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Uptake and effects of a mixture of widely used therapeutic drugs in Eruca sativa L. and Zea mays L. plants

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
Volume 108, October 2014, Pages 52–57

Milena Marsonia,

  • a Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, University of Insubria, Via J. H. Dunant 3, I-21100 Varese, Italy
  • b FEM2 Ambiente Srl, Spin Off Company of University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, I-20126 Milan, Italy
  • c Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, I-20126 Milan, Italy
Received 13 February 2014, Revised 28 May 2014, Accepted 28 May 2014, Available online 18 July 2014

doi:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2014.05.029
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Highlights

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The uptake of eight Pharmaceuticals (PACs) was tested in Eruca sativa and Zea mays.
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PACs from the soil can reach the edible parts of the two crops.
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The PAC concentrations would not have any negative effects on human health.
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No significant effects in the growth of plants irrigated with PACs were observed.

Abstract

Pharmaceutically active compounds (PACs) are continuously dispersed into the environment due to human and veterinary use, giving rise to their potential accumulation in edible plants. In this study, Eruca sativa L. and Zea mays L. were selected to determine the potential uptake and accumulation of eight different PACs (Salbutamol, Atenolol, Lincomycin, Cyclophosphamide, Carbamazepine, Bezafibrate, Ofloxacin and Ranitidine) designed for human use. To mimic environmental conditions, the plants were grown in pots and irrigated with water spiked with a mixture of PACs at concentrations found in Italian wastewaters and rivers. Moreover, 10× and 100× concentrations of these pharmaceuticals were also tested. The presence of the pharmaceuticals was tested in the edible parts of the plants, namely leaves for E. sativa and grains for Z. mays. Quantification was performed by liquid chromatography mass spectroscopy (LC/MS/MS). In the grains of 100× treated Z. mays, only atenolol, lincomycin and carbamazepine were above the limit of detection (LOD). At the same concentration in E. sativa plants the uptake of all PACs was >LOD. Lincomycin and oflaxacin were above the limit of quantitation in all conditions tested in E. sativa. The results suggest that uptake of some pharmaceuticals from the soil may indeed be a potential transport route to plants and that these environmental pollutants can reach different edible parts of the selected crops. Measurements of the concentrations of these pharmaceuticals in plant materials were used to model potential adult human exposure to these compounds. The results indicate that under the current experimental conditions, crops exposed to the selected pharmaceutical mixture would not have any negative effects on human health. Moreover, no significant differences in the growth of E. sativa or Z. mays plants irrigated with PAC-spiked vs. non-spiked water were observed.

Keywords

  • Pharmaceutical pollution;
  • Eruca sativa;
  • Zea mays;
  • Human health
Corresponding author. Fax: +39 332 421390.
Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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