Occurrence of pharmaceuticals in selected wastewaters, the Las Vacas River, and its Tributaries in Guatemala
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: ABSTRACT Emerging contaminants, including pharmaceuticals, pose risks to human health and aquatic environments. In Guatemala, their research remained limited; as such, this study evaluates 35 pharmaceuticals, including antibiotics and antipyretic drugs, in wastewater and river water. In wastewater, antibiotics' detection frequency ranges from 7 to 93%, and the highest concentration was observed for trimethoprim at 1,790 ng/L. The detection frequencies of all antipyretics were above 91%, with maximum concentrations of acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen, and ketoprofen at 68,200, 7,230, 1,850, and 9,430 ng/L, respectively. In contrast, river water exhibited antibiotics at concentrations between 1.42 and 647 ng/L. The maximum concentrations of acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and naproxen were 8,580, 7,860, and 2,420 ng/L, respectively. However, river water exhibited both a higher detection frequency, with 24 pharmaceuticals found in a greater percentage of its sampling points than in wastewater, and a higher median concentration in 26 compounds. The highest median concentration in wastewater was in caffeine, 4,210 ng/L, while in river water, it was ibuprofen, 848 ng/L. Caffeine exhibited the highest concentration in both wastewater, 77,000 ng/L, and river water, 26,400 ng/L. These findings align with data from neighboring countries, providing valuable insights into the occurrence and distribution of these contaminants in Guatemala.
Source: Water Practice & Technology
DOI: 10.2166/wpt.2025.169
Institutions: National Taiwan University, National United University
Language: English
Subfield: Pollution
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7123643268