Work

Tracing Pharmaceuticals in Water Systems: Focus on Neurodegenerative and Psychiatric Treatments

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Pharmaceutical residues in aquatic ecosystems pose significant environmental and public health challenges. Identifying the presence and levels of these pharmaceuticals is crucial. This study developed an analytical method to detect pharmaceuticals used for Alzheimer’s (AD) and Parkinson’s (PD) disease, including psychiatric drugs and the stimulant caffeine, targeting 30 compounds. Optimized mass spectrometric and liquid chromatographic parameters enabled robust detection and quantification. The methodology was applied to 25 surface and wastewater samples. Twenty-one compounds were detected including eight psychiatric drugs, five metabolites (citalopram N-oxide, citalopram propionic acid, desmethylcitalopram, O-desmethylvenlafaxine, and 10,11-epoxycarbamazepine), and seven AD/PD pharmaceuticals along with caffeine. Nine compounds (apomorphine, benserazide, donepezil, didemethylcitalopram, carbidopa, norfluoxetine, galantamine, pramipexole, and safinamide) were not detected. Fluoxetine was found in all samples, and caffeine had the highest concentration at 76,991 ng/L, reflecting its high consumption. Concentrations ranged from 29.8 to 656 ng/L for caffeine,

Source: Journal of Xenobiotics

DOI: 10.3390/jox14040096

Authors: Paula Paíga, Cristina Delerue-Matos

Institutions: Rede de Química e Tecnologia, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Universidade Técnica do Porto

Language: English

Topic: Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts

Subfield: Pollution

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,819