Detection of micropollutants (MPs) in wastewater effluents using traditional toxicity tests or chemical analysis with discrete samples is challenging due to concentration dynamics. This study evaluates a continuous monitoring approach for detecting MPs in wastewater effluents using a combination of biological early warning systems (BEWS). Three BEWS with Chlorella vulgaris, Daphnia magna, and Gammarus pulex were operated in parallel in a full-scale municipal wastewater treatment plant. Concentrations of MPs were monitored by simultaneous online chemical analysis using high performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (MS2Field). Over 5 weeks, behavioral changes observed in the BEWS occasionally exceeded acute toxicity thresholds, triggering alarms. These changes were related to MPs identified by the MS2Field, to abiotic factors, or to operational parameters of the BEWS. For one toxic event, behavioral responses were linked to a pesticide, not authorized in Switzerland, at concentrations close to literature EC₅₀ values. Verification tests confirmed that the pesticide in the effluent was the most likely cause for the organism response. The study demonstrates the potential of BEWS as a stand-alone technique for detecting contamination peaks in wastewater, and identifies key limitations and critical factors that need to be addressed to optimize the use of BEWS in wastewater monitoring.

中文翻译：

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在污水处理厂中将生物预警系统与高分辨率在线化学监测相结合


由于浓度动力学的原因，使用传统的毒性测试或对离散样品进行化学分析来检测废水中的微污染物 （MP） 具有挑战性。本研究评估了一种使用生物早期预警系统 （BEWS） 组合检测废水中 MP 的连续监测方法。三个含有小球藻、大溞和 Gammarus pulex 的 BEWS 在一家全面的城市污水处理厂中并行运行。使用高效液相色谱-高分辨率质谱 （MS2Field） 通过同步在线化学分析监测 MPs 的浓度。在 5 周内，在 BEWS 中观察到的行为变化偶尔会超过急性毒性阈值，从而触发警报。这些变化与 MS2Field 识别的 MP、非生物因素或 BEWS 的操作参数有关。对于一个毒性事件，行为反应与瑞士未授权的农药有关，其浓度接近文献 EC₅₀ 值。验证测试证实，污水中的农药是最有可能引起生物反应的原因。该研究展示了 BEWS 作为检测废水中污染峰的独立技术的潜力，并确定了需要解决的关键限制和关键因素，以优化 BEWS 在废水监测中的使用。