Evaluating the Ecological Impact of Wastewater Discharges on Microbial and Contaminant Dynamics in Rivers
This study focused on assessing the impact of pollutants discharged from the Fuxin Meng Wastewater Treatment Plant (FMWWTP) on the microbial communities in the Xi River; specific comparison between upstream and downstream regions was made. Water samples were obtained by mixing morning, midday, and e...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Water |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/16/3/377 |
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| author | Wenjie Jing Shahdev Sajnani Mengting Zhou Hongfei Zhu Ya Xu |
| author_facet | Wenjie Jing Shahdev Sajnani Mengting Zhou Hongfei Zhu Ya Xu |
| author_sort | Wenjie Jing |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study focused on assessing the impact of pollutants discharged from the Fuxin Meng Wastewater Treatment Plant (FMWWTP) on the microbial communities in the Xi River; specific comparison between upstream and downstream regions was made. Water samples were obtained by mixing morning, midday, and evening sampling at two points: one upstream and one downstream, each 500 m from the FMWWTP outfall. Utilizing metagenomic sequencing in conjunction with measured conventional physical and chemical properties, the research aimed to elucidate differences in microbial community structure, metabolic functions, potential biological contamination, and antibiotic resistance gene prevalence. The findings indicated a notable decrease in microbial diversity downstream compared to upstream; this was influenced primarily by the effluent from FMWWTP. This disparity in microbial diversity was evident at various taxonomic levels, with downstream samples showing higher diversity at the phylum level than at the genus level. Furthermore, downstream microbial populations demonstrated a broader range of metabolic and functional genetic diversity. Interestingly, the abundance of metabolic systems was generally greater downstream, with the notable exception of energy metabolism. This could be attributed to the stress imposed on downstream microorganisms by organic chemicals discharged from the treatment plant, and this prompts an enhanced metabolic decomposition function. The study also uncovered significant levels of potential biological contamination and antibiotic resistance gene pollution. This was more pronounced downstream of FMWWTP. In conclusion, discharge from FMWWTP has a substantial impact on the microbial communities of the Xi River, and this underscores the urgent need to optimize wastewater treatment processes to better comply with environmental quality standards. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T03:46:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-74597df4428542da8d66d50ee33c3430 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T03:46:53Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-74597df4428542da8d66d50ee33c34302024-02-09T15:24:19ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412024-01-0116337710.3390/w16030377Evaluating the Ecological Impact of Wastewater Discharges on Microbial and Contaminant Dynamics in RiversWenjie Jing0Shahdev Sajnani1Mengting Zhou2Hongfei Zhu3Ya Xu4College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Liaoning Technical University, Fuxin 123000, ChinaSchool of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, ChinaCollege of Environmental Science and Engineering, Liaoning Technical University, Fuxin 123000, ChinaCollege of Environmental Science and Engineering, Liaoning Technical University, Fuxin 123000, ChinaState Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Hazardous Waste Identification and Risk Control, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, ChinaThis study focused on assessing the impact of pollutants discharged from the Fuxin Meng Wastewater Treatment Plant (FMWWTP) on the microbial communities in the Xi River; specific comparison between upstream and downstream regions was made. Water samples were obtained by mixing morning, midday, and evening sampling at two points: one upstream and one downstream, each 500 m from the FMWWTP outfall. Utilizing metagenomic sequencing in conjunction with measured conventional physical and chemical properties, the research aimed to elucidate differences in microbial community structure, metabolic functions, potential biological contamination, and antibiotic resistance gene prevalence. The findings indicated a notable decrease in microbial diversity downstream compared to upstream; this was influenced primarily by the effluent from FMWWTP. This disparity in microbial diversity was evident at various taxonomic levels, with downstream samples showing higher diversity at the phylum level than at the genus level. Furthermore, downstream microbial populations demonstrated a broader range of metabolic and functional genetic diversity. Interestingly, the abundance of metabolic systems was generally greater downstream, with the notable exception of energy metabolism. This could be attributed to the stress imposed on downstream microorganisms by organic chemicals discharged from the treatment plant, and this prompts an enhanced metabolic decomposition function. The study also uncovered significant levels of potential biological contamination and antibiotic resistance gene pollution. This was more pronounced downstream of FMWWTP. In conclusion, discharge from FMWWTP has a substantial impact on the microbial communities of the Xi River, and this underscores the urgent need to optimize wastewater treatment processes to better comply with environmental quality standards.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/16/3/377wastewaterwater treatment plant impactmetagenomic contamination analysismicrobial community dynamicsantibiotic resistance genes |
| spellingShingle | Wenjie Jing Shahdev Sajnani Mengting Zhou Hongfei Zhu Ya Xu Evaluating the Ecological Impact of Wastewater Discharges on Microbial and Contaminant Dynamics in Rivers Water wastewater water treatment plant impact metagenomic contamination analysis microbial community dynamics antibiotic resistance genes |
| title | Evaluating the Ecological Impact of Wastewater Discharges on Microbial and Contaminant Dynamics in Rivers |
| title_full | Evaluating the Ecological Impact of Wastewater Discharges on Microbial and Contaminant Dynamics in Rivers |
| title_fullStr | Evaluating the Ecological Impact of Wastewater Discharges on Microbial and Contaminant Dynamics in Rivers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluating the Ecological Impact of Wastewater Discharges on Microbial and Contaminant Dynamics in Rivers |
| title_short | Evaluating the Ecological Impact of Wastewater Discharges on Microbial and Contaminant Dynamics in Rivers |
| title_sort | evaluating the ecological impact of wastewater discharges on microbial and contaminant dynamics in rivers |
| topic | wastewater water treatment plant impact metagenomic contamination analysis microbial community dynamics antibiotic resistance genes |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/16/3/377 |
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