title: Licit and illicit drugs in a wastewater treatment plant in Verona, Italy.
abstract: The occurrence of 12 active substances among licit and illicit drugs was investigated over a 2 week period inflowing and outflowing in an activated sludge wastewater treatment plant in the city of Verona, Northern Italy. Chemical analyses were performed by means of on-line solid phase extraction coupled to high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in order to minimize sample pre-treatment. Quantifiable concentrations, up to hundreds of ng/L, were detected in influent and in effluent only for carbamazepine, codeine and benzoylecgonine. Such values are in accordance with literature data, so as removal efficiencies: it was observed that there was pretty much no abatement for carbamazepine, while average removal percentages of about 60% and 90% were calculated for codeine and benzoylecgonine, respectively. These results provide useful information (also concerning some active principles never or rarely detected, up to now, such as lormetazepam) for integrated water cycle managing, also taking into account the specific characteristics of the receiving water basin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Brescia, Via Branze, 38, 25123 Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Repice
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dal Grande
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maggi
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pedrazzani
mesh_terms: D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000032:analysis*; D007558:Italy; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000032:analysis*; D012722:Sewage / Q000032:analysis; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D012722:Sewage; D062065:Wastewater
keywords: Activated sludge; Drug; Online SPE; Pharmaceutical; Removal efficiency; Wastewater