Y. Levi - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Y. Levi

Research paper thumbnail of Modeling of hospital wastewater pollution by pharmaceuticals: first results of Mediflux study carried out in three French hospitals

Water Science & Technology, 2010

A study has been carried out in three French hospitals in order to assess and model the pharmaceu... more A study has been carried out in three French hospitals in order to assess and model the pharmaceutical load in hospital wastewater and its impact in WWTP. This study, called Mediflux, consisted of three successive steps: first, an original prioritization procedure developed in our laboratory enabled us to select a list of relevant molecules from different Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classes containing pharmaceuticals for specific hospital use such as anesthetics or antineoplastic agents and pharmaceuticals dispensed in the community. Then, analytical quantification procedures were developed and validated according to 2002/657/EC European directive. Sampling campaigns were performed in three different hospitals, two located in the Paris area and one in a medium-sized city 150 km from Paris. Sampling was also carried out in wastewater treatment plants. At the same time, in order to model the pharmaceutical loads from hospitals, predicted concentrations were calculated as a first approach assuming it would be a single-box model, i.e. hospitals have no effect on drug loads and only human metabolism is taken into account to evaluate the fraction of drugs eliminated in hospital effluent. In the last step, the comparison of measured and calculated concentrations showed a satisfactory correlation for some pharmaceuticals, mainly those with short elimination half-lifes and weak human metabolism. For others, it appeared that modeling should take into account various factors such as out patient use, pharmacokinetic data and molecule stability in wastewater.

Research paper thumbnail of Assessment of river contamination by estrogenic compounds in Paris area (France)

Science of The Total Environment, 2004

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) receive a large spectrum of endocrine disrupting compounds (E... more Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) receive a large spectrum of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) that are partially eliminated during treatment processes and discharged into rivers. Given the lack of information in France about river contamination by EDCs, we chose to examine estrogenic potential of WWTP influents, effluents and receiving waters in Paris and its suburbs. Water samples were analyzed using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry for quantifying natural and synthetic estrogens combined with an in vitro estrogenicity bioassay associated to a high pressure liquid chromatography fractionation. The four estrogens investigated, Estrone (E1), 17b-Estradiol (E2), Estriol (E3) and 17a-Ethinylestradiol (EE2) were found in all WWTP and river samples at concentrations ranging from 2.7 to 17.6 ngyl and 1.0 to 3.2 ngyl, respectively. The synthetic estrogen EE2 seems more resistant to biodegradation in WWTPs and thus accounted for 35-50% of the estimated estrogenic activity in rivers. However, fractionation of samples and differences between concentrations of E1, E2, E3 and EE2 and the estrogenic activity measured by the in vitro bioassay suggested a complexity of mechanisms underlying the biological response that could not be attributed only to the investigated molecules. ᮊ

Research paper thumbnail of In vitro assessment of thyroid and estrogenic endocrine disruptors in wastewater treatment plants, rivers and drinking water supplies in the greater Paris area (France)

Science of The Total Environment, 2009

The presence of estrogenomimetic compounds in the environment, and particularly in water resource... more The presence of estrogenomimetic compounds in the environment, and particularly in water resources, is well known. In contrast, little data is available about the disruption of the thyroid system, even though thyroid hormones are strongly involved in regulating metabolism, growth and development. The aim of this study was to carry out a parallel evaluation of the disruptions of thyroid and estrogenic hormone receptor transcriptional activities, induced by water samples from two wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), in the river Seine, and from four drinking treatment plants located in the Paris area. Two in vitro bioassays were used for the evaluation of thyroid (PC-DR-LUC) and estrogenic (MELN) disruption. Our observations of thyroidal activity show that a disruption potential was only present in the WWTPs influents, whereas estrogenicity was systematically detected in both influents and effluents. The great majority of endocrine activity was removed during the biological process. In the river Seine, only estrogenicity was detected, and no activity was observed in drinking water supplies. Fractionation of the influents revealed that most of the thyroidal effect was associated with compounds with low polarity, and could be partly attributable to 4-nonylphenol.

Research paper thumbnail of Monitoring genotoxicity during the photocatalytic degradation ofp-nitrophenol

Journal of Applied Toxicology, 2004

Research paper thumbnail of Variation of microcystin concentrations during an Aphazomenum flos-aquae bloom in the reservoir Saint-Caprais (France) and their removal in a pilot …

Research paper thumbnail of Innovative method for prioritizing emerging disinfection by-products (DBPs) in drinking water on the basis of their potential impact on public health

Water Research, 2010

A v a i l a b l e a t w w w . s c i e n c e d i r e c t . c o m j o u r n a l h o m e p a g e : w... more A v a i l a b l e a t w w w . s c i e n c e d i r e c t . c o m j o u r n a l h o m e p a g e : w w w . e l s e v i e r . c o m / l o c a t e / w a t r e s w a t e r r e s e a r c h 4 4 ( 2 0 1 0 ) 3 1 4 7 e3 1 6 5 0043-1354/$ e see front matter ª w a t e r r e s e a r c h 4 4 ( 2 0 1 0 ) 3 1 4 7 e3 1 6 5

Research paper thumbnail of Modeling of hospital wastewater pollution by pharmaceuticals: first results of Mediflux study carried out in three French hospitals

Water Science & Technology, 2010

A study has been carried out in three French hospitals in order to assess and model the pharmaceu... more A study has been carried out in three French hospitals in order to assess and model the pharmaceutical load in hospital wastewater and its impact in WWTP. This study, called Mediflux, consisted of three successive steps: first, an original prioritization procedure developed in our laboratory enabled us to select a list of relevant molecules from different Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classes containing pharmaceuticals for specific hospital use such as anesthetics or antineoplastic agents and pharmaceuticals dispensed in the community. Then, analytical quantification procedures were developed and validated according to 2002/657/EC European directive. Sampling campaigns were performed in three different hospitals, two located in the Paris area and one in a medium-sized city 150 km from Paris. Sampling was also carried out in wastewater treatment plants. At the same time, in order to model the pharmaceutical loads from hospitals, predicted concentrations were calculated as a first approach assuming it would be a single-box model, i.e. hospitals have no effect on drug loads and only human metabolism is taken into account to evaluate the fraction of drugs eliminated in hospital effluent. In the last step, the comparison of measured and calculated concentrations showed a satisfactory correlation for some pharmaceuticals, mainly those with short elimination half-lifes and weak human metabolism. For others, it appeared that modeling should take into account various factors such as out patient use, pharmacokinetic data and molecule stability in wastewater.

Research paper thumbnail of Assessment of river contamination by estrogenic compounds in Paris area (France)

Science of The Total Environment, 2004

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) receive a large spectrum of endocrine disrupting compounds (E... more Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) receive a large spectrum of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) that are partially eliminated during treatment processes and discharged into rivers. Given the lack of information in France about river contamination by EDCs, we chose to examine estrogenic potential of WWTP influents, effluents and receiving waters in Paris and its suburbs. Water samples were analyzed using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry for quantifying natural and synthetic estrogens combined with an in vitro estrogenicity bioassay associated to a high pressure liquid chromatography fractionation. The four estrogens investigated, Estrone (E1), 17b-Estradiol (E2), Estriol (E3) and 17a-Ethinylestradiol (EE2) were found in all WWTP and river samples at concentrations ranging from 2.7 to 17.6 ngyl and 1.0 to 3.2 ngyl, respectively. The synthetic estrogen EE2 seems more resistant to biodegradation in WWTPs and thus accounted for 35-50% of the estimated estrogenic activity in rivers. However, fractionation of samples and differences between concentrations of E1, E2, E3 and EE2 and the estrogenic activity measured by the in vitro bioassay suggested a complexity of mechanisms underlying the biological response that could not be attributed only to the investigated molecules. ᮊ

Research paper thumbnail of In vitro assessment of thyroid and estrogenic endocrine disruptors in wastewater treatment plants, rivers and drinking water supplies in the greater Paris area (France)

Science of The Total Environment, 2009

The presence of estrogenomimetic compounds in the environment, and particularly in water resource... more The presence of estrogenomimetic compounds in the environment, and particularly in water resources, is well known. In contrast, little data is available about the disruption of the thyroid system, even though thyroid hormones are strongly involved in regulating metabolism, growth and development. The aim of this study was to carry out a parallel evaluation of the disruptions of thyroid and estrogenic hormone receptor transcriptional activities, induced by water samples from two wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), in the river Seine, and from four drinking treatment plants located in the Paris area. Two in vitro bioassays were used for the evaluation of thyroid (PC-DR-LUC) and estrogenic (MELN) disruption. Our observations of thyroidal activity show that a disruption potential was only present in the WWTPs influents, whereas estrogenicity was systematically detected in both influents and effluents. The great majority of endocrine activity was removed during the biological process. In the river Seine, only estrogenicity was detected, and no activity was observed in drinking water supplies. Fractionation of the influents revealed that most of the thyroidal effect was associated with compounds with low polarity, and could be partly attributable to 4-nonylphenol.

Research paper thumbnail of Monitoring genotoxicity during the photocatalytic degradation ofp-nitrophenol

Journal of Applied Toxicology, 2004

Research paper thumbnail of Variation of microcystin concentrations during an Aphazomenum flos-aquae bloom in the reservoir Saint-Caprais (France) and their removal in a pilot …

Research paper thumbnail of Innovative method for prioritizing emerging disinfection by-products (DBPs) in drinking water on the basis of their potential impact on public health

Water Research, 2010

A v a i l a b l e a t w w w . s c i e n c e d i r e c t . c o m j o u r n a l h o m e p a g e : w... more A v a i l a b l e a t w w w . s c i e n c e d i r e c t . c o m j o u r n a l h o m e p a g e : w w w . e l s e v i e r . c o m / l o c a t e / w a t r e s w a t e r r e s e a r c h 4 4 ( 2 0 1 0 ) 3 1 4 7 e3 1 6 5 0043-1354/$ e see front matter ª w a t e r r e s e a r c h 4 4 ( 2 0 1 0 ) 3 1 4 7 e3 1 6 5