title: Sulfathiazole: analytical methods for quantification in seawater and macroalgae.
abstract: The awareness of the interconnection between pharmaceutical residues, human health, and aquaculture has highlighted the concern with the potential harmful effects it can induce. Furthermore, to better understand the consequences more research is needed and to achieve that new methodologies on the detection and quantification of pharmaceuticals are necessary. Antibiotics are a major class of drugs included in the designation of emerging contaminants, representing a high risk to natural ecosystems. Among the most prescribed are sulfonamides, with sulfathiazole being the selected compound to be investigated in this study. In the environment, macroalgae are an important group of producers, continuously exposed to contaminants, with a significant role in the trophic web. Due to these characteristics are already under scope for the possibility of being used as bioindicators. The present study describes two new methodologies based on liquid chromatography for the determination of sulfathiazole in seawater and in the green macroalgae Ulva lactuca. Results show both methods were validated according to international standards, with MS/MS detection showing more sensitivity as expected with LODs of 2.79ng/g and 1.40ng/mL for algae and seawater, respectively. As for UV detection the values presented were respectively 2.83μg/g and 2.88μg/mL, making it more suitable for samples originated in more contaminated sites. The methods were also applied to experimental data with success with results showing macroalgae have potential use as indicators of contamination.
authors.affiliation: CEF - Center for Pharmaceutical Studies, Health Sciences Campus, Pharmacy Faculty, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; CFE - Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Apartado 3046, 3001-401 Coimbra, Portugal. Electronic address: saraleston@ci.uc.pt.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leston
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Bromatology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, Spain.
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nebot
authors.affiliation: CEF - Center for Pharmaceutical Studies, Health Sciences Campus, Pharmacy Faculty, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; CFE - Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Apartado 3046, 3001-401 Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Margarida
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Bromatology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, Spain.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cepeda
authors.affiliation: CFE - Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Apartado 3046, 3001-401 Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Miguel Ângelo
authors.initials: MÂ
authors.lastname: Pardal
authors.affiliation: CEF - Center for Pharmaceutical Studies, Health Sciences Campus, Pharmacy Faculty, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Pharmacy Faculty, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ramos
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000032:analysis*; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D012623:Seawater / Q000032:analysis*; D012624:Seaweed / Q000737:chemistry*; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D000077589:Sulfathiazole; D013432:Sulfathiazoles / Q000032:analysis*; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry; D044445:Ulva / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D013432:Sulfathiazoles; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D000077589:Sulfathiazole
keywords: LC–MS/MS; LC–UV; Seawater; Sulfathiazole; Ulva lactuca