dorak S, Çelik H. Irrigation Water Quality of Nilüfer Stream and Effects of the Wastewater Discharges of the Treatment Plants Ege Üniv. Ziraat Fak. Derg. 2017; 54 (3): 249-257.
• European Commission. Method Validation and Quality Control Procedures for Pesticide Residues Analysis in Food and Feed. SANTE/12682/2019 (implemented from 01.01. 2020).
• Fairbairn DJ, Karpuzcu ME, Arnold WA, Barber BL, Kaufenberg EF, Koskinen WC, Novak PJ, Rice PJ, Swackhamer DL. Sources and transport of contaminants of emerging concern: a two-year study of occurrence and spatiotemporal variation in a mixed land use watershed. Sci. Total Environ. 2016; 551-552: 605-613.
• Fathi E, Zamani‑Ahmadmahmoodi R, Zare‑Bidaki R. Water quality evaluation using water quality index and multivariate methods, Beheshtabad River, Iran, Applied Water Science 2018; 8: 210.
• Gardette M, Perthue A, Gardette J, Janecska T, Földes E, Pukánszky B, Therias S. Photo- and thermal-oxidation of polyethylene: Comparison of mechanisms and influence of unsaturation content, Polymer Degradation and Stability 2013; 98(11): 2383-2390.
• González S, López-Roldán R, Cortina JL. Presence and biological effects of emerging contaminants in Llobregat River basin: a review. Environ. Poll. 2012; 161: 83-92.
• Gray JS. Biomagnification in marine systems: the perspective of an ecologist. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2002; 45 (1-12): 46-52.
• Henry T, Black M. Acute and chronic toxicity of fluoxetine (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) in Western Mosquitofish. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 2008; 54: 325-330.
• Hidalgo-Ruz V, Gutow L, Thompson RC, Thiel M. Microplastics in the marine environment: A review of the methods used for identification and quantification. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2012; 46: 3060-3075.
• Hlavsa MC, Roberts VA, Kahler AM, Hilborn ED, Mecher TR, Beach MJ, Wade TJ, Yoder JS. Outbreaks of Illness Associated with Recreational Water—United States, 2011–2012. Morb. Mortal. Wkly. 2015; 64: 668-672.
• Meng HB, Wang TR, Guo BY, Hashi Y, Guo CX, Lin JM. Simultaneous determination of inorganic anions and cations in explosive residues by ion chromatography. Talanta. 2008; 76(2): 241-245.
• Jin L, Whitehead P, Hadjikakou M. A Study of the Yesilirmak River catchment in Northern Turkey: Spatial patterns and temporal trends in water quality, Journal of Environmental Protection, 2013; 4: 104-120.
• Kasonga TK, Coetzee MAA, Kamika I, Ngole-Jeme VM, Momba MNB. Endocrine-disruptive chemicals as contaminants of emerging concern in wastewater and surface water: A review. Journal of Environmental Management, 2021; 277: 111485.
• Klaunig JE, Melo L, Tilmant K. Mechanisms of hepatic cancer by persistent organic pollutants. Current Opinion in Toxicology, 2020; 19: 105-111.
• Kuzukiran O, Yurdakok-Dikmen B, Totan FE, Celik C, Orhan EC, Bilir EK, Kara E, Filazi A. Analytical method development and validation for some persistent organic pollutants in water and sediments by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. International Journal of Environmental Research, 2016; 10(3): 401-410.
• Mason SA, Kammin L, Eriksen M, Aleid G, Wilson S, Box C, Williamson N, Riley A. Pelagic plastic pollution within the surface waters of Lake Michigan, USA, Journal of Great Lakes Research, 2016; 42(4): 753-759.
• Masura J, Baker J, Foster G, Arthur C. Laboratory Methods for the Analysis of Microplastics in the Marine Environment: Recommendations for Quantifying Synthetic Particles in Waters and Sediments”, NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS-OR&R, 2015; 48.
• Metelkova L, Zhakovskaya Z, Kukhareva G, Rybalko A, Nikiforov V. Occurrence of PCDD/PCDFs, dioxin-like PCBs, and PBDEs in surface sediments from the Neva River and the Eastern Gulf of Finland (Russia). Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2019; 26(8): 7375-7389.
• Meybeck M. Global analysis of river systems: from Earth system controls to Anthropocene syndromes. The Royal Society, 2003; 358: 1935-1955.
• Milun V, Lušić J, Despalatović M. Polychlorinated biphenyls, organochlorine pesticides and trace metals in cultured and harvested bivalves from the eastern Adriatic coast (Croatia). Chemosphere, 2016; 153: 18-27.
• Muñoz I, López-Doval JC, Ricart M, Villagrasa M, Brix R, Geiszinger A, Ginebreda A, Guasch H, de Alda MJL, Romaní AM, Sabater S, Barceló D. Bridging levels of pharmaceuticals in river water with biological community structure in the llobregat river basin (Northeast Spain). Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2009; 28: 2706-2714.
• Naushad M. Surfactant assisted nano-composite cation exchanger: Development, characterization and applications for the removal of toxic Pb2+ from aqueous medium. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2014; 235: 100-108.
• Noori R, Berndtsson R, Hosseinzadeh M, Adamowski JF, Abyaneh MR. A critical review on the application of the National Sanitation Foundation Water Quality Index. Environmental Pollution, 2019; 244: 575-587.
• Paumo HK, Das R, Bhaumik M, Maity A. Visible-Light-Responsive Nanostructured Materials for Photocatalytic Degradation of Persistent Organic Pollutants in Water. In Green Methods for Wastewater Treatment. Springer, Cham. 2020; 1-29.
• Rice EW, Baird RB, Eaton AB. Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, 22nd Edition. American Public Health Association, American Water Works Association, Water Environment Federation, 2012.
• Roy A, Das BK, Bhattacharya J. Development and Validation of a Spectrophotometric Method to Measure Sulfate Concentrations in Mine Water without Interference Mine Water Environ. 2011; 30:169-174.
• Sharma VK, Anquandah GAK, Yngard RA, Kim H, Fekete J, Bouzek K, Ray AK, Golovko D. Nonylphenol, octylphenol, and bisphenol-A in the aquatic environment: A review on occurrence, fate, and treatment. J. Environ. Sci. Health A Tox. Hazard Subst. Environ. Eng. 2009; 44: 423-442.
• Tang Y, Zhong Y, Li H, Huang Y, Guo X, Yang F, Wu Y. Contaminants of emerging concern in aquatic environment: Occurrence, monitoring, fate, and risk assessment. Water Environment Research 2020; 92: 1811-1817.
• Yuan T, Vadde KK, Tonkin JD, Wang J, Lu J, Zhang Z, Zhang Y, McCarthy AJ, Sekar R. Urbanization Impacts the Physicochemical Characteristics and Abundance of Fecal Markers and Bacterial Pathogens in Surface Water Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019; 16: 1739.
• Qu B, Zhang Y, Kang S, Sillanpää M. Water quality in the Tibetan Plateau: Major ions and trace elements in rivers of the “Water Tower of Asia” Science of the Total Environment 2019; 649: 571-581.
• Üstün GE. The assessment of heavy metal contamination in the waters of the Nilüfer stream in Bursa. Ekoloji 2011; 81: 61-66.
• Vaz S Jr. What Are Emerging Pollutants (EPs) and Their Fate on the Environment, Chapter 1, in Analytical Chemistry Applied to Emerging Pollutants, Springer International Publishing AG, 2018; 1-13.
• Verbruggen EMJ, Brand E. Risk-based standards for PCBs in soil: Proposals for environmental risk limits and maximum values. 2015; https://rivm.openrepository.com/handle/10029/557166.
• Verhaert V, Newmark N, D’Hollander W, Covaci A, Vlok W, Wepener V, Addo-Bediako A, Jooste A, Teuchies J, Blust R, Bervoets L. Persistent organic pollutants in the Olifants River Basin, South Africa: bioaccumulation and trophic transfer through a subtropical aquatic food web. Sci Total Environ. 2017; 586: 792-806.
• Vieira Y, Lima EC, Foletto EL, Dotto GL. Microplastics physicochemical properties, specific adsorption modeling and their interaction with pharmaceuticals and other emerging contaminants. Science of The Total Environment 2021; 753: 141981.
• Wagner M. Lambert S. Freshwater Microplastics, Emerging Environmental Contaminants, The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry Series, 58, Springer 2018.
• Wilkinson J, Hooda PS, Barker J, Barton S, Swinden J. Occurrence, fate and transformation of emerging contaminants in water: an overarching review of the field. Environ. Pollut. 2017; 231: 954-970.
• Willett KL, Ulrich EM, Hites RA. Differential toxicity and environmental fates of hexachlorocyclohexane isomers. Environmental Science & Technology 1998; 32(15): 2197-2207.
• Wohlsen TD. Comparative evaluation of chromogenic agar CM1046 and mFC agar for detection of E. coli and thermotolerant coliform bacteria from water samples. Lett Appl Micro- biol 2011; 53:155-160.
• Wu Z, He C, Han W, Song J, Li H, Zhang Y, Wu W. Exposure pathways, levels and toxicity of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in humans: A review. Environmental Research 2020; 109531.
• Yotova G, Varbanov M, Tcherkezova E, Tsakovski S. Water quality assessment of a river catchment by the composite water quality index and self-organizing maps Ecological Indicators 2021; 120: 106872.
• Yurdakok B, Tekin K, Daskin A, Filazi A. Effects of polychlorinated biphenyls 28, 30 and 118 on bovine spermatozoa in vitro. Reproduction in Domestic Animals 2015; 50(1): 41-47.
• Zeng H, Fu X, Liang Y, Qin L, Mo L. Risk assessment of an organochlorine pesticide mixture in the surface waters of Qingshitan Reservoir in Southwest China. RSC Advances, 2018; 8(32): 17797-17805.