Journal article
Bioaccessibility and Transformation of Conjugated Benzotriazole Phytometabolites during In Vitro Digestion: Implications for Exposure from Recycled Irrigation Water
Environmental science & technology, Vol.59(47), pp.25429-25441
12/02/2025
DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5c10545
PMCID: PMC12676741
PMID: 41252309
Appears in UI Libraries Support Open Access
Abstract
Recycled water for agricultural irrigation helps to address freshwater scarcity but can contain trace levels of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), which pose potential human exposure risks. Traditional risk assessments, focused primarily on the parent compound, overlook CECs as conjugated phytometabolites. The objective of this study was to determine the bioaccesibility and transformation of conjugated phytometabolites of benzotriazole, a prevalent micropollutant that serves as a model contaminant.
seedlings, a model Brassica plant that can be representative of other plants, including food crops, were grown hydroponically and then exposed to benzotriazole to facilitate benzotriazole uptake and phytotransformation. Plant tissues containing benzotriazole phytometabolites underwent in vitro digestion, simulating stages of human digestion (mouth, stomach, intestine). Three known phytometabolites of benzotriazole were quantified through digestion stages, and
C-benzotriazole tracked mass balances. Plant-accumulated
C-benzotriazole was bioaccessible with only 7% remaining in the plant tissue following in vitro digestion. The plant-accumulated mass of the individual benzotriazole phytometabolites was 2.2-3.5-fold and 4-8 times lower after gastric and intestine phases, respectively, in digested compared to nondigested plants. Gastric and intestinal phases drive bioaccessibility. High resolution mass spectrometry analysis revealed 10 novel digestion phase transformation products with distinct differences in predicted pharmacokinetic and toxicity compared to the benzotriazole phytometabolites. This study enhances understanding of bioaccessibility and transformation of CEC phytometabolites with implications for recycled water.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Bioaccessibility and Transformation of Conjugated Benzotriazole Phytometabolites during In Vitro Digestion: Implications for Exposure from Recycled Irrigation Water
- Creators
- Sraboni Chowdhury - University of IowaGregory H LeFevre - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Environmental science & technology, Vol.59(47), pp.25429-25441
- DOI
- 10.1021/acs.est.5c10545
- PMID
- 41252309
- PMCID
- PMC12676741
- NLM abbreviation
- Environ Sci Technol
- ISSN
- 0013-936X
- eISSN
- 1520-5851
- Publisher
- American Chemical Society
- Grant note
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences: P30 ES005605 University of Iowa: NA National Institute of Food and Agriculture: 2021-67019-33680
This work was supported by USDA NIFA (2021-67019-33680). S.C. was additionally supported by the University of Iowa Graduate College Post-Comprehensive Fellowship, and the University of Iowa Neil B. Fisher Environmental Engineering Fellowship. G.H.L. acknowledges the support of the Environmental Health Sciences Research Center (P30 ES005605) for providing a collaborative research environment. The authors thank Lynn Teesch and Vic Parcell of the University of Iowa High Resolution Mass Spectrometry Facility. We thank Brian Westra, Data Services Librarian at the University of Iowa Libraries, for help in the data deposit. We thank Christopher Knutson of the UIowa Environmental Engineering labs for assistance with radiolabeled compounds.
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 11/18/2025
- Date published
- 12/02/2025
- Academic Unit
- Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Record Identifier
- 9985033762002771
Metrics
25 Record Views