Evaluation of Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs) absorption and accumulation in plant irrigated with treated municipal wastewater: preliminary results

At global level, in agriculture, cities and industry demand for water is increasing. Meanwhile, climate change is increasing the temporal and spatial variation in water supply. Inevitably, water reuse must increase. However, water reuse exposes people and ecosystems to wide-ranging risks from waterborne contaminants. These must be better managed through smarter monitoring and control. The CECs include pharmaceuticals and a wide range of Personal Care Products (PCPs). There is serious lack of knowledge of the effects of CECs in the biosphere, even at very low concentrations. This 1st year study presents the preliminary results of the fate of a representative number of CECs belonging to the main classes of organics (i.e., antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, anti-epileptics) on perennial woody plants (olive tree) and their effects on plant ecophysiology. The experimental trial was located in southern Italy, in potted olive trees irrigated with treated municipal wastewater added with CECs to investigate their transfer from irrigation water to soil and their translocation in plant organs. Ten CECs were added at treated municipal wastewater at two concentrations: 200 µg/L (1X) and 600 µg/L (3X). CECs accumulation in soil and plant organs (root, trunk, shoot leaf, fruit) was assessed at the end of irrigation season. First year results showed that some compounds (i.e., carbamazepine, fluconazole) accumulated in plant organs. Physiological measurements have been taken in order to evaluate if the CECs different concentration affect the plant functionality. Results revealed significantly differences in photosynthetic light response curves, with lower value in plants irrigated with wastewater added with higher CECs concentration. Further analysis and data need to be taken in order to define an optimized wastewater irrigation strategy, safe for human and environment.