Uptake and translocation of pharmaceutically active compounds by olive tree (Olea europaea L.) irrigated with treated municipal wastewater

• DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1382595
• Publication Date: 2024-05-02T04:25:46Z
• Authors: Alba N. Mininni; Angela Pietrafesa; Maria Calabritto; Roberto Di Biase; Gennaro Brunetti; Francesco De Mastro; Sapia Murgolo; Cristina De Ceglie; Carlo Salerno; Bartolomeo Dichio
• Keywords: Olea; Olive trees

Introduction The use of treated municipal wastewater (TWW) represents a relevant opportunity for irrigation agricultural crops in semi-arid regions to counter the increasing water scarcity. Pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) are often detected wastewater, posing risk humans and environment. PhACs can accumulate soils translocate into different plant tissues, reaching, some cases, edible organs entering food chain. Methods This study evaluated uptake translocation processes 10 by olive trees irrigated with TWW, investigating their accumulation organs. experiment was conducted southern Italy, 2-year-old plants three types water: freshwater (FW), TWW spiked at concentration 200 µg L −1 (1× TWW), triple dose (3× from July October 2021. soil assessed, collecting samples root, stem, shoot, leaf, fruit, kernel 0 (T0), 50 (T1), 107 (T2) days irrigation. extraction carried out using QuEChERS method, concentrations were determined high-resolution mass spectrometry coupled liquid chromatography. Results factors (UF) showed behavior between according physicochemical properties, highlighting (also part) 1× 3× compared FW. Two PhACs, carbamazepine fluconazole, interactions soil–plant system, translocating also aerial part plant, factor (TF) greater than 1, which indicates high root-to-leaf translocation. Discussion Findings highlight that only few among selected be uptaken woody accumulated parts low concentration. No effects exposure on growth have been detected. Despite attention paid organs, these results promising adapting crops. Increasing knowledge about important developing optimized management strategies reduce plants.