title: Occurrence and spatial distribution of 158 pharmaceuticals, drugs of abuse and related metabolites in offshore seawater.
abstract: The occurrence and spatial distribution of 158 pharmaceuticals and drugs of abuse were studied in seawater of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea (Saronikos Gulf and Elefsis Bay in central Aegean Sea). This area is affected by various anthropogenic pressures as it receives the treated wastewater of the greatest Athens area and off-shore input fluxes. This study constitutes the largest one in terms of number of analytes in this environmental compartment. It provides the first evidence on the occurrence of several pharmaceuticals in marine environment including amoxicillin, lidocaine, citalopram or tramadol, among others. 22 samples were collected at three different depths in 9 sampling stations in order to assess the presence and the spatial distribution of the target compounds. A multi-residue method based on solid phase extraction and liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry was developed for the determination of the 158 target substances and validated for seawater sample analysis. 38 out of the 158 target compounds were detected, 15 of them with frequencies of detection equal to or higher than 50%. The highest detected values corresponded to amoxicillin, caffeine and salicylic acid, with concentrations in the range of < 5.0-127.8 ng L(-1); 5.2-78.2 ng L(-1) and < 0.4-53.3 ng L(-1), respectively. Inputs from the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) of Athens revealed to be the main source of pollution in the Inner Saronikos Gulf, whereas, other anthropogenic pressures such as contamination from shipping activity, industrial effluents, dredging and/or inputs from land proved to be also relevant. Τhe concentrations of some compounds varied significantly with depth suggesting that currents play an important role in the dilution of the target compounds.
authors.affiliation: National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Panepistimiopolis 157 71, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikiforos A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Alygizakis
authors.affiliation: National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Panepistimiopolis 157 71, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gago-Ferrero
authors.affiliation: National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Panepistimiopolis 157 71, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Viola L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Borova
authors.affiliation: Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Oceanography, 46.7 Km Athens Sounio Av., Mavro Lithari, 19013 Anavyssos, Attica, Greece.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pavlidou
authors.affiliation: Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Oceanography, 46.7 Km Athens Sounio Av., Mavro Lithari, 19013 Anavyssos, Attica, Greece.
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hatzianestis
authors.affiliation: National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Panepistimiopolis 157 71, Athens, Greece. Electronic address: ntho@chem.uoa.gr.
authors.forename: Nikolaos S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Thomaidis
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000032:analysis; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000032:analysis*; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry*; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Drugs of abuse; LC–MS/MS; Occurrence; Pharmaceuticals; Risk quotients; Seawater