The influence of rainfall events on the toxicity of urban wastewaters to freshwater mussels Elliptio complanata

The cumulative impacts of rainfall frequency and intensity towards the ecotoxicity of urban pollution is gaining more and more attention in these times of climate change. The purpose of this study was to examine the ecotoxicological impacts of combined sewers overflows and municipal effluent discharge sites during 3 periods (years) of varying intensity precipitations to freshwater mussels Elliptio complanata. Mussels were placed in benthic cages for 3 months during the summer at 2 overflow discharge and 8 km downstream sites including an upstream site for three consecutive years with low (164 mm), medium (182 mm) and high (248 mm) amounts of rain. The results revealed that the effects were mainly influenced by suspended matter loadings and to the dissolved components to a lesser extent. Impacts at the downstream and overflow sites were noticeable at the reproduction (vitellogenin), genotoxicity, neurotoxicity (dopamine and serotonin changes) levels in addition to xenobiotic biotransformation revealed by glutathione S-transferase activity and metallothioneins for organic and heavy metals respectively. The site downstream the effluent produced most of the effects compared to the overflow sites in the Saint-Lawrence River. However, the impacts of combined sewers overflows could become problematic in low dilution systems such as small river and lakes. [Display omitted] •Rainfall events release suspended matter at combined sewer overflows.•Treated municipal effluents have more impacts that combine sewer overflows.•Reproductive (vitellogenin), genotoxic and neurotoxic effects were the preponderant effects.