Polar drug residues in sewage and natural waters in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The drug residues of lipid regulators, anti-inflammatories and some drug metabolites have been detected in raw sewage, treated waste water and river water in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. These residues are mainly derived from humans via excretion. The median concentrations in the effluents of sewage treatment plants (STPs) of most drugs investigated in this study ranged from 0.1 to 1 microgram/l. The removal rates of individual drugs during passage through a Brazilian STP varied from 12 to 90%. As a consequence of the incomplete removal of these residues during passage through a STP, rivers were also found to be contaminated. Median concentrations ranged from between 0.02 and 0.04 m…

Application of stable isotopes and AF4/ICP-SFMS for simultaneous tracing and quantification of iron oxide nanoparticles in a sediment–slurry matrix

One major challenge in nanomaterial analysis, especially in complex environmental matrices, is the unambiguous differentiation between natural and engineered nanomaterials (ENMs). Particularly with regard to the investigation of ENM's/engineered nanoparticle's (ENPs) fate, analytical methods are needed allowing for tracing and sensitive quantification. Several ENPs are metal-based and contain elements being omnipresent in environmental matrices (e.g., Al, Ti, Zn, Fe and non-metal Si) – hence, high background levels of these elements are expected, compromising sensitive detection. In this work we developed successfully a combined approach of stable isotope labeling (tracing) and reverse post…

Occurrence of antibiotics in the aquatic environment

The recent monitoring of drug residues in the aquatic environment has gained much interest as many pharmaceutical compounds can frequently be found in sewage treatment plant (STP) effluents and river water at concentrations up to several microgram/l. This article describes the analysis of various water samples for 18 antibiotic substances, from the classes of macrolid antibiotics, sulfonamides, penicillins and tetracyclines. Samples were preconcentrated via lyophilization and quantified using HPLC-electrospray-tandem-mass spectrometry. The investigated STP effluents and surface water samples showed frequent appearance of an erythromycin degradation product, roxithromycin and sulfamethoxazol…

Characterization and source identification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in river bank soils.

Elevated PAH concentrations were detected in bank soils along the Mosel and Saar Rivers in Germany. Information on the identification of PAH sources in this area however remains unclear. This study was able to characterize the PAH sources by application of several approaches, including consideration of the distribution patterns of 45 PAHs (including 16 EPA PAHs and some alkyl PAHs), specific PAH ratios, distribution patterns of n-alkanes and principal component analysis (PCA). In addition, the efficiency of the tested approaches was assessed. The results from the application of the various source identification methods showed that pyrogenic PAHs dominate soil samples collected upstream of t…

The German Water Chemical Society: Actual Trends and Fields of Research in the Principle Committee “Basic Research”Representing the principle committee “Basic Research” of the German Water Chemical Society — Division of the German Chemical Society.