Characterization of pharmaceuticals industrial effluent using GC\u2013MS and FT-IR analyses and defining its toxicity

Vineeta Kumari,A K Tripathi

doi:10.1007/s13201-019-1064-z

Abstract

The physicochemical analysis of collected effluent sample for different parameters shown results as pH (pH 5.6 ± 0.11) slightly acidic, high conductivity (1563.34 ± 176 μs cm−1), total dissolved solids (920.34 ± 137 mg L−1), high BOD (7253.34 ± 1022 mg L−1), and COD (756.67 ± 1124 mg L−1) in the effluent sample. The results of heavy metals concentration are viz. as [Cu (1.98–2.56), Co (0.26–0.53), Cd (0.10–0.50), Ni (0.04–0.07), Pb (0.58–1.2), Mn (0.58–1.05), Cr (1.47–1.51), Zn (2.61–3.5), Fe (1.72–2.13), As (0.05–0.09), and Hg (0.003–0.006)]. Results revealed the higher concentration of BOD, COD, TDS, and conductivity and also the concentration of lead. Results of GC–MS also confirmed the high levels of organic pollutants in effluent. Further the effluent toxicity was evaluated by employing genotoxocity assays with the use of Allium cepa L. (onion) root tip cells. Genotoxicity measured mitotic index (MI) and chromosomal aberrations (CAs) in root tip cells obtained after treatment with effluent of 6.25, 12.5, and 25% concentration (v/v). The results of root growth test showed that inhibition of root growth occurred at effluent concentration ≥ 50% (v/v). The lowest MI was recorded (MI = 9.6%) in 25% of effluent concentration, showing a significant reduction in mitotic index compared with control which MI = 64.1%. Further, the chromosomal aberration was investigated in root tip cell after treating with different concentration ranges of effluent exhibiting various CA, viz. c-mitosis, chromosome loss, chromosome break, micronucleated cells, etc. The result suggests that the effluent contained toxic constituents, which imposed cytotoxic and genotoxic hazard.

Highlights

Increase in global demand for drugs has made pharmaceutical industry one of the major 26 polluters of solid wastes and effluent into the environment (Anyakora et al 2011)
Objective of the present study is to identify physicochemical parameters (viz. pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and heavy metals (Cu, Co, Cd, Ni, Pb, Mn, Cr, Zn, Fe, As, and Hg) and organic pollutants in pharmaceutical effluent
The present study finds out that the different heavy metals, phenols, drugs, and other organic compounds are the constituents of pharmaceutical effluent which is discharged into the wastewater

Summary

Introduction

Increase in global demand for drugs has made pharmaceutical industry one of the major 26 polluters of solid wastes and effluent into the environment (Anyakora et al 2011). While in the environment most of the pharmaceutical are discharge toxicants present in wastewater accumulates in aquatic bodies, soil, and other biological systems, and often exceeds the critical threshold levels (Cleuvers 2003; Hernandoa et al 2006; Larsson et al 2007). A number of studies have identified specific chemical components in pharmaceutical effluents and demonstrated their toxic effects on living organisms (Daughton and Ternes 1999; Jones et al 2001; Larsson et al 2007; Idris et al 2013). In recent years, great concern is shown to study the impacts of discharged pharmaceutical effluents on the ecosystem and its services, and human wellness tied to them

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Results

Conclusion