Assessing the presence of pharmaceuticals in soil and plants irrigated with treated wastewater in Oman

Raya Al-Farsi,B S Choudri,Mushtaque Ahmed,Ahmed Al-Busaidi

doi:10.1007/s40093-018-0202-1

Raya Al-Farsi, B S Choudri + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s40093-018-0202-1

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Abstract

PurposeThis study conducted to assess the presence of pharmaceuticals in soils and crops irrigated with treated wastewater in Oman. The study was aimed to evaluate the potential of plant uptake of four commonly used pharmaceuticals in Oman: amoxicillin, sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim and ibuprofen by radish (Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. sativius) in soil culture.MethodsRadish (Raphanus raphanistrum) was selected as a test crop. Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) instrument was used to measure concentrations of pharmaceuticals. Groundwater and treated wastewater were used for irrigation. Additionally, there were two spiked treatments; high-spiked concentration (5 mg/l) and low-spiked concentration (1 mg/l).ResultsResults of the study showed that trimethoprim and ibuprofen were not detected in any samples of soil and plant. Sulfamethoxazole accumulated in radish roots for low- and high-spiked treatments. Amoxicillin accumulated in roots with low-spiked- as well as high-spiked treatments. Radish showed the ability to translocate some of the selected pharmaceuticals from soil irrigated with treated wastewater if they are present in sufficient concentrations.ConclusionsRadish showed positive uptake of some selected pharmaceuticals from soil irrigated with treated wastewater with spiked (both high and low) concentration of pharmaceuticals and has the ability to accumulate them in the roots. Pharmaceutical usage and disposal must be given attention to prevent their occurrences in the environment. Furthermore, treated wastewater must be given attention, as it is an important source of water in Oman, which suffers from water shortages.

Highlights

Pharmaceuticals are defined by World Health Organization (WHO) as synthetic or natural chemicals that can be found in human drugs and veterinary drugs
This study aims to evaluate and measure the accumulation of four most frequent pharmaceuticals consumed in Oman (SQUH 2016, Personal communication) in soil and plants irrigated with treated wastewater
Radish showed positive uptake of some selected pharmaceuticals from soil irrigated by treated wastewater with spiked concentration of pharmaceuticals and had the ability to accumulate them in the roots

Summary

Introduction

Pharmaceuticals are defined by World Health Organization (WHO) as synthetic or natural chemicals that can be found in human drugs and veterinary drugs. Pharmaceuticals contain active ingredients that have been designed to have positive effects for human and animal health. Many absorbed drugs in tissues of body would undergo metabolic reactions by microorganisms or enzymes, which may produce other compounds These compounds excreted through urine or feces and transformed by chemical and physico-chemical factors in water (Mompelat et al 2009). Wu et al (2012b) found that spinach and lettuce can uptake some PPCPs from the soil irrigated with treated wastewater. These authors detected trimethoprim in plant tissues with concentrations of 1.1 ± (0.2–0.4) mg/g in dry weight in both lettuce and spinach, respectively. According to Kumar et al (2005) concentrations of chlortetracycline and sulfamethazine were measured in corn, lettuce, potato, cabbage and green onion and were found in small range of 2–17 μg/kg, while Dolliver et al (2007) found that the concentration of sulfamethazine in plant tissue was in the range from 0.1 to 1.2 mg/kg

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