Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in Indian rivers

Abstract

Pharmaceutical concentration data for Indian surface waters are currently scarce. Sewage often enters Indian rivers without prior treatment, and so previously reported environmental concentrations from regions with routinely implemented sewage treatment cannot simply be used to predict concentrations in Indian surface water. Improved knowledge of pharmaceutical concentrations in Indian waters would enable determination of potential risks posed to aquatic wildlife and human health in this region. The concentrations of five common non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs; diclofenac, ketoprofen, naproxen, ibuprofen, and acetylsalicylic acid) were determined in surface waters from 27 locations of the Kaveri, Vellar, and Tamiraparani Rivers in southern India. The samples were extracted by solid-phase extraction and analyzed by GC-MS. The measured concentrations of four of the five drugs in this reconnaissance were relatively similar to those reported elsewhere (ND-200 ng/l); however, acetylsalicylic acid, the most readily degradable of the investigated drugs, was found at all sites and at considerably higher concentrations (up to 660 ng/l) than reported in European surface waters. This is the first report on the occurrence of NSAIDs in Indian rivers. The finding of elevated concentrations of acetylsalicylic acid is most likely a result of direct discharges of untreated sewage. Therefore, readily degradable pharmaceuticals may present larger concern in regions without consistent sewage treatment. Based on measured environmental concentrations, the risks of direct toxicity to aquatic wildlife and of humans consuming the water are discussed.

Assessment of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and analgesic pharmaceuticals in seawaters of North of Portugal: Occurrence and environmental risk

“…Taking into account the compounds with high frequency of de-tection, it was observed that the highest concentrations were registered in August and September, with the exception of ketoprofen that showed a constant profile along the bathing season, registering a small variation in its concentration. The behaviour of ketoprofen might be justified by its difficult removal during wastewater treatment, being consistently found in surface waters (Shanmugam et al, 2014). Ketoprofen can also occur as ion at neutral or basic pH, and therefore is not readily adsorbed on particulate material, remaining in the aqueous phase (Araujo et al, 2014).…”

Radiation induced degradation of antiepileptic drug primidone in aqueous solution

“…However, in alkaline condition, Å OH and Å H are likely to react with OH À (Eqs. (6) and (7)) [36], thereby reducing the concentration of Å OH and Å H. Therefore, it can be conclude that the existence of Å OH and Å H proved to be effective for the degradation rate of PMD during electron beam irradiation.…”

“…Thus, some unchanged forms and the metabolites of the pharmaceuticals enter the ecosystem after being excreted. Certain chemically and biochemically-persistent pharmaceuticals have been frequently detected in surface water [6][7][8][9], drinking water [10,11], wastewater [12,13] and sediments [14].…”

Environmental Risk Assessment of Personal Care Products

“…Methods for assessing the ecological risks of anthropogenic pollutants are ample, and the most followed is the hazard quotient (HQ) approach [6,[16][17][18]. The quantitative approach to ERA includes three main components, viz., exposure assessment (predicted environmental concentration in different compartments such as water, soil/sediment, etc.…”