Accumulation of Residual Antibiotics in the Vegetables Irrigated by Pharmaceutical Wastewater

Abstract

Soil and vegetables are the most integral environmental segments for human and animal life. Day by day both of these segments are becoming polluted by anthropogenic resources, and one of the major sources of contamination is pharmaceutical wastewater entering environment. Contamination levels of antibiotics namely ofloxacin (OFL), ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin (LEV), oxytetracycline (OTC), and doxycycline were determined (found) in soil and vegetables samples in surrounding areas of pharmaceutical industry. HPLC with DAD detector, C-18 column and solid-phase cartridges were used to extract and analyze antibiotic residues in soil, carrot, wheat, and spinach samples. In wheat samples, LEV and OFL in spinach and carrot samples were accumulated highest. OFL, in soil of wheat and spinach samples, and OTC, in soil of carrot samples, were determined as highest level contaminant. In all types of vegetable samples, the contamination of each antibiotic was highest in leaves and lowest in fruits. The order of accumulation was leaves > stem/shoot > root > fruit. The contamination level was higher in soil samples than vegetable samples. Plants and vegetables directly or indirectly are part of human food. From soil, antibiotics accumulates to plants and vegetables, and leach to groundwater.