Assessment of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and analgesic pharmaceuticals in seawaters of North of Portugal: Occurrence and environmental risk

Abstract

A B S T R A C TThe 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 Septem-ber. 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.

Sonochemical oxidation of piroxicam drug: effect of key operating parameters and degradation pathways

“…Piroxicam (PRX) is a non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug (NSAID) commonly used to relieve pain and swelling of conditions like arthritis. NSAIDs, including PRX, have been extensively detected in seawater, surface, and sewage waters worldwide, since these are among the most frequently used drugs (painkillers, antipyretics, treatment of inflammations and prevention of myocardial infarction). The presence of such drugs, even at low concentrations (from ng L ‐1 to mg L ‐1 ), can have a significant impact on aquatic and terrestrial systems, and therefore this is an issue of emerging concern …”

Occurrence of pharmaceuticals and endocrine disrupting compounds in macroalgaes, bivalves, and fish from coastal areas in Europe

“…The main sources of PhACs and EDCs in marine environments are sewage effluents, waste disposal, aquaculture, animal husbandry and horticulture (Gaw et al, 2014). They provide an incessant loading of these compounds into the aquatic system and as a result they have been detected at ng-mg/L range in marine waters (Nodler et al, 2014;Bayen et al, 2013;Arditsoglou and Voutsa, 2012;Lolic et al, 2015;Moreno-González et al, In preparation). Due to the continuous exposure of aquatic organisms to these compounds one of the main concerns is their transference between the surrounding media and the aquatic biota, and consequently their potential bioaccumulation.…”

Mediated effect of ultrasound treated Diclofenac on mussel hemocytes: First evidence for the involvement of respiratory burst enzymes in the induction of DCF-mediated unspecific mode of action

“…Appropriate amounts of DCF stock solution (2 mg L -1 ) were added into hemocytes suspension (10 6 cells mL -1 ; 1 mL final culture volume), in order to obtain final concentrations of DCF of 5, 10 and 100 ng L -1 (representing environmentally relevant concentrations of DCF), as well as 1, 10 and 20 μg L -1 (representing concentrations found in heavily impacted aquatic ecosystems) (DCF-treated cells) (Lolić et al, 2015;Parolini et al, 2011;Santos et al, 2010). In parallel, similar amounts of US-treated DCF stock solution (350 mL; 2 mg L -1 DCF sonicated for 120 min under 167W electric power density and frequency at 862 kHz), resulting in the same initial concentrations of DCF as mentioned above, were added into the cell cultures (US DCF-treated cells).…”