Deactivation of Caenorhabditis elegans nematodes in drinking water by PMS/UV-C: efficiency and mechanisms

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international Vol. 28; no. 41; pp. 58606 - 58616
• Main Authors: Chen, Taoqin, Li, Jinzhe, Xu, Longqian, Zhang, Dong, Wang, Zheng, Chen, Hongbin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-11-2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Apoptosis; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Caenorhabditis elegans; Chlorine; Deactivation; Disinfection; Drinking water; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental science; Invertebrates; Iron; Nematodes; Oxidative stress; Pest resistance; Research Article; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Water quality; Water tanks; Water treatment; Water treatment plants; Disinfection; mechanism; Chlorine-resistant invertebrates; Nematode deactivation
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-14312-8

The occurrence and infestations of chlorine-resistant invertebrates in drinking water distributions have attracted concerns on water quality in China, making effective deactivation imperative. This study presents a novel strategy for nematode (
Caenorhabditis elegans
) deactivation using peroxymonosulfate (PMS)/UV-C. The results indicated that 100% deactivation efficiency was obtained under optimal conditions. An acidic pH and 0.25 mg/L Fe(II) were beneficial to the PMS/UV-C-triggered deactivation of nematodes. A mechanism study demonstrated that
HSO
5
−
was activated by UV-C to produce
·
OH and
·
SO
4
−
, which resulted in oxidative stress and stimulated the occurrence of cell apoptosis, leading to nematode deactivation. The results reveal PMS/UV-C as an alternative to chlorination in water treatment plants (WTP) or an emergency application when chlorine-resistant invertebrates breed in a second-supply water tank is a promising strategy for disinfection. This approach possessed the advantages of avoiding the production of chlorine disinfection by-products (DBP) and greater efficacy of nematode deactivation. This work will provide ideas for on-going research efforts into chlorine-resistant invertebrate deactivation and eventually achieve the direct drinking of municipal tap water.