Volume 508, 1 March 2015, Pages 240–250
Assessment of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and analgesic pharmaceuticals in seawaters of North of Portugal: Occurrence and environmental risk
Highlights
- •
- Occurrence of NSAIDs and analgesics in seawaters was followed during bathing season.
- •
- NSAIDs and analgesics were detected in Portuguese seawaters.
- •
- Pharmaceuticals were found in seawaters classified as excellent bathing water.
- •
- Highest concentrations were detected in months of August and September.
- •
- Diclofenac was detected at levels able to pose a risk for aquatic organisms.
Abstract
The
occurrence of seven pharmaceuticals and two metabolites belonging to
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics therapeutic classes
was studied in seawaters. A total of 101 samples covering fourteen
beaches and five cities were evaluated in order to assess the spatial
distribution of pharmaceuticals among north Portuguese coast. Seawaters
were selected in order to embrace different bathing water quality
(excellent, good and sufficient). Acetaminophen, ketoprofen and the
metabolite hydroxyibuprofen were detected in all the seawater samples at
maximum concentrations of 584, 89.7 and 287 ng L− 1, respectively. Carboxyibuprofen had the highest seawater concentration (1227 ng L− 1).
The temporal distribution of the selected pharmaceuticals during the
bathing season showed that, in general, higher concentrations were
detected in August and September. The environmental risk posed by the
pharmaceuticals detected in seawaters towards different trophic levels
(fish, daphnids and algae) was also assessed. Only diclofenac showed
hazard quotients above one for fish, representing a potential risk for
aquatic organisms. These results were observed in seawaters classified
as excellent bathing water. Additional data is needed in order to
support the identification and prioritization of risks posed by
pharmaceuticals in marine environment.
Graphical abstract
Keywords
- Seawater;
- North of Portugal;
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- Analgesics;
- UHPLC–MS/MS;
- Environmental risk assessment
Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
