Oxygen-dependent dynamics of metformin biodegradation at the sediment-water interface and non-additive effects on prokaryotic communities - PubMed
19 days ago
- #Metformin
- #Biodegradation
- #Prokaryotic communities
- Metformin, an antidiabetic drug, is commonly found in aquatic environments due to incomplete removal during wastewater treatment.
- The study examined metformin degradation and its effects on prokaryotic communities under different oxygenation conditions in sediment-water interface microcosms.
- In autoclaved microcosms, metformin dissipated slowly without significant transformation products, regardless of oxygenation.
- Biotic microcosms showed metformin biodegradation within 13 days, with faster degradation under anoxic conditions.
- Guanylurea was the only detected transformation product, suggesting microbial use of metformin-derived compounds as carbon and nitrogen sources.
- Prokaryotic community composition was influenced by oxygenation conditions and repeated metformin exposure, with both additive and non-additive effects observed.
- Twenty-one bacterial taxonomic biomarkers of metformin exposure were identified, including methylotrophic taxa potentially utilizing metformin and its metabolites.
- Microbial activity was crucial for metformin dissipation, and oxygenation conditions modulated its effects on prokaryotic communities.
- The study highlights the importance of oxygenation and microbial responses in assessing pharmaceutical behavior and risks in dynamic aquatic environments.