Comparative study of the toxicity between three non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and their UV/Na2S2O8 degradation products on Cyprinus carpio

Xingsheng Gao,Yingying Fu,Gang Wu,Jinju Geng,Yourong Du,Hongqiang Ren,Shaoli Li

doi:10.1038/s41598-018-29524-1

Abstract

The efficiency of advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) for disposing of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) has been widely studied, but the environmental fates and effects of the NSAIDs and their degradation products (DPs) are poorly understood. In this study, the efficiency of ultraviolet light/Na2S2O8 (UV/PS) in degrading three NSAIDs—diclofenac, naproxen, and ibuprofen—and the toxicity of their DPs on Cyprinus carpio (C. carpio) was investigated. Results showed that the three NSAIDs can be completely removed (removal rate > 99.9%) by UV/PS, while the mineralization rate of the NSAIDs was only 28%. When C. carpio were exposed to 0.1 μM NSAIDs, 10 μM persulfate (PS), and 0.1 μM DPs of the NSAIDs for 96 h, respectively, the toxicity effects are as the NSAID DPs > PS > NSAIDs. Research results into the time-dependent effect of NSAID DPs on C. carpio demonstrated that obvious toxicity effects were observed in the first 48 hours, and the toxicity effects strengthened over time. NSAID DPs may have more severe toxicity effects than NSAIDs on C. carpio; therefore, the operating conditions of UV/PS must be optimized to eliminate the ecotoxicity of DPs.

Highlights

The efficiency of advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) for disposing of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) has been widely studied, but the environmental fates and effects of the NSAIDs and their degradation products (DPs) are poorly understood
Gao[32,33] revealed that, in UV/PS, florfenicol was almost completely removed within 1 h, while approximately 22.3% total organic carbon (TOC) removal was achieved, and 28% of TOC removal was observed while degrading sulfamethazine
The present study demonstrated 0.1 μM NSAID DPs can inflict oxidative damage on C. carpio

Summary

Introduction

The efficiency of advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) for disposing of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) has been widely studied, but the environmental fates and effects of the NSAIDs and their degradation products (DPs) are poorly understood. Diclofenac (DCF), ibuprofen (IBP), and naproxen (NPX) are the three most frequently reported NSAIDs in WWTP influents[5], and they are ubiquitously detected in China’s main river basins, including the Pearl River[6], Yellow River, Hai River, and Liao Rive[7], in concentrations ranging from ng/L to μg/L. There is a high risk of DCF, IBP, and NPX reported in the Danish[12] and Norwegian[13] aquatic environments. Due to continuous and increasing NSAID consumption and their incomplete elimination in WWTPs, the presence of NSAID residues has been acknowledged as one of the most urgent emerging environmental issues, in the aquatic environment[16]. Correspondence and requests for materials should be addressed to J.G. (email: jjgeng@nju. edu.cn) www.nature.com/scientificreports/

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