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Fish embryo tests with Danio rerio as a tool to evaluate surface water and sediment quality in rivers influenced by wastewater treatment plants using different treatment technologies

  • Danio rerio as a Model in Aquatic Toxicology and Sediment Research
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Abstract

In order to evaluate surface water and the sediment quality of rivers connected to wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) with different treatment technologies, fish embryo tests (FET) with Danio rerio were conducted using native water and sediment samples collected upstream and downstream of four WWTPs in Southern Germany. Two of these WWTPs are connected to the Schussen River, a tributary of Lake Constance, and use a sand filter with final water purification by flocculation. The two others are located on the rivers Schmiecha and Eyach in the area of the Swabian Alb and were equipped with a powdered activated carbon stage 20 years ago, which was originally aimed at reducing the release of stains from the textile industry. Several endpoints of embryo toxicity including mortality, malformations, reduced hatching rate, and heart rate were investigated at defined time points of embryonic development. Higher embryotoxic potentials were found in water and sediments collected downstream of the WWTPs equipped with sand filtration than in the sample obtained downstream of both WWTPs upgraded with a powdered activated carbon stage.

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Acknowledgments

The study is part of the SchussenAktivplus project funded by the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF) and co-funded by the Ministry of the Environment, Climate Protection and the Energy Sector, Baden-Württemberg. SchussenAktivplus is connected to the BMBF action plan “Sustainable water management (NaWaM)” and is integrated into the BMBF framework programme “Research for sustainable development FONA”. It is part of the funding measure, “Risk Management of Emerging Compounds and Pathogens in the Water Cycle (RiSKWa)” (contract period: January 2012 to June 2015; funding number: 02WRS1281A). The studies at the WWTPs Albstadt-Ebingen and Albstadt-Lautlingen were funded by the Ministry of the Environment, Climate Protection and the Energy Sector, Baden-Württemberg, and Albstadt town. Particular thanks go to Katharina Greiner-Perth, Stefanie Jacob, Heinz Krause, Steffen Metzger, Raphaela Osterauer, Doreen Richter, and Karl Wurm and all colleagues who were involved in the sampling campaigns and analytics.

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  1. Paul Thellmann

    Present address: Animal Physiological Ecology, Institute for Evolution and Ecology, University of Tübingen, Konrad-Adenauer-Str. 20, 72072, Tübingen, Germany

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Animal Physiological Ecology, University of Tübingen, Konrad-Adenauer-Str. 20, 72072, Tübingen, Germany

    Paul Thellmann, Heinz-R. Köhler, Simon Schwarz & Rita Triebskorn

  2. Competence Centre for Trace Substances Baden-Württemberg (KomS), c/o University of Stuttgart, Bandtäle 2, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany

    Annette Rößler

  3. Water Technology Centre Karlsruhe (TZW), Karlsruher Straße 84, 76139, Karlsruhe, Germany

    Marco Scheurer

  4. Regional Commission (RP) Tübingen, Konrad-Adenauer-Str. 20, 72072, Tübingen, Germany

    Hans-Joachim Vogel

  5. Steinbeis Transfer-Center for Ecotoxicology and Ecophysiology, Blumenstr 13, 72108, Rottenburg, Germany

    Rita Triebskorn

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  1. Paul Thellmann
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Correspondence to Paul Thellmann.

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Thellmann, P., Köhler, HR., Rößler, A. et al. Fish embryo tests with Danio rerio as a tool to evaluate surface water and sediment quality in rivers influenced by wastewater treatment plants using different treatment technologies. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 16405–16416 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3785-8

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