RT Journal Article
T1 Ecotoxicological risk and seasonal removal of licit and illicit drugs in wastewater treatment plants: A comparison of secondary and tertiary processes
A1 Gracia Lor, Emma
A1 Melones Peña, Natalia
A1 Maroto Melle, Elsa C.
A1 Torrado Del Rey, Susana
A1 Pérez Valenciano, Azara
A1 Martín Gutiérrez, M. Justina
AB This study evaluates the effectiveness of different wastewater treatment methods in removing emerging contaminants, including licit and illicit drugs. 168 samples were collected over four seasons from three wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), comparing conventional secondary biological treatments with advanced oxidation processes (ozone and ozone-UV). Hydrophilic compounds like caffeine and ethyl sulfate showed high removal efficiencies (>85 %), while compounds such as MDMA and methamphetamine had lower and more variableremoval rates. No consistent seasonal trend was found for most substances, although some exhibited improved removal in warmer months, likely due to enhanced microbial and photodegradation. Ecotoxicological risk was assessed using toxic units (TUchem), calculated from effluent concentrations and EC50/LC50 values for algae  daphnia, and fish. WWTPs with tertiary treatments generally showed lower TUchem values, indicating a potential reduction in environmental risk. Algae were the most sensitive organisms. The combined ozone and UV treatment achieved the lowest TUchem values, reflecting lower residual concentrations of the measured compounds. These results reveal limitations of conventional secondary treatments and emphasize the need to optimize tertiary processes. The observed compound-specific variability highlights the importance of regular monitoring and prioritization to improve the ecological safety of treated wastewater discharged into aquatic environments.
PB Elsevier
YR 2025
FD 2025-11-05
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/125615
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/125615
LA eng
NO Natalia Melones-Peña, Elsa C. Maroto-Melle, Susana Torrado-Del Rey, Azara Pérez-Valenciano, M Justina Martín-Gutiérrez, Emma Gracia-Lor, Ecotoxicological risk and seasonal removal of licit and illicit drugs in wastewater treatment plants: A comparison of secondary and tertiary processes, Journal of Hazardous Materials, Volume 499, 2025, 140290, ISSN 0304-3894, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.140290. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304389425032108)
NO Plan Nacional sobre Drogas (Ministerio de Sanidad)
NO Madrid Salud
NO Ministerio de Innovación, Ciencia y Universidades
DS Docta Complutense
RD 8 jun 2026