Risk assessment of chlortetracycline, oxytetracycline, sulfamethazine, sulfathiazole, and erythromycin in aquatic environment: are the current environmental concentrations safe?

Abstract

To understand potential risks of major pharmaceutical residues in waters, we evaluated ecotoxicities of five major veterinary pharmaceuticals, i.e., chlortetracycline, oxytetracycline, sulfamethazine, sulfathiazole, and erythromycin, which have been frequently detected in freshwater environment worldwide. We conducted acute and chronic toxicity tests using two freshwater invertebrates (Daphnia magna and Moina macrocopa) and a fish (Oryzias latipes). In general, D. magna exhibited greater sensitivity than M. macrocopa, and chronic reproduction was the most sensitive endpoints for both organisms. The population growth rate was adversely influenced by exposure to chlortetracycline, sulfamethazine, or sulfathiazole in water fleas, but reduction in population size was not expected. In O. latipes, the tested pharmaceuticals affected several reproduction related endpoints including time to hatch and growth. Based on the toxicity values from the present study and literature, algae appeared to be the most sensitive organism, followed by Daphnia and fish. Hazard quotients derived from measured environmental concentrations (MECs) and predicted no effect concentrations (PNECs) for erythromycin and oxytetracycline exceeded unity, suggesting that potential ecological effects at highly contaminated sites cannot be ruled out. Long-term consequences of veterinary pharmaceutical contamination in the environment deserve further investigation.

Monitoramento De Resíduos De Medicamentos Veterinários Em Alimentos E No Ambiente: Modelo Para Avaliação

“…Em segundo lugar, está o sulfatiazol. Conforme comentado anteriormente, este fármaco tem grande potencial de contaminação ambiental e aspectos de sua toxicidade e do risco ambiental associado estão bem documentados (JI et al, 2012;LIN et al, 2013). A sulfaquinoxalina aparece na terceira pontuação mais alta.…”

Removal of Tetracycline and Tetracycline Resistance Genes from Municipal Wastewater in Microcosm Fill-and-Drain Constructed Wetlands

“…Besides, it is usually added at sub-therapeutic levels to animal feeds for growth promoting purpose 1) . The intensive and extensive uses of TC result in its release to aquatic environments where this antibiotic can cause acute and chronic toxicities to aquatic organisms 1), 2) . Moreover, the presence of TC, even at very low concentrations, can facilitate the emergence and spread of tetracycline resistance genes (tet genes) 3) .…”

Oxidação De Oxitetraciclina Pelo Processo Fenton: Estudo Paramétrico Da Temperatura, Concentração Inicial De Peróxido De Hidrogênio E De Íon Ferroso

“…Os fármacos são sintetizados para funções fisiológicas específicas, portanto, a presença dessas substâncias no ambiente pode causar efeitos indesejados em outros organismos (Kümmerer, 2009), tais como inibição da reprodução (Park e Choi, 2008) ou disfunção endócrina (Fent et al 2006;Ji et al 2010;Ji et al, 2012). Enquanto o uso de antibióticos veterinários como aditivos foi proibido em algumas partes do mundo, uma quantidade significativa de tais medicamentos ainda está sendo usada como promotor de crescimento em todo o mundo.…”