title: Occurrence of venlafaxine, other antidepressants and selected  metabolites in the Rhine catchment in the face of climate change.
abstract: Fate and occurrence of 4 selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, one serotonin-noradrenergic reuptake inhibitor and one noradrenergic-dopamineric reuptake inhibitor and their human metabolites were determined in a German municipal wastewater treatment plant as well as in the Rhine River and selected tributaries. The enantiomeric fractions of venlafaxine and its metabolites were not altered during wastewater treatment and were similar in all river samples underlining that no appreciable biodegradation occurs. In the Rhine catchment area highest concentrations were detected for venlafaxine, citalopram and their human metabolites. Projected future climate change would lead to an increased portion of treated wastewater in rivers due to reduced discharges during low flow situations by the end of the 21st century. However, the effect of climate change on the pattern and concentrations of antidepressants is predicted to be of minor importance in comparison to altered consumption quantities caused by demographic developments and changes in life styles.
authors.affiliation: Federal Institute of Hydrology (BfG), Am Mainzer Tor 1, D-56068 Koblenz, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Schlüsener
authors.forename: Paulin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hardenbicker
authors.forename: Enno
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nilson
authors.forename: Manoj
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.forename: Carsten
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Viergutz
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Ternes
mesh_terms: D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000032:analysis*; D057231:Climate Change; D003511:Cyclohexanols / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry*; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000032:analysis; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D003511:Cyclohexanols; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical