Author
Andreas Libonati Brock
Bio: Andreas Libonati Brock is an academic researcher from Technical University of Denmark. The author has contributed to research in topics: Suspended solids & Scale (ratio). The author has an hindex of 7, co-authored 23 publications receiving 230 citations.
Topics: Suspended solids, Scale (ratio), Biotransformation, Sediment, Wastewater
Papers
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University of Santiago de Compostela1, University of Salamanca2, Norwegian Institute for Water Research3, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens4, University of Valencia5, University of South Australia6, King's College London7, University of Bern8, James I University9, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava10, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev11, Technical University of Denmark12, University of Puget Sound13, University of Bath14, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki15, University of Antwerp16, University of Amsterdam17, Université Paris-Saclay18, American Board of Legal Medicine19, University of Cyprus20, Sewanee: The University of the South21, Dresden University of Technology22, National Institutes of Health23, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences24, University of Lisbon25, Spanish National Research Council26, University of Iceland27, Innsbruck Medical University28, University of Queensland29, University of Novi Sad30, AGH University of Science and Technology31, McGill University32, Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research33, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology34
TL;DR: In this article, the authors assess spatial and temporal trends of population-normalized mass loads of benzoylecgonine, amphetamine, methamphetamine and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in raw wastewater over 7 years (2011-17), and address overall drug use by estimating the average number of combined doses consumed per day in each city.
Abstract: Background and aims
Wastewater‐based epidemiology is an additional indicator of drug use that is gaining reliability to complement the current established panel of indicators. The aims of this study were to: (i) assess spatial and temporal trends of population‐normalized mass loads of benzoylecgonine, amphetamine, methamphetamine and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in raw wastewater over 7 years (2011–17); (ii) address overall drug use by estimating the average number of combined doses consumed per day in each city; and (iii) compare these with existing prevalence and seizure data.
Design
Analysis of daily raw wastewater composite samples collected over 1 week per year from 2011 to 2017.
Setting and Participants
Catchment areas of 143 wastewater treatment plants in 120 cities in 37 countries.
Measurements
Parent substances (amphetamine, methamphetamine and MDMA) and the metabolites of cocaine (benzoylecgonine) and of Δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinol (11‐nor‐9‐carboxy‐Δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinol) were measured in wastewater using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Daily mass loads (mg/day) were normalized to catchment population (mg/1000 people/day) and converted to the number of combined doses consumed per day. Spatial differences were assessed world‐wide, and temporal trends were discerned at European level by comparing 2011–13 drug loads versus 2014–17 loads.
Findings
Benzoylecgonine was the stimulant metabolite detected at higher loads in southern and western Europe, and amphetamine, MDMA and methamphetamine in East and North–Central Europe. In other continents, methamphetamine showed the highest levels in the United States and Australia and benzoylecgonine in South America. During the reporting period, benzoylecgonine loads increased in general across Europe, amphetamine and methamphetamine levels fluctuated and MDMA underwent an intermittent upsurge.
Conclusions
The analysis of wastewater to quantify drug loads provides near real‐time drug use estimates that globally correspond to prevalence and seizure data.
126 citations
TL;DR: Predictions of in-sewer transformation provided here can reduce the uncertainty in the estimation of drug consumption as part of wastewater-based epidemiological studies, and abiotic conversion is the dominant mechanism for many of the selected substances.
Abstract: Sewer pipelines, although primarily designed for sewage transport, can also be considered as bioreactors. In-sewer processes may lead to significant variations of chemical loadings from source release points to the treatment plant influent. In this study, we assessed in-sewer utilization of growth substrates (primary metabolic processes) and transformation of illicit drug biomarkers (secondary metabolic processes) by suspended biomass. Sixteen drug biomarkers were targeted, including mephedrone, methadone, cocaine, heroin, codeine, and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and their major human metabolites. Batch experiments were performed under aerobic and anaerobic conditions using raw wastewater. Abiotic biomarker transformation and partitioning to suspended solids and reactor wall were separately investigated under both redox conditions. A process model was identified by combining and extending the Wastewater Aerobic/anaerobic Transformations in Sewers (WATS) model and Activated Sludge Model for Xenobiotics (ASM...
60 citations
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that the estimation of biotransformation rate constants in biofilm can be significantly biased if the boundary layer thickness is not accurately estimated, which complements the previous investigation on the transformation and sorption of drug biomarkers in the presence of only suspended biomass in untreated sewage.
Abstract: In-sewer transformation of drug biomarkers (excreted parent drugs and metabolites) can be influenced by the presence of biomass in suspended form as well as attached to sewer walls (biofilms). Biofilms are likely the most abundant and biologically active biomass fraction in sewers. In this study, 16 drug biomarkers were selected, including the parent forms and the major human metabolites of mephedrone, methadone, cocaine, heroin, codeine, and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Transformation and sorption of these substances were assessed in targeted batch experiments using laboratory-scale biofilm reactors operated under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. A one-dimensional model was developed to simulate diffusive transport, abiotic and biotic transformation, and partitioning of drug biomarkers. Model calibration to experimental results allowed estimating biotransformation rate constants in sewer biofilms, which were compared to those obtained for suspended biomass. Our results suggest that sewer biofilms can enh...
39 citations
TL;DR: Simulations with precalculated input data demonstrate that precalculation of yields reduces the number of fit parameters considerably, increases confidence in fitted kinetic data, and reduces the uncertainty of the simulation results.
Abstract: Degradation tests with radio or stable isotope labeled compounds enable the detection of the formation of nonextractable residues (NER). In PBT and vPvB assessment, remobilisable NER are considered as a potential risk while biogenic NER from incorporation of labeled carbon into microbial biomass are treated as degradation products. Relationships between yield, released CO2 (as indicator of microbial activity and mineralization) and microbial growth can be used to estimate the formation of biogenic NER. We provide a new approach for calculation of potential substrate transformation to microbial biomass (theoretical yield) based on Gibbs free energy and microbially available electrons. We compare estimated theoretical yields of biotechnological substrates and of chemicals of environmental concern with experimentally determined yields for validation of the presented approach. A five-compartment dynamic model is applied to simulate experiments of 13C-labeled 2,4-D and ibuprofen turnover. The results show that...
29 citations
TL;DR: A recently developed method for microbial growth yield estimation is extended to account for incomplete degradation and multiple-element assimilation and combined it with a dynamic model for fate description in soils and sediments to improve predictive capability.
Abstract: Environmental fate assessment of chemicals involves standardized simulation tests with isotope-labeled molecules to balance transformation, mineralization, and formation of nonextractable residues (NER). Methods to predict microbial turnover and biogenic NER have been developed, having limited use when metabolites accumulate, the chemicals are not the only C source, or provide for other macroelements. To improve predictive capability, we extended a recently developed method for microbial growth yield estimation to account for incomplete degradation and multiple-element assimilation and combined it with a dynamic model for fate description in soils and sediments. We evaluated the results against the unique experimental data of 13C3-15N co-labeled glyphosate turnover with AMPA formation in water-sediment systems (OECD 308). Balancing 13C- and 15N- fluxes to biomass showed a pronounced shift of glyphosate transformation from full mineralization to AMPA formation. This may be explained by various hypotheses, for example, the limited substrate turnover inherent to the batch conditions of the test system causing microbial starvation or inhibition by P release. Modeling results indicate initial N overload due to the lower C/N ratio in glyphosate compared to average cell composition leading to subsequent C demand and accumulation of AMPA.
22 citations
Cited by
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Catalan Institute for Water Research1, Catholic University of Portugal2, Dresden University of Technology3, University of Cyprus4, Spanish National Research Council5, University of Coimbra6, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology7, Norwegian University of Life Sciences8, University of Helsinki9, Maynooth University10
TL;DR: Three compounds, ciprofloxacin, azithromycin and cefalexin are proposed as markers of antibiotic pollution, as they could occasionally pose a risk to the environment.
279 citations
James I University1, Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research2, University of Antwerp3, University of Bath4, University of Cyprus5, Technische Universität München6, Saarland University7, University of Queensland8, Technical University of Denmark9, Norwegian Institute for Water Research10, University of Porto11, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens12, University of Glasgow13
TL;DR: The current knowledge related to the most relevant biomarkers used so far in urban wastewater and information, when available, on stability in urine and wastewater and pharmacokinetic data has been reviewed.
199 citations
TL;DR: The COVID-19 pandemic and the measures required to address it are cutting a swathe through people's lives and the global economy as mentioned in this paper and there is an urgent need to coordinate efforts nationally and internationally to mitigate these problems and to find innovative ways of continuing to provide clinical and public health services to help people with addictive disorders.
Abstract: The COVID‐19 pandemic and the measures required to address it are cutting a swathe through people's lives and the global economy. People with addictive disorders are particularly badly affected as a result of poverty, physical and mental health vulnerabilities and disruption of access to services. The pandemic may well increase the extent and severity of some addictive disorders. Current research is suffering from the termination of face‐to‐face data collection and other restrictions. There is an urgent need to coordinate efforts nationally and internationally to mitigate these problems and to find innovative ways of continuing to provide clinical and public health services to help people with addictive disorders.
185 citations
TL;DR: This paper presents an update on the progress made with the development of the BioSCIM concept in the period of time since its original publication in 2012, as well as the next steps required for its continued development.
136 citations
TL;DR: WBE is presented as a surveillance and early warning system for infectious disease outbreaks regarding pathogens with pandemic potential and the challenges and perspective of WBE in infectious disease surveillance andEarly warning are discussed.
124 citations