Novel organic pollutants from recycling of organic waste as risk factors for human exposure

Novelpol-feltstudien ble avsluttet i 2021. I tillegg ble flere eksperimentelle lab-baserte studier gjennomført. Dette inkluderer kompostering av menneskelig avføring, soppvekst-tester på biogass-nedbrytninger og testing av jordens aggregat stabilitet. I tillegg til tidligere analyser av norske biogass-avfall for legemiddelrester (Ali et al, 2019), ble biogas-avfall fra 12 biogassproduksjonsanlegg analysert for utvalgte perfluoralkylstoffer (PFAS) og persistente organiske miljøgifter (POP). Toksisitetstesting av biogass-avfall ble avsluttet i 2021. Zebra-fisk-baserte toksikologiske effekter ble målt og sammenlignet. Dette inkluderte tidlig larveutvikling og genuttrykk. In-vitro toksisitetstesting ble gjort på utvalgte benzotriazoler som ble funnet som All toksikologisk informasjon og nivåinformasjon viktige forurensinger i biogasrest. Resultatene ble brukt for oppdatert risikomodellering ved bruk av QSAR/ADME-modellering. En ny kvantitativ metode for bestemmelse av benzotrazoler i human overvåking (urin) ble brukt for en nylig kohortstudie i Tsjekkia. All resultatene fra NovelPol-forskningen er beskrevet i en omfattende sluttrapport.

The NovelPol team looked into the levels and fate of organic pollutants in biogas digestates. The list of chemicals identified includes selected pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and persistent organic pollutants (POPs). For some chemicals, uptake in cereals and mushrooms are reported. Toxicological follow-up studies revealed hazardous effects in Zebrafish experiments and bioassays. Indication of compounds and substraterelated effects were established. Based upon our results, we are, therefore,recommending to 1. establish further investigations of relevant pollutant fate in digestate used for soil amendment 2. implement toxicological testing of biogas digestates. 3. extend the research with comprehensive target suspect screening for the identification of hitherto unknown pollutants. 4. establish sustainable regulation frames allowing the safe application of digestates in agricultural applications.

The NovelPol project application details the scientific evaluation and characterisation of sources, dispersion and exposure processes for novel organic pollutants including contaminants of emerging concern (CEM) of different organic wastes originating from, e.g., households, food industry, agriculture, fishery and sewage treatment. This information is of vital importance in order to prevent unwanted dispersion of contaminants. An important part of this project will therefore also be the close interaction with relevant industry to implement routines to prevent dispersion. Common for the original biological material that results in organic residues is the exposure to a large number of chemicals, including pharmaceuticals for human and veterinary use, personal care products, hygiene products, product stabilisers, industrial chemicals (incl. flame retardants, plasticisers, dyes), and many more. Many of these substances are directly in contact or even introduced into the target organisms and the majority is again excreted with the feces/ urine. The majority of such organic waste products is used in agriculture, usually after no (manure) or some treatment (sewage sludge, biogas digestates, composts), as soil amendment and fertiliser. However, the risk of potential human exposure due to up-concentration of environmental stable contaminants (not degraded during various treatment processes) in agricultural products is largely unknown and needs thorough scientific assessment. Therefore, the here proposed NovelPol initiative will evaluate different product lines for organic residues applied to agricultural land in Norway and perform a first life cycle assessment (LCA) for these products with focus on origin, transformation and fate of anthropogenic organic pollutants for these products. The here represented research team will communicate closely with relevant producers in order to provide information for product improvement and development more sustainable production lines.