Ecotoxicological evaluation of selected pharmaceuticals to Vibrio fischeri and Daphnia magna before and after photooxidation process

The aim of the research was the determination of the toxicity of photocatalytically treated water contaminated by different pharmaceuticals: chloramphenicol (CPL), diclofenac (DCF) or metoprolol (MT). Daphtoxkit FTM with Dapnia magna and Microtox® with Vibrio fischeri were used to evaluate the toxicity of the water before and after treatment. D. magna showed higher sensitivity to the presence of pharmaceuticals than V. fischeri. Generally, both tested organisms revealed the greatest sensitivity to the presence of CPL. The application of photocatalytic oxidation has resulted in decreased toxicity. It may confirm the reduction of high toxic parent compounds to less toxic metabolites. The toxicity was reduced in the range from 30% to 100% depending on pharmaceutical tested. The highest reduction of toxicity to V. fischeri and D. magna was observed to MT and CPL respectively. Depending on bioassay the toxicity decrease as follows: CPL>DCF>MT for D. magna and CPL>MT>DCF for V. fischeri.

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