title: Occurrence and bioaccumulation of pharmaceuticals in a fish species inhabiting the Suquía River basin (Córdoba, Argentina).
abstract: In South America, there is a lack of data concerning the occurrence and levels of pharmaceuticals in main rivers as well as their negative effects on the biota. Here we report the occurrence as well as the spatial and temporal variations of some common prescribed pharmaceuticals in the Suquía River basin (Córdoba, Argentina). We also report the bioconcentration of two of them in Gambusia affinis, a widely distributed fish species inhabiting the river basin. The influence of the wastewater treatment plant of Córdoba City was critical (up to 70 km downstream). Among 15 compounds analyzed, atenolol, carbamazepine and diclofenac were the most frequently detected (reaching sub μg L(-1) levels), showing different distribution patterns. Bioconcentration of atenolol and carbamazepine was studied under laboratory controlled conditions. Estimated bioconcentration factors (BCFs) were: 0.13 and 0.08 L kg(-1) upon exposure to 100 and 1,000 μg L(-1) atenolol in water, respectively; while BCFs were 0.7 and 0.9 L kg(-1) when exposed to 10 and 100 μg L(-1) carbamazepine, respectively. To the extent of our knowledge, this is the first report on pharmaceuticals in superficial waters of Argentina as well as the first report on the bioaccumulation of atenolol in whole body fish.
authors.affiliation: IDEA - Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal, CONICET and Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Av. Vélez Sársfield 299, 5000 Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: María Eugenia
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Valdés
authors.affiliation: CIBICI - Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología, CONICET and Dpto. Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Ciudad Universitaria, 5000 Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: María Valeria
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Amé
authors.affiliation: IDEA - Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal, CONICET and Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Av. Vélez Sársfield 299, 5000 Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: María de Los Angeles
authors.initials: Mde L
authors.lastname: Bistoni
authors.affiliation: ICYTAC - Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos Córdoba, CONICET and Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Dpto. Química Orgánica, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Ciudad Universitaria, 5000 Córdoba, Argentina. Electronic address: dwunder@fcq.unc.edu.ar.
authors.forename: Daniel Alberto
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Wunderlin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001118:Argentina; D002947:Cities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005399:Fishes / Q000378:metabolism*; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry; D062065:Wastewater / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Atenolol; Bioconcentration; Carbamazepine; Gambusia affinis; Pharmaceuticals; South America