Pharmaceuticals in water and sediment of small streams under the pressure of urbanization: Concentrations, interactions, and risks

Identification of spatiotemporal behavior of organic micropollutants in an agricultural and urban lowland river catchment

Mixed land-use, medium-sized lowland rivers are subject to contamination by various input pathways for organic micropollutants. This study provides a unique long-term (2016-2020) and high-resolution investigation of the Münstersche Aa River (Northwestern Germany) focusing on the thorough characterization of input pathways for pesticides, biocides and pharmaceuticals in the catchment with heterogeneous land-use (62 % agricultural and 26 % urbanized). 468 samples were collected using two automated high-frequency samplers and five catchment-wide sampling campaigns providing a comprehensive data set. While the input of pesticides is the major stressor in the agriculturally dominated upper catchment, input of treated wastewater is dominating the water chemistry of the lower catchment, especially during summer low flows (up to 100 % wastewater fraction). Detected pharmaceuticals in the catchment include carbamazepine, diclofenac, metoprolol, phenazone and sulfamethoxazole. Moreover, caffeine as an indicator substance suggests input through non-conventionally treated wastewater. The pesticides chlortoluron (winter) as well as terbuthylazine and 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (MCPA) (summer), occur related to their respective application time. Moreover, a belated, accumulated input of terbuthylazine was observed in winter 2019/2020 after an extremely dry period from 2018 to 2019. Urban runoff adds further pesticides such as mecoprop-P while tebuconazole input from both agricultural and urban land-use was identified. Even though detected concentrations are below thresholds for acute toxicity, mixture toxicity could pose risks in the Münstersche Aa. Ongoing climate change is expected to intensify these seasonal patterns in the catchment. Lake Aasee may however function as a sink for OMPs through degradation processes especially during low-flow conditions. This study enhances the understanding of river pollution dynamics in small, mixed land-use catchments and aids targeting the goals of the Water Framework Directive for the Münstersche Aa and other lowland streams with comparable land use.

Actively forming microbial mats provide insight into the development of microdigitate stromatolites

Stromatolites can be traced back to ∼3.5 billion years. They were widespread in the shorelines of ancient oceans and seas. However, they are uncommon nowadays, and basic information is lacking about how these unique carbonate structures developed. Here we study the unusually thick (3-5 cm) biofilms of the 79.2 °C outflow from Köröm thermal well (Hungary) and demonstrate that its microbial mat - carbonate architecture is similar to fossilized microdigitate stromatolites. Our observations reveal vertically oriented fibrous mineral fabrics, typical of stromatolites, in the red biofilm and clotted mesostructures, typical of thrombolites, in the green biofilm. These layers contain carbonate peloids and show network structures, formed by filamentous microbes. The 16S rRNA gene-based amplicon sequencing implies that numerous undescribed taxa may contribute to the carbonate mineralisation. The biofilms abundantly contain the phyla Bacteroidota, Pseudomonadota and Cyanobacteria. Geitlerinema PCC-8501 and Raineya are characteristic for the green biofilm, whereas uncultured Oxyphotobacteria, unc. Saprospiraceae and unc. Cytophagales are abundant in the red biofilm. A hydrogen-oxidizing Hydrogenobacter within the phylum Aquificota and unclassified Bacteria together with the phylum Deinococcota dominate the water and carbonate samples. The morphological structure and taxonomic composition of Köröm biofilm is a unique representation of the development processes of microbialite formations.

Distribution of pharmaceuticals in marine surface sediment and macroalgae (ulvophyceae) around Mombasa peri-urban creeks and Gazi Bay, Kenya

Pollution in marine creeks has been increasing due to anthropogenic activities and has been a global concern. Limited research has been conducted on pharmaceuticals in marine sediment and macroalgae in African countries. In the present study, the levels of pharmaceuticals were assessed in surface sediment and different species of macroalgae (ulvophyceae; Cladophora sudanensis, Chaetomorpha crassa, Chaetomorpha indica, Enteromorpha kylinii, Ulva reticulate, Ulva lactuca and Cladophora sibugae) in Mombasa peri-urban creeks (Tudor, Makupa and Mtwapa creek) and Gazi bay during dry and wet seasons. The concentration of pharmaceuticals in the surface sediment during dry and wet seasons ranged between 0.04-686.8 ng/g and 0.01-2580.6 ng/g, respectively. The highest concentration of pharmaceuticals was observed in Tudor creek in dry and wet seasons, with a sum concentration of ∑1013 ng/g and ∑3111 ng/g, respectively. Gazi Bay was used as a reference environment for this study, and pharmaceuticals were detected in dry and wet seasons with a concentration of 0.10-686.8 ng/g and 0.18-93.5 ng/g, respectively. There was no seasonal variation in the pharmaceutical concentration during the dry and wet seasons. For macroalgae of ulvophyceae species, pharmaceutical concentration ranged below the detection limit (DL)-11059 ng/g. Compared to surface sediment, macroalgae showed a high concentration of pharmaceuticals in Tudor, Makupa and Mtwapa creeks. Tetracycline was higher in sediment and macroalgae in all the creeks than other pharmaceutical compounds. A high concentration of pharmaceuticals confirms sewage effluent into the marine environment of Mombasa peri-urban creek. Pharmaceuticals (acetaminophen, sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim, carbamazepine and nevirapine) in sediment posed a medium (- 1 < Log10 RQ < 0) to higher risk (Log10 RQ > 0) to algae, invertebrates and fish in the dry and wet seasons. There is a need to sensitise the residents of coastal cities on the impact of sewage effluent into the marine environment and enact strict measures to limit the discharge of sewage effluents containing these contaminants into the marine environment. Nevertheless, it is recommended to conduct further research on the distribution of pharmaceuticals in the marine environment and the long-term combined impacts of these substances of these compounds on marine biota.

Occurrence and environmental fate of anti-influenza drugs in a subcatchment of the Yodo River Basin, Japan

Understanding the current situation and risk of environmental contamination by anti-influenza drugs in aquatic environments is key to prevent the unexpected emergence and spread of drug-resistant viruses. However, few reports have been focused on newer drugs that have recently been introduced in clinical settings. In this study, the behaviour of the prodrug baloxavir marboxil (BALM)-the active ingredient of Xofluza, an increasingly popular anti-influenza drug-and its pharmacologically active metabolite baloxavir (BAL) in the aquatic environment was evaluated. Additionally, their presence in urban rivers and a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in the Yodo River basin was investigated and compared with those of the major anti-influenza drugs used to date (favipiravir (FAV), peramivir (PER), laninamivir (LAN), and its active metabolite, laninamivir octanoate (LANO), oseltamivir (OSE), and its active metabolite, oseltamivir carboxylate (OSEC), and zanamivir (ZAN)) to comprehensively assess their environmental fate in the aquatic environment. The results clearly showed that BALM, FAV, and BAL were rapidly degraded through photolysis (2-h, 0.6-h, and 0.4-h half-lives, respectively), followed by LAN, which was gradually biodegraded (7-h half-life). In addition, BALM and BAL decreased by up to 47 % after 4 days and 34 % after 2 days of biodegradation in river water. However, the remaining conventional drugs, except for LANO (<1 % after 10 days), were persistent, being transported from the upstream to downstream sites. The LogKd values for the rates of sorption of BALM (0.5-1.6) and BAL (1.8-3.1) on river sediment were higher than those of conventional drugs (-0.5 to 1.7). Notably, all anti-influenza drugs were effectively removed by ozonation (>90-99.9 % removal) after biological treatment at a WWTP. Thus, these findings suggest the importance of introducing ozonation to reduce pollution loads in rivers and the environmental risks associated with drug-resistant viruses in aquatic environments, thereby promoting safe river environments.

Assessment of extracellular polymeric substances production and antioxidant defences in periphytic communities exposed to effluent contaminants

Periphyton is frequently used in the evaluation of the ecological status of aquatic ecosystems using diatoms as a proxy. However, periphyton has a particularity, the production of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), which might play a protective role against exposure to harmful environmental contaminants. Effluents originating in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) constitute some of the most complex mixtures of contaminants, to which aquatic ecosystems are frequently exposed, often containing tens to hundreds of different chemicals. In such challenging scenarios, a putative protective role of EPS may obscure the bioindicator value of diatoms. To address this problem, we sampled periphyton upstream and downstream of the effluent outfall from three different WWTPs, quantifying EPS production and simultaneously evaluating general stress responses in the community (protein and sugar content, photosynthetic pigments, antioxidant enzyme activity and oxidative damage). By combining these endpoints with a characterization of the sediments of the riverine systems receiving the effluents made in a previous study (metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, pharmaceuticals and personal care products), we aimed to elucidate whether effluent contaminants trigger negative effects, which may be mitigated by EPS layers protecting the communities. Our results indicated that under a comparatively milder contamination burden, EPS production is enhanced in samples collected downstream of the effluent outfall; under a higher contamination burden, EPS production is hampered. Stress-coping mechanisms were activated by environmental contaminants, including the antioxidant defense, particularly through catalase and superoxide dismutase activity. The findings support the generally assumed protective effect of EPS, but also suggest that EPS production depends on the contamination burden and that protective effects should be in place under specific scenarios of, for example, relatively low contamination levels. Overall, the integrative approach used in this study contributes to a better understanding of the complex interplay of interactions between effluent-driven contamination and thriving periphytic communities inhabiting recipient waterways, including evolved protection mechanisms.

Investigating the presence, distribution and risk of pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) in wastewater treatment plants, river sediments and fish

The increasing consumption of medicines and the lack of efficient technologies in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) can release pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) into any given river with the subsequent risk to the environment and human health. To assess the occurrence and transfer pathways of PhACs through the river ecosystem, 22 PhACs and one metabolite were analyzed in WWTPs, river sediments and fish collected alongside the Tagus River basin between 2020 and 2022. All the matrices presented at least two drugs being azithromycin the only one quantified in all of them. Analgesics, anti-inflammatories, antihypertensives, antidepressants and beta-blockers were the main PhACs in influents, with median concentrations up to 19 μg/L. In effluents, antihypertensives and antidepressants were the PhACs with the highest contribution. For acetaminophen, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, naproxen, atorvastatin, azithromycin, clarithromycin, sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim, and valsartan WWTPs treatments reached removal efficiencies above 75%. Compounds with a high tendency to bind to organic matter were retained in sludge (clotrimazole, 96 ng/g before digester, 100%). However, results showed that applied treatments were not effective in removing PhACs from this matrix. Although the total mass balance revealed a high removal rate of some PhACs, many of them were still present in the effluent and their release into rivers became the main source of PhAC pollution of the aquatic ecosystem. The most hydrophobic ones (irbesartan, 24 ng/g, 61%), positively charged (o-desmethylvenlafaxine, 95 ng/g, 68%) and those with affinity to organic matter (clotrimazole, 21 ng/g, 61%) reached sediment samples. Only clotrimazole (7.8 ng/g) and azithromycin (160 ng/g) were found in fish samples. Risk assessment revealed a high risk for (i) acetaminophen, clarithromycin, erythromycin A, and venlafaxine in phototrophic organisms and (ii) acetaminophen and venlafaxine in fish.

Effects of acetaminophen exposure on behavior and erythrocyte nuclear morphology of juvenile Oreochromis niloticus

The occurrence of pharmaceuticals in the environment can have undesirable effects on nontarget animals, including fish. The present experiment assessed the effects of subchronic exposure to waterborne acetaminophen (N-acetyl-p-aminophenol) (APAP) on selected behavioral aspects (physical avoidance response, ventilation rate, and food detection rate) and erythrocyte nuclear abnormality (ENA) in juvenile Oreochromis niloticus. Two groups of fish were exposed to APAP dissolved in aged municipal water (T1: 2 mg/L and T2: 10 mg/L) for 8 weeks in three replicates (n = 7 fish per tank), alongside a control group (C) without APAP. APAP-exposed fish spent significantly (p < .05) longer time to detect food (T1: 32.6 ± 4.55 s and T2: 39.6 ± 4.66 s) compared to the control group (19.9 ± 2.46 s). Both APAP-exposed groups exhibited attenuated physical avoidance responses (76.7%, 68.7%, and 87.3% in T1, T2, and C, respectively) and a lower mean ventilation rate compared to the control group (194.5 ± 15.5, 179.1 ± 11.6, and 233.2 ± 19.0 per min in T1, T2, and C, respectively). The frequency occurrence of ENA types such as bi-nucleated, notched nuclei, lobed nuclei, and blebbed nuclei (except micronuclei) was significantly higher (p < .05) in APAP-exposed groups compared to the control, with more pronounced effects in the T2 group. The study concludes that APAP exposure prompts significant alterations in behavior and erythrocyte nuclear morphology, emphasizing the value of monitoring and regulating the entry of pharmaceuticals, including APAP, into aquatic environments to prevent unintended effects on non-target organisms like Oreochromis niloticus.

Ubiquity and ecological risks of conjugated steroids cannot be overlooked: First evidence from estuarine sediments

Steroids, renowned for endocrine-disrupting capabilities, have garnered significant research interest, predominantly centered on their parent forms. This study was the first to explore the composition, spatiotemporal characteristics, sources, mass inventories, and ecological risks of steroids in free and conjugated forms in estuarine sediments. Seventeen steroids were identified in sediments with the total levels of 1.3-4.3 ng/g. Most natural steroids and metabolites existed in free forms, while synthetic ones predominantly stored in conjugates. Environmental factors exerted limited impacts on steroid distribution. Raw domestic wastewater, drug consumption, and mariculture may be leading steroid sources in estuarine sediments, with total mean mass inventories of 177-219 μg/m2. The predominant contributors to the ecological risk were cortisol, prednisolone, 20α-dihydroprogesterone, 20β-dihydroprogesterone, and progesterone. This research gives the first insight into the understanding of conjugated steroids in the marine environment, and advocates for more studies on the fate and ecotoxicology of conjugated steroids.

Identifying pathways of pharmaceutical exposure in a mesoconsumer marine fish

Pharmaceutical uptake involves processes that vary across aquatic systems and biota. However, single studies examining multiple environmental compartments, microhabitats, biota, and exposure pathways in mesoconsumer fish are sparse. We investigated the pharmaceutical burden in bonefish (Albula vulpes), pathways of exposure, and estimated exposure to a human daily dose. To evaluate exposure pathways, the number and composition of pharmaceuticals across compartments and the bioconcentration in prey and bonefish were assessed. To evaluate bioaccumulation, we proposed the use of a field-derived bioaccumulation factor (fBAF), due to variability inherent to natural systems. Exposure to a human daily dose was based on bonefish daily energetic requirements and consumption rates using pharmaceutical concentrations in prey. Pharmaceutical number and concentration were highest in prey, followed by bonefish, water and sediment. Fifteen pharmaceuticals were detected in common among bonefish, prey, and water; all of which bioconcentrated in prey and bonefish, and four bioaccumulated in bonefish. The composition of detected pharmaceuticals was compartment specific, and prey were most similar to bonefish. Bonefish were exposed to a maximum of 1.2 % of a human daily dose via prey consumption. Results highlight the need for multicompartment assessments of exposure and consideration of prey along with water as a pathway of exposure.

The effect of warming and seasonality on bioaccumulation of selected pharmaceuticals in freshwater invertebrates

Multiple human-induced environmental stressors significantly threaten global biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Climate warming and chemical pollution are two widespread stressors whose impact on freshwaters is likely to increase. However, little is known about the combined effects of warming on the bioaccumulation of environmentally relevant mixtures of emerging contaminants, such as pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) in freshwater biota. This study investigated the bioaccumulation of a mixture of 15 selected PhACs at environmentally relevant concentrations in common freshwater macroinvertebrate taxa, exposed to ambient temperatures and warming (+4 °C) during the warm and cold seasons in two outdoor mesocosm experiments. Nine PhACs (carbamazepine, cetirizine, clarithromycin, clindamycin, fexofenadine, telmisartan, trimethoprim, valsartan and venlafaxine) were dissipated faster in the warm season experiment than in the cold season experiment, while lamotrigine showed the opposite trend. The most bioaccumulated PhACs in macroinvertebrates were tramadol, carbamazepine, telmisartan, venlafaxine, citalopram and cetirizine. The bioaccumulation was taxon, season and temperature dependent, but differences could not be fully explained by the different water stability of the PhACs and their partitioning between water and leaf litter. The highest water-based bioaccumulation factors were found in Asellus and Planorbarius. Moreover, the bioaccumulation of some PhACs increased with warming in Planorbarius, suggesting that it could be used as a sentinel taxon in environmental studies of the effects of climate warming on PhAC bioaccumulation.

Multiresidue determination and predicted risk assessment of emerging contaminants in sediments from Kongsfjorden, Svalbard

The present work provides the first data on the occurrence of different classes of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in surface marine sediments from an Arctic fjord (Kongsfjorden, Svalbard Islands, Norway). The target compounds included: ciprofloxacin; enrofloxacin; amoxicillin; erythromycin; sulfamethoxazole; carbamazepine; diclofenac; ibuprofen; acetylsalicylic acid; paracetamol; caffeine; triclosan; N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide; 17β-estradiol; 17α-ethinyl estradiol and estrone. Sampling was performed in the late summer, when high sedimentation rates occur, and over 5 years (2018-2022). Based on the environmental concentrations (MECs) found of emerging contaminants and the relative predicted no-effect concentrations (PNECs), an environmental risk assessment (ERA) for sediments was performed, including the estimation of the Risk Quotients (RQs) of selection and propagation of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in this Arctic marine ecosystem. Sediments were extracted by Pressurized Liquid Extraction (PLE) and the extracts were purified by Solid Phase Extraction (SPE). Analytical determination was conducted with liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (HPLC-HRMS). PPCPs were detected in the sediments along the fjord in all the years investigated, with overall concentrations similar in most cases to those reported in urbanized areas of the planet and ranging from a minimum of 6.85 ng/g for triclosan to a maximum of 684.5 ng/g for ciprofloxacin. This latter was the only antibiotic detected but was the most abundant compound (32 %) followed by antipyretics (16 %), hormones (14 %), anti-inflammatories (13 %), insect repellents (11 %), stimulants (9 %), and disinfectants (5 %). Highest concentrations of all PPCPs detected were found close to the Ny-Ålesund research village, where human activities and the lack of appropriate wastewater treatment technologies were recognized as primary causes of local contamination. Finally, due to the presence in the sediments of the PPCPs investigated, the ERA highlights a medium (0.1 < RQ < 1) to high risk (RQ > 1) for organisms living in this Arctic marine ecosystem, including high risk of the spread of AMR.

Removal of emergent pollutants: A review on recent updates and future perspectives on polysaccharide-based composites vis-à-vis traditional adsorbents

There is a growing incidence in the presence of emergent pollutants like the pesticides and pharmaceuticals in water bodies. The matter of environmental concern is their synthetic and persistent nature which has resulted in induced toxicity/damaging effect to the vital functioning of the different organs in the aquatic community. Traditional adsorbents have exhibited limitations like low stability and minimum reuse ability. Composites of such adsorbents with polysaccharides have demonstrated distinct features like improved surface area, porosity, adsorptivity; improved reusability and structural integrity; improved mechanical strength, thermal stability when applied for the removal of the emergent pollutants. The biocompatibility and biodegradability of such fabricated composites is established; thereby making the water treatment process cost effective, sustainable and environmentally friendly. The present review has dealt with an in-depth, up-dated literature compilation of traditional as well as polysaccharide based composite adsorbents and addressed their performance evaluation for the removal of pharmaceuticals and pesticides from wastewater. A comparative study has revealed the merits of polysaccharide based composites and discussions have been made with a focus on future research directions in the related area.

Occurrence, spatial and seasonal variations of emerging contaminants in the aquatic environment of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

The occurrence, seasonal variations and spatial distribution of emerging contaminants (ECs) in wastewater effluents from wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) and UAE's receiving coastal aquatic environment (seawater and sediments) were evaluated in the present study. A total of 21, 23, and 22 contaminants in the effluents, seawater, and sediments, respectively, at concentrations ranging from low ng L-1 up to 1782 ng L-1 in effluents, from low ng/l up to 236.10 ng L-1 in seawater, and from low ng g-1 up to 60.15 ng g-1 in sediments were recorded. The study revealed that imidacloprid, thiabendazole, and acetaminophen were the most ubiquitous compounds in effluents, seawater, and sediments, respectively, since they were found in all samples collected with a detection frequency of 100%. The study also revealed that the higher concentrations of most contaminants were recorded in autumn. However, thiabendazole in effluents and seawater, acetamiprid in effluents, and sulphapyridine in seawater and sediments showed a higher load in winter. This study highlights the need for proper monitoring and management of ECs in wastewater effluents, seawater, and sediments, especially during the autumn and winter seasons, to minimize their impact on the marine ecosystem and public health.

Contaminants of emerging concern fate and fluvial biofilm status as pollution markers in an urban river

Contaminants of emerging concern (CEC) are still under research given the vast diversity of compounds reaching freshwater ecosystems and adverse effects they might cause. In this study, the environmental fate of 73 CEC, comprising sweeteners, stimulants and several pharmaceutical therapeutic classes, and changes in fluvial biofilm photosynthetic parameters were evaluated in a semi-arid urban river receiving diffuse and point sources of pollution (Suquía river, Argentina). Out of the 37 CEC detected, 30 were quantified in surface water (n.d. - 9826 ng/L), 10 in biofilm (n.d. - 204 ng/gd.w.) and 9 in the clay fraction of sediments (n.d. - 64 ng/gd.w.). CEC distribute differently among the 3 matrices: water phase presents the biggest diversity of compounds (14 CEC families), being analgesic/anti-inflammatories the most abundant family. Antibiotics largely predominated in biofilms (7 CEC families), while the stimulant caffeine and some antibiotics where the most abundant in sediments (6 CEC families). Different CEC accumulated in biofilms and sediments upstream and downstream the city, and big shifts of biofilm community occurred downstream WWTP. The shift of biofilm community upstream (F0 > 0) and downstream the WWTP (F0 = 0) shows a sensitive response of F0 to the impact of WWTP. Biofilm photosynthetic parameters responded in less impacted urban sites (sites 1, 2 and 3), where significant correlations were found between ketoprofen and some antibiotics and biofilm parameters. The diversity and amount of CEC found in the urban section of Suquía river alert to the magnitude of point and non-point sources of pollution.

Untreated wastewater impact and environmental risk assessment of artificial sweeteners in river water and sediments of the Danube River Basin in Serbia

Artificial sweeteners are receiving increasing attention as newly recognized emerging contaminants that mainly reach the aquatic environment through the discharge of municipal wastewater containing large amount of these compounds. In this study, the impact of raw untreated wastewater discharges on the levels and the water/sediment distribution of artificial sweeteners in the Danube River and its largest tributaries in Serbia was evaluated, and a comprehensive assessment of environmental risks for freshwater and benthic organisms was performed. Acesulfame and sucralose were detected in all river water samples (100%), while saccharin (59%) and cyclamate (12%) were less frequently found, indicating long-term continuous sewage-derived pollution. Aspartame (100%) and neotame (60%) were the only artificial sweeteners recorded in the sediment samples due to their preference to sorb to particulate matter in the water/sediment system. In terms of ecotoxicological risk, a low risk for aquatic organisms was determined at the detected levels of saccharin in river water, while a high to medium risk was found for benthic biota at the concentrations of neotame and aspartame detected in sediments. The largest contribution to the pollution of the Danube River Basin with artificial sweeteners, and consequently the highest environmental risk, was determined in the two largest cities, the capital Belgrade and Novi Sad, which raises the issue of transboundary pollution.

Multiclass determination of drug residues in water and fish for bioaccumulation potential assessment

In this work, a wide-scope liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for the quantitative determination of environmental levels of multiclass drugs and their metabolites in water and fish samples was developed. The method allowed the reliable determination of 44 drugs, covering a rather wide range of chemistries and physicochemical characteristics. In order to obtain a reliable and robust analytical protocol, different combinations of extraction and cleanup techniques were systematically examined. Aqueous samples were extracted using a simple Oasis HLB SPE enrichment protocol with pH-optimized sample percolation (pH 3). The extraction of cryo-homogenized biota samples was performed using double extraction with MeOH basified with 0.5% NH₃, which allowed high extraction recoveries for all target analytes. The problem of the coextracted lipid matrix, which is known to be the key obstacle for reliable biota analysis, was systematically examined in a series of model cleanup experiments. A combination of cryo-precipitation, filtration, and HLB SPE cleanup was proposed as a protocol, which allowed reliable and robust analysis of all target compounds at low ng/g levels. At the final conditions, the method which was validated at three concentration levels showed high extraction recoveries (68-97%), acceptable matrix effects (12 to -32%), accuracies (81-129%), and reproducibilities (3-32%) for all analytes. The developed method was used to determine drug concentrations in river water and in feral freshwater fish, including whole fish and muscle tissue, from the Sava River (Croatia), in order to estimate their corresponding bioaccumulation potential. With respect to bioaccumulation potential in whole fish and fish muscle, the most relevant drugs were lisinopril, sertraline, terbinafine, torsemide, diazepam, desloratadine, and loratadine with estimated bioaccumulation factors ranging from 20 to 838 and from 1 to 431, respectively.

Short-term effects of various non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on Danio rerio embryos

Due to the widespread use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) without a medical prescription and their frequent prevalence in aquatic habitats, there are major health and environmental issues. NSAIDs have been found in surface water and wastewater in concentrations ranging from ng/L to μg/L all over the world. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between NSAIDs (diclofenac, ketoprofen, paracetamol and ibuprofen) exposure and associated adverse effects in the assessment of indirect human health risks posed by Danio rerio (zebrafish) and Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA) of these NSAIDs in aquatic environments. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to (i) reveal abnormality endpoints of early developmental stages, after exposure of zebrafish and (ii) perform an ecological risk assessment of aquatic organisms upon exposure to NSAIDs detected in surface waters based on the risk quotients (RQs) method. According to the toxicity data collected, all of the malformations appeared after diclofenac exposure at all concentrations. The most notable malformations were the lack of pigmentation and an increase in yolk sac volume, with EC₅₀ values of 0.6 and 1.03 mg/L, respectively. The results obtained for the ERA revealed RQs higher than 1 for all the four NSAIDs chosen, posing ecotoxicological pressure in aquatic environments. Overall, our findings provide a critical contribution to the formulation of high-priority actions, sustainable strategies and strict regulations that minimize the negative effects of NSAIDs on the aquatic ecosystem.•To determine the LC₅₀, lethal conditions such as coagulation, absence of heartbeat and blood flow, absence of tail separation and development of somites were taken into account.•The EC₅₀ was calculated using sublethal parameters such as blood coagulation, pericardial edema, yolk sac edema or hypertrophy.•The 4 compounds present a high risk individually and in mixture with a RQ >> 1.

Determination and Removal of Selected Pharmaceuticals and Total Organic Carbon from Surface Water by Aluminum Chlorohydrate Coagulant

In the present research, the removal of Total Organic Carbon (TOC) and erythromycin (ERY), fluoxetine (FLX), amoxicillin (AMO), colistin (COL), ethynylestradiol (EE), and diclofenac (DIC) from surface water by coagulation is studied. The concentration of selected pharmaceuticals in 24 surface water samples originating from some rivers located in Lesser Poland Voivodeship and Silesia Voivodeship, Poland, was determined. The removal of TOC and pharmaceuticals was carried out using the application of Design of Experiments (DOE), Response Surface Methodology (RSM), and by addition of aluminum chlorohydrate (ACH) as a coagulant. The study found that the concentration ranges of ERY, FLX, AMO, COL, EE, and DIC in analyzed water samples were 7.58−412.32, 1.21−72.52, 1.22−68.55, 1.28−32.01, 5.36−45.56, 2.20−182.22 ng/L, respectively. In some cases, concentrations lower than 1 ng/L were determined. In optimal conditions of coagulation process of spiked surface water (pH = 6.5 ± 0.1, ACH dose = 0.35 mL/L, Time = 30 min; R2 = 0.8799, R2adj = 0.7998), the concentration of TOC, ERY, FLX, AMO, COL, EE, and DIC was decreased by 88.7, 36.4, 24.7, 29.0, 25.5, 35.4, 30.4%, respectively. Simultaneously, turbidity, color, Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Total Nitrogen (Total N), and Ammonium-Nitrogen (N-NH4) were decreased by 96.2%, >98.0%, 97.8%, 70.0%, 88.7%, 37.5%, respectively. These findings suggest that ACH may be an optional reagent to remove studied pharmaceuticals from contaminated water.

Solution blow spinning polysulfone-Aliquat 336 nanofibers: synthesis, characterization, and application for the extraction and preconcentration of losartan from aqueous solutions

Nanofibers are materials used in a wide range of applications due to their unique physicochemical properties. As an alternative to the most common method of its manufacturing (electrospinning) blow spinning has been used since it has greater production efficiency and simplicity. A wide variety of polymers is used for its preparation and can be modified to improve the interaction and selectivity toward specific analytes. Thereby nanofibers have been used for the extraction or removal of organic compounds such as drugs but there are still few reports of drug extractions like losartan. In this work polysulfone-Aliquat 336 nanofibers were prepared using the blow spinning method to extract and preconcentrate losartan. The studies showed that Aliquat 336 incorporation significantly improve the extraction of losartan with polysulfone fibers. Adsorption process was thermodynamically favorable with an adsorption capacity of 15.45 mg·g−1. Thus, it was possible to extract more than 92% of initial losartan using 10 mg of polysulfone-Aliquat 336 fibers (9 and 3.5% (w/v)), at pH 6 from deionized water and synthetic wastewater. Finally, losartan preconcentration was evaluated to facilitate its quantification using ultraviolet–visible spectrometry (UV-Vis), which allowed the determination of this drug at concentrations below the detection limit.