A scientific publication demonstrates the relevance of using sentinel organisms to monitor micropollutant peaks in WWTPs, thanks to the ToxMate bio-detection station.
Some micropollutants are regularly found in the discharges from wastewater wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). However, conventional conventional sampling methods fail to identify their temporal temporal variations, dynamics and load variability.
However, the release of micropollutants in effluents is highly transient, leading to highly transient in nature, with concentration peaks of short or even short or even very short durations, which calls for complementary monitoring approaches.
In this context, the behavior of living organisms is proving to be ecotoxicological indicator, offering rapid responses to to contaminant exposure at sublethal doses. Avoidance is an already well-studied behavior in certain species species in response to contamination, making it a potentially suitable potentially suitable choice for a non-targeted monitoring approach monitoring of intermittent peaks of micropollutants in WWTPs. However, it is essential that the method is robust and reproducible, given the complexity and ever-changing nature of WWTP outputs. of WWTP outputs.
The aim of this study is to develop a biotest using the avoidance behavior of gammarids to detect intermittent intermittent spikes in micropollutant discharges, suitable for monitoring monitoring of WWTP effluents.
The article begins by detailing the methods used to achieve activity of invertebrates, then presents the results of exposing exposure of gammarids (Gammarus fossarum) to peaks of two different peaks of two different micropollutants, copper (an inorganic heavy (inorganic heavy metal) and methomyl (organic pesticide) under various conditions, including long-term monitoring of sewage plant effluents. effluents. The organisms used in the experiments experiments are collected from an unpolluted site in the Rhône basin basin in France, and undergo a three-week acclimatization phase under under controlled laboratory conditions. Behavioral measurements are carried out using ToxMate technology ToxMate technology, which enables the individual avoidance of organisms exposed to micropollutants. ToxMate technology has been adapted for industrial use, enabling on-line on-line monitoring of wastewater treatment plant effluents.
The results gammarids showed an immediate increase in activity in response their activity in response to the presence of copper, indicating an avoidance behavior. Statistical analyses were performed to assess gammarids' sensitivity to micropollutants micropollutants and showed sustained avoidance responses.
In conclusion, this study shows that gammarids can be used as sentinel organisms to monitor micropollutant peaks in wastewater treatment plants. The proposed minimum activity model enables consistent and reproducible avoidance responses. The results highlighted the suitability of this approach with the Toxmate biomonitoring station for detecting contaminant dynamics in real time over long periods.
