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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Pierce, Florida » U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory » Citrus and Other Subtropical Products Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #384938
Research Project: Integrated Strategies for Managing Pests and Nutrients in Vegetable and Ornamental Production Systems

Location: Citrus and Other Subtropical Products Research

Title: Enhanced dissipation of trace level organic contaminants by floating treatment wetlands established with two macrophyte species: A mesocosm study

Author
item HWANG, JEONG-IN - University Of Florida
item HINZ ORDONEZ, FRANCISCA - University Of Florida
item Albano, Joseph
item WILSON, PATRICK - University Of Florida

Submitted to: Chemosphere
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/29/2020
Publication Date: 12/1/2020
Citation: Hwang, J., Hinz Ordonez, F., Albano, J.P., Wilson, P.C. 2020. Enhanced dissipation of trace level organic contaminants by floating treatment wetlands established with two macrophyte species: A mesocosm study. Chemosphere. 267, p.129-159.. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.129159.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.129159

Interpretive Summary: This study evaluated removal efficiencies of six contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in floating treatment wetland (FTW) mesocosms established with either Japanese Sweetflag (Acorus gramineus Sol. ex Aiton) or canna lilies (Canna Hybrida L. ‘Orange King Humbert’). Dissipation of CECs was greater in planted treatments than in non-planted controls, and the planting number had little effect on dissipation of CECs. At the end of the experiment, residues of some contaminants completely dissipated in the canna treatments, but not in the sweetflag treatments . Aqueous persistency of CECs and species of plants used influenced the dissipation of CECs in FTWs. Of the two species evaluated, canna was the most promising plant species for FTW systems designed to remove these CECs from surface water.

Technical Abstract: This study evaluated removal efficiencies of six contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in floating treatment wetland (FTW) mesocosms established with either Japanese Sweetflag (Acorus gramineus Sol. ex Aiton) or canna lilies (Canna Hybrida L. ‘Orange King Humbert’). The CECs included: acetaminophen (APAP), atrazine (ATZ), carbamazepine (CBZ), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), sulfamethoxazole (SMX), and 17b-estradiol (E2). Each treatment was planted with different numbers of plants (i.e., 0, 10, 15, and 20), and the experiments lasted for 17 weeks. Dissipation of CECs was greater in planted treatments than in non-planted controls, and the planting number had little effect on dissipation of CECs. All residues of APAP and E2 dissipated rapidly within 2 weeks in all planted treatments. At the end of the experiment, residues of ATZ and SMX completely dissipated in the canna treatments, but not in the sweetflag treatments (75.8e87.6% and 96.3e97.1%, respectively). During the 17 week study, moderate dissipation of CBZ was observed in treatments including cannas (79.5e82.6%) and sweetflag (69.4e82.3%), while less dissipation was observed for PFOA (9.0e15.0% with sweetflag and 58.4e62.3% with cannas). Principal component analysis indicates that aqueous persistency of CECs and species of plants used influenced the dissipation of CECs in FTWs. Of the two species evaluated, canna was the most promising plant species for FTW systems designed to remove these CECs from surface water.