title: Identification of transformation products from β-blocking agents formed in wetland microcosms using LC-Q-ToF.
abstract: Identification of degradation products from trace organic compounds, which may retain the biological activity of the parent compound, is an important step in understanding the long-term effects of these compounds on the environment. Constructed wetlands have been successfully utilized to remove contaminants from wastewater effluent, including pharmacologically active compounds. However, relatively little is known about the transformation products formed during wetland treatment. In this study, three different wetland microcosm treatments were used to determine the biotransformation products of the β-adrenoreceptor antagonists atenolol, metoprolol and propranolol. LC/ESI-Q-ToF run in the MS(E) and MS/MS modes was used to identify and characterize the degradation products through the accurate masses of precursor and product ions. The results were compared with those of a reference standard when available. Several compounds not previously described as biotransformation products produced in wetlands were identified, including propranolol-O-sulfate, 1-naphthol and the human metabolite N-deaminated metoprolol. Transformation pathways were significantly affected by microcosm conditions and differed between compounds, despite the compounds' structural similarities. Altogether, a diverse range of transformation products in wetland microcosms were identified and elucidated using high resolving MS. This work shows that transformation products are not always easily predicted, nor formed via the same pathways even for structurally similar compounds.
authors.affiliation: Division of Analytical Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Uppsala University, BMC Box 574, SE-751 23, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Alfred
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1889-0668
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Svan
authors.affiliation: Division of Analytical Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Uppsala University, BMC Box 574, SE-751 23, Uppsala, Sweden.|National Veterinary Institute (SVA), Department of Chemistry, Environment and Feed Hygiene, SE-751 89, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Mikael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hedeland
authors.affiliation: Division of Analytical Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Uppsala University, BMC Box 574, SE-751 23, Uppsala, Sweden.|Medical Products Agency, Box 26, SE-751 03, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Torbjörn
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Arvidsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, United States.
authors.forename: Justin T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Jasper
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, United States.
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Sedlak
authors.affiliation: Division of Analytical Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Uppsala University, BMC Box 574, SE-751 23, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Curt E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Pettersson
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid / Q000379:methods; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D064307:Microbiota / Q000502:physiology*; D050198:Phenoxypropanolamines / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D053833:Wetlands
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D050198:Phenoxypropanolamines
keywords: HRMS; LC-QToF; atenolol; identification; metoprolol; propranolol; transformation products; wetland microcosms