New perspectives on the bioremediation of endocrine disrupting compounds from wastewater using algae-, bacteria- and fungi-based technologies

Growing population and industrialization have resulted in a significant contamination of freshwater by a variety of micropollutants including endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Wastewater treatment plants cannot completely remove EDC yet, which then end up in wastewater effluents, and they are discharged directly into the environment. Rising concerns over the current EDC management strategies have created interest in sustainable and environmentally responsible wastewater treatment technologies. One promising option for remediation of EDC is to enhance treatment plants' performance using microbial communities, microalgae or fungi. Here, the efficacy of these biological candidates is quantitatively reviewed, along with the operational conditions under which the highest degradation performance of selected classes of EDC, i.e., hormones, phenols, phthalates, pharmaceuticals, pesticides and formulation ingredients, is achieved. Using a formal meta-analysis, the main findings are highlighted: (1) the effect of Exposure time on biodegradation varies by EDC class, and this is influenced by Organism class (QM (df = 4) = 13.43, p = 0.0094); (2) the effect of the Organism class size (i.e., monoculture vs. multi-cultures) is influenced by EDC class (QM (df = 3) = 8.7470, p = 0.0329); (3) EDC complexity of contamination affects biodegradation (QM (df = 4) = 10.6652, p = 0.0306); (4) the effect of Organism class significantly varies by Delivery mechanism, and it is influenced by Carrier Material (QM (df = 5) = 14.3498, p = 0.0135); (5) biodegradation is affected by the unique features of EDC within the same EDC class, and (6) results are not impacted by the initial EDC concentration in the trials.

Automated summary

The study provides a quantitative review of using microbial communities, microalgae, or fungi to enhance wastewater treatment plant performance for EDC remediation. Results show that exposure time, organism class, EDC complexity, delivery mechanism, and EDC class all have significant impacts on biodegradation, while the initial EDC concentration does not affect the outcomes.