Occurrence and behaviour of 105 active pharmaceutical ingredients in sewage waters of a municipal sewer collection system.
The concentrations and behaviour of 105 different active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in the aqueous phase of sewage water within a municipal sewer collection system have been investigated. Sewage water samples were gathered from seven pump stations (one of which was located within a university hospital) and from sewage water treatment influent and effluent. The targeted APIs were quantified using a multi-residue method based on online solid phase extraction liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. The method was thoroughly validated and complies with EU regulations on sample handling, limits of quantification, quality control and selectivity. 51 APIs, including antibiotics, antidepressants, hypertension drugs, analgesics, NSAIDs and psycholeptics, were found frequently within the sewer collection system. API concentrations and mass flows were evaluated in terms of their frequency of detection, daily variation, median/minimum/maximum/average concentrations, demographic dissimilarities, removal efficiencies, and mass flow profiles relative to municipal sales data. Our results suggest that some APIs are removed from, or introduced to, the aqueous phase of sewage waters within the studied municipal collection system.
Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden. Electronic address: richard.lindberg@chem.umu.se.
Richard H
RH
Lindberg
Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden.
Marcus
M
Östman
Umeva, Umeå, Sweden.
Ulrika
U
Olofsson
University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, Zatisi 728/II, 389 25 Vodnany, Czech Republic.
Roman
R
Grabic
Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden.
Jerker
J
Fick
D000700:Analgesics / Q000032:analysis; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000032:analysis; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000032:analysis; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000032:analysis; D005062:European Union; D057230:Limit of Detection; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000032:analysis*; D011786:Quality Control; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012722:Sewage / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D052616:Solid Phase Extraction / Q000379:methods; D013548:Sweden; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D000700:Analgesics; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D012722:Sewage; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
Active pharmaceutical ingredients; Behaviour; Mass flows; Municipal sewage waters; Online SPE-LC-MS/MS