Issue 6, 2017

Exploring micropollutant biotransformation in three freshwater phytoplankton species

Abstract

Phytoplankton constitute an important component of surface water ecosystems; however little is known about their contribution to biotransformation of organic micropollutants. To elucidate biotransformation processes, batch experiments with two cyanobacterial species (Microcystis aeruginosa and Synechococcus sp.) and one green algal species (Chlamydomonas reinhardtii) were conducted. Twenty-four micropollutants were studied, including 15 fungicides and 9 pharmaceuticals. Online solid phase extraction (SPE) coupled with liquid chromatography (LC)-high resolution tandem mass spectrometry (HRMS/MS) was used together with suspect and nontarget screening to identify transformation products (TPs). 14 TPs were identified for 9 micropollutants, formed by cytochrome P450-mediated oxidation, conjugation and methylation reactions. The observed transformation pathways included reactions likely mediated by promiscuous enzymes, such as glutamate conjugation to mefenamic acid and pterin conjugation of sulfamethoxazole. For 15 compounds, including all azole fungicides tested, no TPs were identified. Environmentally relevant concentrations of chemical stressors had no influence on the transformation types and rates.

Graphical abstract: Exploring micropollutant biotransformation in three freshwater phytoplankton species

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
28 Feb 2017
Accepted
06 Apr 2017
First published
07 Apr 2017

Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2017,19, 822-832

Exploring micropollutant biotransformation in three freshwater phytoplankton species

M. A. Stravs, F. Pomati and J. Hollender, Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2017, 19, 822 DOI: 10.1039/C7EM00100B

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