Assessment of Human Pharmaceuticals in Drinking Water Catchments, Tap and Drinking Fountain Waters
The occurrence of pharmaceuticals in water catchments and drinking waters raises potential risks to public health. Therefore, after addressing the major aquatic contamination pathway, the wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), and, subsequently, surface waters, 18 human pharmaceuticals from 6 therapeu...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-07-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/15/7062 |
| _version_ | 1797525766262489088 |
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| author | André Pereira Liliana Silva Célia Laranjeiro Angelina Pena |
| author_facet | André Pereira Liliana Silva Célia Laranjeiro Angelina Pena |
| author_sort | André Pereira |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The occurrence of pharmaceuticals in water catchments and drinking waters raises potential risks to public health. Therefore, after addressing the major aquatic contamination pathway, the wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), and, subsequently, surface waters, 18 human pharmaceuticals from 6 therapeutic groups (antibiotics, lipid regulators, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and hormones) were analyzed in drinking water catchments, tap and drinking fountain waters. This was performed by solid phase extraction (SPE) and liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass detection (LC-MS/MS). The 97 samples analyzed were collected from 31 different sites in the center of Portugal. All samples presented concentrations below the method detection limits (MDLs) that ranged between 1.13 to 5.45 ng L<sup>−1</sup>. The achieved results contributed to a better knowledge on the Portuguese and European context of drinking water, since there is a knowledge gap regarding this matrix. Comparing our data with other studies, published worldwide, we can observe that median concentrations of pharmaceuticals were reported in the low ng L<sup>−1</sup> levels, values close to our MDLs. Consequently, it is unlikely that, in light of the current knowledge, the presence of pharmaceuticals in drinking water presents a threat to human health. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:18:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-386c63d5065e4062a7ca39809cd098c6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:18:38Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-386c63d5065e4062a7ca39809cd098c62023-11-22T05:23:48ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172021-07-011115706210.3390/app11157062Assessment of Human Pharmaceuticals in Drinking Water Catchments, Tap and Drinking Fountain WatersAndré Pereira0Liliana Silva1Célia Laranjeiro2Angelina Pena3LAQV, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Bromatology and Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Polo III, Azinhaga de St Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, PortugalLAQV, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Bromatology and Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Polo III, Azinhaga de St Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, PortugalLAQV, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Bromatology and Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Polo III, Azinhaga de St Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, PortugalLAQV, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Bromatology and Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Polo III, Azinhaga de St Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, PortugalThe occurrence of pharmaceuticals in water catchments and drinking waters raises potential risks to public health. Therefore, after addressing the major aquatic contamination pathway, the wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), and, subsequently, surface waters, 18 human pharmaceuticals from 6 therapeutic groups (antibiotics, lipid regulators, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and hormones) were analyzed in drinking water catchments, tap and drinking fountain waters. This was performed by solid phase extraction (SPE) and liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass detection (LC-MS/MS). The 97 samples analyzed were collected from 31 different sites in the center of Portugal. All samples presented concentrations below the method detection limits (MDLs) that ranged between 1.13 to 5.45 ng L<sup>−1</sup>. The achieved results contributed to a better knowledge on the Portuguese and European context of drinking water, since there is a knowledge gap regarding this matrix. Comparing our data with other studies, published worldwide, we can observe that median concentrations of pharmaceuticals were reported in the low ng L<sup>−1</sup> levels, values close to our MDLs. Consequently, it is unlikely that, in light of the current knowledge, the presence of pharmaceuticals in drinking water presents a threat to human health.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/15/7062environmental contaminantspharmaceuticalschemicalsPortugaloccurrence and fate |
| spellingShingle | André Pereira Liliana Silva Célia Laranjeiro Angelina Pena Assessment of Human Pharmaceuticals in Drinking Water Catchments, Tap and Drinking Fountain Waters Applied Sciences environmental contaminants pharmaceuticals chemicals Portugal occurrence and fate |
| title | Assessment of Human Pharmaceuticals in Drinking Water Catchments, Tap and Drinking Fountain Waters |
| title_full | Assessment of Human Pharmaceuticals in Drinking Water Catchments, Tap and Drinking Fountain Waters |
| title_fullStr | Assessment of Human Pharmaceuticals in Drinking Water Catchments, Tap and Drinking Fountain Waters |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessment of Human Pharmaceuticals in Drinking Water Catchments, Tap and Drinking Fountain Waters |
| title_short | Assessment of Human Pharmaceuticals in Drinking Water Catchments, Tap and Drinking Fountain Waters |
| title_sort | assessment of human pharmaceuticals in drinking water catchments tap and drinking fountain waters |
| topic | environmental contaminants pharmaceuticals chemicals Portugal occurrence and fate |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/15/7062 |
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