title: The occurrence and removal of selected pharmaceutical compounds in a sewage treatment works utilising activated sludge treatment.
abstract: Pharmaceutical substances have been detected in sewage effluents as well as receiving waters in many parts of the world. In this study, the occurrence and removal of a number of drug compounds were studied within a large sewage treatment plant in the south of England. Samples were processed using solid phase extraction and analysed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results demonstrate that ibuprofen, paracetamol, salbutamol and mefenamic acid were present in both the influent and effluent of the works while propranolol-HCl was not found above the limit of quantification in any sample. Elimination rates were circa 90% for each compound but several hundred nanograms per litre were still present in the final effluent.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Policy, Imperial College, London SW7 2AZ, UK.
authors.forename: O A H
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Voulvoulis
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Lester
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D000420:Albuterol / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D004739:England; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D007052:Ibuprofen / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D008528:Mefenamic Acid / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D011433:Propranolol / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry*; D018505:Waste Management / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D012722:Sewage; D000082:Acetaminophen; D008528:Mefenamic Acid; D011433:Propranolol; D000420:Albuterol; D007052:Ibuprofen