title: Biotransformation of caffeine, cotinine, and nicotine in stream sediments: implications for use as wastewater indicators.
abstract: Microbially catalyzed cleavage of the imadazole ring of caffeine was observed in stream sediments collected upstream and downstream of municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) in three geographically separate stream systems. Microbial demethylation of the N-methyl component of cotinine and its metabolic precursor, nicotine, also was observed in these sediments. These findings indicate that stream sediment microorganisms are able to substantially alter the chemical structure and thus the analytical signatures of these candidate waste indicator compounds. The potential for in situ biotransformation must be considered if these compounds are employed as markers to identify the sources and track the fate of wastewater compounds in surface-water systems.
authors.affiliation: U.S. Geological Survey, 720 Gracern Road, Suite 129, Columbia, South Carolina 29210-7651, USA. pbradley@usgs.gov
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.forename: Larry B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Barber
authors.forename: Dana W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Kolpin
authors.forename: Peter B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: McMahon
authors.forename: Francis H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Chapelle
mesh_terms: D001711:Biotransformation; D002110:Caffeine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D003367:Cotinine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D019015:Geologic Sediments; D007220:Industrial Waste; D009538:Nicotine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D007220:Industrial Waste; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002110:Caffeine; D009538:Nicotine; D003367:Cotinine