Abstract
This study give a preliminary survey of pharmaceutical contamination and accumulation in surface waters and sediments along the river Po basin (74,000 km2, the largest in Italy), a strategic region for the Italian economy: it collects sewage from a vast industrialized area of Italy (Autorità di Baciono del fiume Po, 2006, 2009). 10 pharmaceuticals (atenolol, propanolol, metoprolol, nimesulide, furosemide, carbamazepine, ranitidine, metronidazole, paracetamol, and atorvastatin) from several therapeutic classes were searched in 54 sampling points along the river Po from the source to the delta, and at the mouth of its major effluents. In water samples were found pharmaceuticals in the range of 0.38–0.001 μg/L, except for furosemide (max conc. 0.605 μg/L), paracetamol (max conc. 3.59 μg/L), metoprolol (never detected) and for atenolol (not analysed). In sediment samples, only paracetamol was not detected, while the others were generally found in the range of 0.4–0.02 μg/kg ww with high concentrations for atenolol (max conc. 284 μg/kg ww) and furosemide (max conc. 98.4 μg/kg ww). The findings confirm also STPs as point sources of contamination. Despite of the much evidence for the adverse effects of pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment, the observed low levels cannot be considered to pose a serious risk to human health; further studies are necessary for a comprehensive risk assessment.
Highlights
Today, one of the most relevant environmental issues is the occurrence of pharmaceutically active substances in surface waters, wastewater effluents, and sediments
This study give a preliminary survey of pharmaceutical contamination and accumulation in surface waters and sediments along the river Po basin (74,000 km2, the largest in Italy), a strategic region for the Italian economy: it collects sewage from a vast industrialized area of Italy (Autoritadi Baciono del fiume Po, 2006, 2009). 10 pharmaceuticals from several therapeutic classes were searched in 54 sampling points along the river Po from the source to the delta, and at the mouth of its major effluents
Despite of the much evidence for the adverse effects of pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment, the observed low levels cannot be considered to pose a serious risk to human health; further studies are necessary for a comprehensive risk assessment
Summary
One of the most relevant environmental issues is the occurrence of pharmaceutically active substances in surface waters, wastewater effluents, and sediments. A recent study performed by Zuccato’s research group showed that the total removal rate in STPs was generally lower than 40% (http://www.cwwt.unsw.edu.au/ywp2006/papers/ YWP%20P.3.pdf “Behavior of pharmaceuticals in sewage treatment plants”) Pharmaceuticals, because of their continuous use and entry into the environment, are considered as “pseudopersistent compounds” [11]. Drug residues have been found in the terrestrial environment; pharmaceuticals with acidic properties and high log Kow, mainly antibiotics, show affinity to soil, sediment, and sludge [12,13,14], in contrary to some drugs degradation that can be promoted by microbial activity present in riverine or lagoon sediments [14, 15], while their transport could be mediated by colloids present in riverine water [16] In this case, the disposal of biosolids from STPs and animal wastes, which are applied to land, represents the major inputs into the environment [17, 18]. The monitoring programme was carried out in the river Po basin from Pian del Re (source) to Porto Tolle (delta)
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