Center for Environment and Energy Research and Studies (CEERS)
Abstract
The concentrations of some widely used pharmaceuticals, namely
fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin C17H18FN3O3, norfloxacin C16H18FN3O3
and ofloxacin C18H20FN3O4) and sulfonamides (sulfadimethoxine
C12H14N4O4S and sulfamethoxazole C10H11N3O3S ) were determined in urban
sewage sludge utilized for making compost. The levels of degradation of
these pharmaceuticals resulting from sludge treatment were assessed.
The concentrations of the studied pharmaceuticals sufficiently varied
both in sewage sludge and in compost and due to this phenomenon the
possible danger resulting from the presence of pharmaceuticals in
sewage sludge, used for composting, can not be ignored. The
concentrations of the studied pharmaceuticals were lower in compost, if
compared to the relevant concentrations in sewage sludge. The highest
pharmaceutical concentration in sewage sludge - 426 μg/kg - was
detected in the case of ciprofloxacin. The highest concentrations
present in compost were 22 μg/kg of norfloxacin and 20 μg/kg
of ciprofloxacin. Results show that before using the sewage sludge for
making compost or before using the compost a fertilizer for food
plants, they should be carefully tested against the content of commonly
used pharmaceuticals