title: Widespread occurrence and seasonal variation of pharmaceuticals in surface waters and municipal wastewater treatment plants in central Finland.
abstract: The presence of five selected pharmaceuticals, consisting of four anti-inflammatory drugs, diclofenac, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, naproxen, and an antiepileptic drug carbamazepine, was determined at four municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and in the receiving waterway in central Finland. The samples were taken from influents and effluents of the WWTPs and from surface water of six locations along the water way, including northern Lake Päijänne. In addition, seasonal variation in the area was determined by comparing the concentrations in the winter and summer. The samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in the multiple reaction monitoring mode. The concentrations in the influents and effluents ranged from hundreds of nanogram per liter to microgram per liter while ranged from tens of nanogram per liter in northern parts of the waterway to hundreds of nanogram per liter in northern Lake Päijänne near the city area. In addition, the concentrations were higher in the winter compared to summer time in surface water due to decreased temperature and solar irradiation. On the other hand, higher concentrations of ibuprofen, ketoprofen, and naproxen were found in summer at the WWTPs, possibly due to seasonal variations in consumption. In conclusion, there are considerable amounts of pharmaceuticals not only in influents and effluents of the WWTPs but also in lake water along the waterway and in northern Lake Päijänne.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, FI-40014, Jyväskylä, Finland. petra.lindholm-lehto@jyu.fi.
authors.forename: Petra C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Lindholm-Lehto
authors.affiliation: Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE), Laboratory Centre, Ecotoxicology and Risk Assessment, Survontie 9A, FI-40500, Jyväskylä, Finland.
authors.forename: Heidi S J
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Ahkola
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, FI-40014, Jyväskylä, Finland.
authors.forename: Juha S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Knuutinen
authors.affiliation: Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE), Laboratory Centre, Ecotoxicology and Risk Assessment, Survontie 9A, FI-40500, Jyväskylä, Finland.
authors.forename: Sirpa H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Herve
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000032:analysis; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005387:Finland; D060106:Lakes / Q000737:chemistry*; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000032:analysis*; D012621:Seasons; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Anti-inflammatory drug; Antiepileptic drug; Influent and effluent; Lake water; Municipal wastewater treatment plant; Pharmaceuticals; Seasonal variation