Ecotoxicological Effects of Micropollutants on Macroinvertebrates by using the Biosensor-System LimCo®

Funded by the Deutschen Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU) in cooperation with the Ruhrverband and the company Limco
Duration: November 2017 bis Oktober 2019

In this project the effects of conventionally treated wastewater and additionally ozone-treated wastewater on macrozoobenthos organisms are investigated. The focus is on the question of how micropollutants affect the ecological status of water bodies according to the Water Framework Directive and whether more extensive wastewater treatment has positive effects on the organisms investigated.

Thanks to improved analytical techniques, it is now possible to determine a large number of substances (industrial chemicals, pharmaceuticals, personal care products) in waters that were previously not detectable due to their low concentrations (pg/L to ng/L). Exceeding the concentrations defined as the environmental quality standard for "river basin specific pollutants" is considered to be partly responsible for damage to aquatic organisms, which is why many wastewater treatment plants are required to set up a fourth treatment stage.

In six flow channels with different waters (conventionally treated wastewater, ozonated wastewater, control), two macrozoobenthos species are exposed in parallel in test chambers over several weeks and their behaviour is detected and recorded by biomonitors using electrodes. Subsequently, the stress state is also measured with established biomarkers so that a relationship can be established between individual stress reactions, behavioural changes and possible effects on the species composition.

Contact: Prof. Dr. Bernd Sures, Louisa Rothe