Atrazine (ATZ), carbamazepine (CBZ), and sulfamethoxazole (SMX) are frequently detected in municipal wastewater and surface runoff/leachate in areas where reclaimed water is used for irrigation. Little is known about the eco-toxicological effects of these contaminants of emerging concern (CECs). Previous work at the mesocosm scale found that trace residues of these chemicals were effectively removed by <i>Canna Hybrida</i> L. ‘Yellow King Humbert’ (Common name: Canna). The present study was conducted to investigate uptake, translocation, and metabolism characteristics of the CEC residues in canna plants. Time-dependent mass transfer between solution and plants was tracked using radioisotope-labeled (carbon-14) analogues of each chemical added at environmentally-relevant concentrations. The distribution of chemical residues in canna plants was visualized on radiographic X-ray film, and the production of metabolites in the water−plant uptake system was confirmed by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) analysis. After 14 d of plant growth, radioactivity values of all CECs in the tested solution decreased to &lt; 50%. Most of reduced radioactivity was found in plant tissues, although there were unknown losses of &lt; 10%, which might occur by leaf transpiration and/or errors in analytical processes. The largest proportions of chemicals taken up into plants were present in the roots. Proportions in the shoots increased with hydrophobicity of the chemicals. Radiographic images visualized where the absorbed CEC residues were distributed inside the plants, and results of TLC analysis showed the presence of metabolites produced by interactions between plants and chemicals. Overall findings in this study could provide crucial information to understand the fate of organic contaminants in water−plant systems.

Uptake, translocation, and metabolism of trace organic contaminants in water−plant

2019 Fall National Meeting

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