title: Sunlight-induced degradation of fluoroquinolones in wastewater effluent: Photoproducts identification and toxicity.
abstract: The photodegradation of Ciprofloxacin (CIP), Enrofloxacin (ENR), Danofloxacin (DAN), Marbofloxacin (MAR) and Levofloxacin (LEV), five widely used fluoroquinolones (FQs), was studied in urban WWTP secondary effluent, under solar light. The degradation profiles and the kinetic constants were determined at the micrograms per litre levels (20-50 μg L(-1)). The photo-generated products were identified by high-pressure liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS). The toxicity of the photoproducts was assessed by Vibrio fischeri light emission inhibition assay performed on irradiated and not-irradiated FQs solutions, at environmentally significant concentrations. Attention was focused on the evaluation of the photoproducts contribution to the overall biotoxic effect of these emerging pollutants. Data from chronic exposure experiments (24-48 h) were primarily considered. Results confirmed the major usefulness of chronic toxicity data with respect to the acute assay ones and proved the not negligible biotoxicity of the FQs photodegradation products.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Pavia, via Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, Italy. Electronic address: michela.sturini@unipv.it.
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sturini
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Pavia, via Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Speltini
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Pavia, via Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Maraschi
authors.affiliation: Parco Tecnologico Padano, via Einstein Albert, 26900 Lodi, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pretali
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, via S. Donato 15, 40127 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Elida Nora
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Ferri
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Pavia, via Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Profumo
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D002939:Ciprofloxacin / Q000737:chemistry; D000077422:Enrofloxacin; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D024841:Fluoroquinolones / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D064704:Levofloxacin / Q000032:analysis; D010782:Photolysis; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; D013472:Sunlight; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002939:Ciprofloxacin; D000077422:Enrofloxacin; D024841:Fluoroquinolones; D064704:Levofloxacin; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C068581:danofloxacin; C080260:marbofloxacin
keywords: Bioluminescent assay; Ecotoxicity; Fluoroquinolones; Photoproducts; Wastewaters