Ecotoxicological evaluation of three tertiary wastewater treatment techniques via meta-analysis and feeding bioassays using Gammarus fossarum

► Meta-analysis displays reduced toxicity of wastewater due to activated carbon or ozone. ► Groups of species (invertebrates) react different than others (e.g. bacteria). ► Purification via SPE may overestimate the detoxification potential. ► Gammarus bioassays showed reduced ecotoxicity due to activated carbon, ozone and TiO2 and UV. ► Activated carbon adsorbs nutrients, which may jeopardize any positive effect of this technique.