Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Pollutant Levels in Wastewater and the Waters of the Zarqa River, Jordan

Abstract

Assamra wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) is the largest treatment facility in Jordan. Treated wastewater is discharged into the Zarqa River (ZR) and used to irrigate fodder and vegetables. ZR also includes surface runoff, stormwater, and raw wastewater illegally discharged into the river. This study examined pharmaceutically active compounds (PhAC) in water resources in the ZR basin. Samples of WWTP influent and effluent and river water from four sites along ZR were collected. Concentrations of 18 target antibiotics, one stimulant, and 15 other PhACs were determined in the samples. Five antibiotics were detected in WWTP influent (510–860 ng L−1 for ∑Antibiotics) and six in the effluent (2300–2600 ng L−1 for ∑Antibiotics). Concentrations in the effluent of all antibiotics except clarithromycin increased by 2- to 5-fold compared with those in influent, while clarithromycin concentration decreased by around 4- fold (from 308 to 82 ng L−1). WWTP influent and effluent samples contained 14 non-antibiotic PhACs, one simulant, and six antibiotics at detectable concentrations. The dominant PhACs were paracetamol (74% of ∑PhACs) in the influent and carbamazepine (78% of ∑PhACs) in the effluent. At ZR sampling sites, carbamazepine was the dominant PhAC in all cases (800–2700 ng L−1). The antibiotics detected in WWTP effluent were also detected at the ZR sites. In summary, water in ZR is contaminated with PhACs, including antibiotics, and wastewater discharge seems to be the main pathway for this contamination. The occurrence of antibiotics and other PhACs in the irrigated soil requires investigation to assess their fate.

Assessment of Xenoestrogens in Jordanian Water System: Activity and Identification

“…It treats wastewater released from the Zarqa River Basin. Moreover, the facility treats an average flow of 267,000 m 3 of wastewater, serving a population of 2.2 million living in the Amman and Zarqa areas [ 44 ]. King Abdullah Canal is Jordan’s most important source of drinking and agricultural water.…”

“…A possible explanation for the low level of xenoestrogens in all samples is that the sample collections were conducted during the winter, which may dilute the xenoestrogens. In addition, degradation, evaporation, and adsorption are potential mechanisms contributing to lowering the activity of xenoestrogens [ 44 ].…”

Modified polymer membranes for the removal of pharmaceutical active compounds in wastewater and its mechanism-A review

“…On the north coast of Java Island, paracetamol levels have been determined to be 610 ng L −1 [ 39 ]. A high concentration of paracetamol was found in the influent of the wastewater treatment plant, about 24,000 ng L −1 , and in the Zarqa River, about 600 ng L −1 [ 40 ]. There is also evidence of paracetamol in a drinking water treatment plant in Spain, with a concentration of 25.6 ng L −1 [ 41 ].…”

Nonantibiotic Pharmaceuticals Exhibit Antibacterial Activity and Enhance Bacterial Evolution toward Antibiotic Resistance

“…It has been reported that 90% of the pharmaceuticals are excreted in urine or feces after consumption and end up in wastewater. , Traditional wastewater treatment processes cannot completely remove these pharmaceuticals, which are thus released into downstream environments through wastewater streams . Currently, nonantibiotic pharmaceuticals have been detected in surface water, drinking water, aquaculture wastewater, and landfill leachate. − Nonantibiotic pharmaceuticals can accumulate in large quantities in the environment due to their high persistence and low biodegradation rates . For example, five nonantibiotic pharmaceuticals were detected from the Baiyangdian Lake located in northern China, and the total concentration accounted for 53.3% of all detected pharmaceuticals, while antibiotics only accounted for 46.7% .…”