title: Spatial distribution of illicit drugs in surface waters of the natural park of Pego-Oliva Marsh (Valencia, Spain).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Pego-Oliva Marsh is the second most important wetland in the Valencian Community (Spain). It is included in the RAMSAR agreement and represents one key point for migratory birds. Emerging contaminants from the human pressure, such as pharmaceuticals, illicit drugs and personal care product, are not included in the list of priority contaminants of the Water Framework Directive yet, and are neither monitored nor controlled. However, pollution of emerging contaminants can threaten the environment and even human health. In order to understand the status of the emerging contamination and recommend future rationalization of countermeasures, the occurrence of illicit drugs was investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Samples were collected at 23 sites from the main irrigation channels and the marsh. Illicit drugs were extracted using solid phase extraction and determined by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. The method detection limits ranged from 0.01 to 1.54 ng l(-1) and the recoveries from 57% to 120%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine, ketamine, morphine, benzoylecgonine, cocaine, methadone, 6-acetylmorphine and nor-9-carboxy-tetrahydrocannabinol were detected. The mean concentrations were 0.62, 21.33, 1.30, 1.92, 2.25, 0.32, 0.04 and 0.07 ng l(-1), respectively. The highest concentrations were in the north of Pego-Oliva Marsh.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The pollution status by illicit drugs of the Pego-Oliva Marsh has been established. However, contamination levels in all the area of the natural park were low compared with those reported in other superficial waters.
authors.affiliation: Laboratori de Nutrició i Bromatologia, Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de València, Av, Vicent Andrés s/n, 46100 Burjassot, València, Spain.
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vazquez-Roig
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Andreu
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Blasco
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Morillas
authors.forename: Yolanda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Picó
mesh_terms: D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000032:analysis*; D052616:Solid Phase Extraction; D013030:Spain; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D053833:Wetlands
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical