Removal of micropollutants by fungal laccases in model solution and municipal wastewater: evaluation of estrogenic activity and ecotoxicity

The laccase-mediated treatment was then applied to a municipal wastewater collected in a real wastewater treatment plant, containing at least 9 xenobiotics as drugs, pesticides, plasticizers and personal care products. Although the harsh chemical and biological conditions of the effluent influenced enzyme stability, the reaction took place, and above 70% transformation was obtained for most analytes during the 24 h experiment. Bioassays were carried out to estimate the estrogenic activity (the E-screen test and the MELN gene-reporter luciferase assay) and the ecotoxicity (Lepidium sativum, Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata and Vibrio fischeri), demonstrating the capability of laccases to mediate an effective detoxification of the wastewater and a decrease of the estrogenic activity.