Bacteria convert wastewater chemicals into toxic form
Interactions with bacteria during water treatment could transform traces of pharmaceutical compounds commonly present in wastewater from non-toxic to toxic forms, a new study suggests.
Some drugs can occur in two forms, known as enantiomers. UNSW researchers monitored three common pharmaceuticals during wastewater treatment. These included the anti-inflammatory drug naproxen, which is manufactured and dispensed as a single enantiomer, known as S-naproxen.
Its counterpart, R-naproxen, is known to be highly toxic to the liver and is not publicly available. Through the treatment process, researchers observed that some of the safe version of naproxen had been converted to the unsafe form, which could have negative environmental implications.
It is the first time that enantiomeric inversion during the wastewater treatment process has been reported.
Dr Stuart Khan, Water Research Centre, UNSW
http://newsroom.unsw.edu.au/news/science-technology/bacteria-convert-wastewater-chemicals-toxic-form
