Abstract
The activated sludge process in Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTPs) relies on the activities of microbes to reduce the organic and inorganic matter and produce effluent that is safe to discharge into receiving waters. This research examined the effects of non-steroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) ibuprofen and the antibiotic tetracycline on the microbial population in activated sludge from the Humber WWTP. The current investigation was designated to observe the impact of these contaminants, at low (environmentally relative concentrations) as well as extremely high concentrations of tetracycline and ibuprofen. Using 16S and 18S rRNA gene primer sets, and qPCR the abundance of each population was monitored as well as the relative abundance of two populations under the various conditions. It was found that current environmental concentrations of ibuprofen stimulated protozoan growth but higher concentrations reduced their numbers especially in the presence of tetracycline. Finally using DGGE, the identity for some of the more abundant protozoa were identified and it was noted that high ibuprofen and tetracycline concentrations favored the abundance of some genera.
Highlights
It was observed that the color and consistency of the sludge did not change over the duration of the experiment except in those that contained the largest amount of Ibuprofen (100,000 ng/ml)
The study examined the relative abundance of prokaryotes and eukaryotes using 16S rRNA gene and 18S rRNA gene primers to monitored the impact of tetracycline and ibuprofen on the communities that are important in secondary wastewater treatment process
The relative abundance of prokaryotes and eukaryotes were monitored via 16S rRNA gene and 18S rRNA gene primer sets as well as Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis System (DGGE)
Summary
In order to examine the effects of tetracycline and ibuprofen on the relative abundance of protozoan and bacterial populations, this study had the following three objectives. I. Determine the abundance of protozoan and bacterial populations in presence of tetracycline and ibuprofen separately and simultaneously. Comparison of the relative abundance of protozoan and bacterial populations separately and simultaneously through quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).
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