Repercusiones sanitarias de la calidad del agua: los residuos de medicamentos en el agua

This manuscript summarizes the main results obtained in various monitoring studies conducted in the Llobregat and the Ebro River basins to evaluate the occurrence of pharmaceuticals and drugs of abuse in their aquatic environments and the potentially derived risks for environmental and human health. The occurrence of these compounds in surface waters, located downstream the point of discharge of sewage treatment plants (STP), points out STPs effluents as the main source of these substances in the aquatic environment. Both river basins had similar pharmaceutical contamination patterns. However, hazard quotients (HQ) calculated for three different trophic levels (algae, daphnia and fish) pointed out sulfamethoxazol (sulfamide antibiotic) for algae, gemfibrozil (lipid regulator) for algae and fish, clofibric acid (lipid regulator) and erythromycine (macrolide antibiotic) for daphnia, and ibuprofen (analgesic anti-inflammatory) for all investigated tropic levels, as the compounds with the highest ecotoxicological risk in the Llobregat. In the Ebro River, the most problematic pharmaceuticals were sulfamethoxazol for algae, and erythromycine, clofibric acid and fluoxetine (anti-depressive) for daphnids. Levels of drugs of abuse measured in surface waters of the Ebro River were one and two orders of magnitude lower than those observed in effluent and influent sewage waters, respectively. Lack of data about their ecotoxicity does not allow calculation of HQ for these compounds. The presence of pharmaceuticals and drugs of abuse in surface and drinking waters is not subjected to regulation; hence, they are not considered priority pollutants to be included in monitoring programs. However, due to their possible harmful outcomes in wildlife, research on their potential effects in human health is indispensable.Este trabajo resume varios estudios de monitorización de fármacos y drogas de abuso llevados a cabo en el medio ambiente acuático de las cuencas de los ríos Llobregat y Ebro con el fin de evaluar la calidad del agua en relación a la presencia de estas substancias y su potencial riesgo para la salud ambiental y pública. La identificación de estos compuestos aguas abajo del punto de vertido de las plantas depuradoras apunta a la descarga de agua residual tratada como la principal fuente de emisión de estos contaminantes en el medio acuático. El perfil de contaminación por fármacos fue bastante similar en ambas cuencas. No obstante, los índices de riesgo (HQ) calculados para los fármacos en diferentes niveles tróficos (algas, dáfnidos y peces) indican que los compuestos que presentan un mayor riesgo ecotóxico en el Llobregat son el sulfametoxazol (antibiótico sulfamida) para las algas, el gemfibrozil (regulador de lípidos) para las algas y los peces, el ácido clofíbrico (regulador de lípidos) y la eritromicina (antibiótico macrólido) para los dáfnidos, y el ibuprofeno (analgésico anti-inflamatorio) para todos los eslabones tróficos. En el Ebro, los compuestos más problemáticos son el sulfametoxazol para las algas, y la eritromicina, el ácido clofíbrico y la fluoxetina (antidepresivo) para los dáfnidos.Los niveles de drogas de abuso (y sus metabolitos) determinados en la cuenca del Ebro son aproximadamente uno y dos órdenes de magnitud más bajos respectivamente que los determinados en las aguas de salida y de entrada a las depuradoras. Sin embargo, debido a la falta de datos sobre su ecotoxicidad, no se han podido calcular índices de riesgo.La presencia de estos compuestos (fármacos y drogas) en aguas superficiales y de bebida aun no está regulada y, por lo tanto, no constituyen parámetros de obligado control. Aún es imprescindible seguir investigando para poder evaluar su posible efecto en la salud humana

aware assessing the fate of pesticides and waterborne contaminants

Two main issues have a high impact in the agricultural food production: the lack of water resources in some European countries and pollution with pesticides. The use of pesticides for pest control is a common practice. However, the usage patterns of water among European countries differ, e.g. Scandinavian countries rely on natural precipitation while many South European countries are facing difficulties in meeting the water demand of crops. In some European countries the use of treated wastewater has been implemented for irrigation when natural freshwater sources are scarce. [More](http://www.waterjpi.eu/joint-calls/joint-call-2016-waterworks-2015/aware

Health implications of water quality: drugs residues in water Repercusiones sanitarias de la calidad del agua: los residuos de medicamentos en el agua

<div class="column"><p><span>This manuscript summarizes the main results obtained in various monitoring studies conducted in the Llobregat and the Ebro River basins to evaluate the occurrence of pharmaceuticals and drugs of abuse in their aquatic environments and the potentially derived risks for environmental and human health. The occurrence of these compounds in surface waters, located downstream the point of discharge of sewage treatment plants (STP), points out STPs effluents as the main source of these substances in the aquatic environment. </span></p> <p><span>Both river basins had similar pharmaceutical contamination patterns. However, hazard quotients (HQ) calculated for three different trophic levels (algae, daphnia and fish) pointed out sulfamethoxazol (sulfamide antibiotic) for algae, gemfibrozil (lipid regulator) for algae and fish, clofibric acid (lipid regulator) and erythromycine (macrolide antibiotic) for daphnia, </span>and ibuprofen (analgesic anti-inflammatory) for all investigated tropic levels, as the compounds with the highest ecotoxicological risk in the Llobregat. In the Ebro River, the most problematic pharmaceuticals were sulfamethoxazol for algae, and erythromycine, clofibric acid and fluoxetine (anti-depressive) for daphnids.</p> <p><span>Levels of drugs of abuse measured in surface waters of </span>the Ebro River were one and two orders of magnitude lower than those observed in effluent and influent sewage waters, respectively. Lack of data about their ecotoxicity does not allow calculation of HQ for these compounds.</p> <p><span>The presence of pharmaceuticals and drugs of abuse in surface and drinking waters is not subjected to regulation; hence, they are not considered priority pollutants to be included in monitoring programs. However, due to their possible harmful outcomes in wildlife, research on their potential effects in human health is indispensable.</span></p></div><br><div class="column"><p><span>Este trabajo resume varios estudios de monitorización de fármacos y drogas de abuso llevados a cabo en el medio ambiente acuático de las cuencas de los ríos Llobregat y Ebro con el fin de evaluar la calidad del agua en relación a la presencia de estas substancias y su potencial riesgo para la salud ambiental y pública. La identificación de estos compuestos aguas abajo del punto de vertido de las plantas depuradoras apunta a la descarga de agua residual tratada como la principal fuente de emisión de estos contaminantes en el medio acuático. </span></p> <p><span>El perfil de contaminación por fármacos fue bastante similar en ambas cuencas. No obstante, los índices de riesgo (HQ) calculados para los fármacos en diferentes niveles tróficos (algas, dáfnidos y peces) indican que los compuestos que presentan un mayor riesgo ecotóxico en el Llobregat son el sulfametoxazol (antibiótico sulfamida) para las algas, el gemfibrozil (regulador de lípidos) para las algas y los peces, el ácido clofíbrico (regulador de lípidos) y la eritromicina (antibiótico macrólido) para los dáfnidos, y el ibuprofeno (analgésico anti-inflamatorio) para todos los eslabones tróficos. En el Ebro, los compuestos más problemáticos son el sulfametoxazol para las algas, y la eritromicina, el ácido clofíbrico y la fluoxetina (antidepresivo) para los dáfnidos.</span></p><p>Los niveles de drogas de abuso (y sus metabolitos) determinados en la cuenca del Ebro son aproximadamente uno y dos órdenes de magnitud más bajos respectivamente que los determinados en las aguas de salida y de entrada a las depuradoras. Sin embargo, debido a la falta de datos sobre su ecotoxicidad, no se han podido calcular índices de riesgo.</p><p>La presencia de estos compuestos (fármacos y drogas) en aguas superficiales y de bebida aun no está regulada y, por lo tanto, no constituyen parámetros de obligado control. Aún es imprescindible seguir investigando para poder evaluar su posible efecto en la salud humana.</p></div

Health implications of water quality: drugs residues in water

Este trabajo resume varios estudios de monitorización de fármacos y drogas de abuso llevados a cabo en el medio ambiente acuático de las cuencas de los ríos Llobregat y Ebro con el fin de evaluar la calidad del agua en relación a la presencia de estas substancias y su potencial riesgo para la salud ambiental y pública. La identificación de estos compuestos aguas abajo del punto de vertido de las plantas depuradoras apunta a la descarga de agua residual tratada como la principal fuente de emisión de estos contaminantes en el medio acuático. El perfil de contaminación por fármacos fue bastante similar en ambas cuencas. No obstante, los índices de riesgo (HQ) calculados para los fármacos en diferentes niveles tróficos (algas, dáfnidos y peces) indican que los compuestos que presentan un mayor riesgo ecotóxico en el Llobregat son el sulfametoxazol (antibiótico sulfamida) para las algas, el gemfibrozil (regulador de lípidos) para las algas y los peces, el ácido clofíbrico (regulador de lípidos) y la eritromicina (antibiótico macrólido) para los dáfnidos, y el ibuprofeno (analgésico anti-inflamatorio) para todos los eslabones tróficos. En el Ebro, los compuestos más problemáticos son el sulfametoxazol para las algas, y la eritromicina, el ácido clofíbrico y la fluoxetina (antidepresivo) para los dáfnidos.Los niveles de drogas de abuso (y sus metabolitos) determinados en la cuenca del Ebro son aproximadamente uno y dos órdenes de magnitud más bajos respectivamente que los determinados en las aguas de salida y de entrada a las depuradoras. Sin embargo, debido a la falta de datos sobre su ecotoxicidad, no se han podido calcular índices de riesgo.La presencia de estos compuestos (fármacos y drogas) en aguas superficiales y de bebida aun no está regulada y, por lo tanto, no constituyen parámetros de obligado control. Aún es imprescindible seguir investigando para poder evaluar su posible efecto en la salud humana.This manuscript summarizes the main results obtained in various monitoring studies conducted in the Llobregat and the Ebro River basins to evaluate the occurrence of pharmaceuticals and drugs of abuse in their aquatic environments and the potentially derived risks for environmental and human health. The occurrence of these compounds in surface waters, located downstream the point of discharge of sewage treatment plants (STP), points out STPs effluents as the main source of these substances in the aquatic environment. Both river basins had similar pharmaceutical contamination patterns. However, hazard quotients (HQ) calculated for three different trophic levels (algae, daphnia and fish) pointed out sulfamethoxazol (sulfamide antibiotic) for algae, gemfibrozil (lipid regulator) for algae and fish, clofibric acid (lipid regulator) and erythromycine (macrolide antibiotic) for daphnia, and ibuprofen (analgesic anti-inflammatory) for all investigated tropic levels, as the compounds with the highest ecotoxicological risk in the Llobregat. In the Ebro River, the most problematic pharmaceuticals were sulfamethoxazol for algae, and erythromycine, clofibric acid and fluoxetine (anti-depressive) for daphnids. Levels of drugs of abuse measured in surface waters of the Ebro River were one and two orders of magnitude lower than those observed in effluent and influent sewage waters, respectively. Lack of data about their ecotoxicity does not allow calculation of HQ for these compounds. The presence of pharmaceuticals and drugs of abuse in surface and drinking waters is not subjected to regulation; hence, they are not considered priority pollutants to be included in monitoring programs. However, due to their possible harmful outcomes in wildlife, research on their potential effects in human health is indispensable

Occurrence of carbamazepine and five metabolites in an urban aquifer

This paper deals with urban groundwater contaminated with carbamazepine (CBZ) and five of its human metabolites in Barcelona. Groundwater samples were accordingly collected in the aquifers of Poble Sec and Besos River Delta. Higher concentrations and more compounds were found in the Besos River Delta aquifer, which is recharged by a river contaminated with treated effluent from numerous treatment plants. By contrast, the urban area of Poble Sec presented lower concentrations and fewer compounds. The results showed that CBZ could be attenuated in the Poble Sec aquifer since concentrations in groundwater were lower than those evaluated from mixing of the recharge sources. Conversely, CBZ and its human metabolites were not removed under the reducing conditions of the Besos River Delta aquifer probably because of the short residence time in this aquifer. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Peer Reviewe

Hydrological variation modulates pharmaceutical levels and biofilm responses in a Mediterranean river

The Llobregat is a Mediterranean river that is severely impacted by anthropogenic pressures. It is characterized by high flow variability which modulates its chemical and biological status. The present work evaluates the effects of flow changes on the concentration of pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) and their relationship to cellular parameters of river biofilms. To this end, at two selected sampling sites at the lower course of the Llobregat river, surface water samples were collected twice a week over two hydrologically different periods exhibiting low and high river flows. Higher levels of PhACs were detected at the downstream sampling site. Irrespective of the flow regime, analgesics, anti-inflammatories and lipid regulators were the most abundant substances at both sampling sites with total concentrations of up to1000 ng/L and 550 ng/L at the upstream and downstream sites, respectively. Antibiotics (fluoroquinolones) and psychiatric treatment drugs were also detected at high levels in the second campaign achieving concentrations of up to 500 ng/L. The principal component analysis (PCA) performed with the PhACs concentrations of the two campaigns revealed differences in the various therapeutic groups depending on sampling site and period. After a flash flood event during the second sampling period, dilution of PhACs occurred, but their average concentrations measured before the flood were restored within two weeks. For the majority of compounds, PhAC concentrations displayed an inverse relationship with river discharge The effects of water containing different concentrations of PhACs on biofilm communities were evaluated and related to flow regime variations. Translocation of biofilm communities from a less to a more polluted site of the river demonstrated an increase in bacteria mortality in the translocated biofilms. After the flood, extracellular peptidase activity and chlorophyll-a concentration were significantly reduced, and biofilm growth rate was significantly lower.Peer Reviewe