title: Cytotoxic drugs and the aquatic environment: estimation of bleomycin in river and water samples.
abstract: A radioimmunoassay has been used to determine levels of the anticancer drug bleomycin in sewage treatment works effluent, river and potable water samples. Samples were concentrated 100-fold by lyophilisation and a final limit of detection of 5 ng L-1 was achieved. Concentrations of immunoreactive bleomycin of between 11 and 19 ng L-1 were found in the effluents but a lower concentration range less than 5-17 ng L-1 was found in river and potable water samples. The risk to human health of ingesting water (in SE England) with such low levels of this cytotoxic drug appears to be minimal in relation to the normal chemotherapeutic doses administered (20-30 mg m-2).
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK.
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Aherne
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hardcastle
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Nield
mesh_terms: D001761:Bleomycin / Q000032:analysis*; D004739:England; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000032:analysis; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012722:Sewage / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D012722:Sewage; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D001761:Bleomycin