title: Wastewater analysis: the mean of the monitoring of frequently prescribed pharmaceuticals in Slovakia.
abstract: The estimation of medication use is based on the statistical data from pharmacies and hospitals. Excessive use or misuse of some compounds, especially psychoactive medications, has not yet been monitored in Slovakia. Wastewater analysis provides useful data about the medication use and misuse in individual regions. This study is focused on the analysis of 23 substances in the wastewaters of Slovakia. The monitoring programme has included stimulants, opioid and morphine derivatives, benzodiazepines, antidepressants, drug precursors and their metabolites. Urinary markers of these compounds were analysed at WWTP influent in seven regions (Bratislava, Košice, Zvolen, Banská Bystrica, Trenčín, Prešov a Piešťany) using LC-MS/MS technique. The analysis was performed from March to October 2013. The pattern in use of these compounds was also monitored. Tramadol and venlafaxine were found to be the most concentrated compounds among of all studied psychoactive pharmaceuticals. The highest specific loads of tramadol were detected in Piešťany (409 mg/day/1000 inhabitants) and Zvolen (366 mg/day/1000 inhabitants). There is a considerable number of spa facilities (hotels) situated in these cities and this fact contributes to a higher occurrence of these psychoactive compounds in respective wastewaters.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Slovak University of Technology, Radlinského 9, 812 37, Bratislava, Slovakia. mackulakt@azet.sk.
authors.forename: Tomáš
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mackuľak
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry, Nutrition and Health Protection, Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Slovak University of Technology, Radlinského 9, 812 37, Bratislava, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Birošová
authors.affiliation: Department of Inorganic Technology, Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Slovak University of Technology, Radlinského 9, 812 37, Bratislava, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Miroslav
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gál
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Slovak University of Technology, Radlinského 9, 812 37, Bratislava, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bodík
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, South Bohemian Research Centre of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Zatisi 728/II, 389 01, Vodnany, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Roman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grabic
authors.affiliation: Department Fibers and Textile Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Slovak University of Technology, Radlinského 9, 812 37, Bratislava, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Jozef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ryba
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry, Nutrition and Health Protection, Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Slovak University of Technology, Radlinského 9, 812 37, Bratislava, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Jaroslav
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Škubák
mesh_terms: D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D002947:Cities; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000032:analysis*; D018154:Slovakia; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods; D062065:Wastewater / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Drugs; LC-MS/MS; Monitoring; Psychoactive pharmaceuticals; Wastewater