Stereoisomeric profiling of pharmaceuticals ibuprofen and iopromide in wastewater and river water, China

Abstract

Stereoisomeric compositions can provide insights into sources, fate, and ecological risks of contaminants in the environment. In this study, stereoisomeric profiles of ibuprofen and iopromide were investigated in wastewater and receiving surface water of the Pearl River Delta, south China. The enantiomeric fraction (EF) of ibuprofen was 0.108-0.188 and 0.480, whereas the isomer ratio (IR) of iopromide was 1.426-1.673 and 1.737-1.898 in the influent and final effluent, respectively, suggesting stereoselective degradation occurred for both pharmaceuticals during wastewater treatment. Ibuprofen showed enantioselective degradation in the anaerobic, anoxic, and aerobic conditions, whereas iopromide displayed isomer-selective degradation only under the aerobic condition. In the river waters, the EF of ibuprofen was 0.130-0.327 and the IR of iopromide was 1.500-2.531. The results suggested that pharmaceuticals in the mainstream Pearl River were mainly from discharge of treated wastewater, whereas in the tributary rivers and urban canals, direct discharge of untreated wastewater represented a significant contribution. The IR of iopromide can be an applicable and efficient tracer for wastewater discharge in the environment.

Simultaneous enantiomeric analysis of pharmacologically active compounds in environmental samples by chiral LC–MS/MS with a macrocyclic antibiotic stationary phase

“…Although ibuprofen is marketed as a racemic mixture, only the active S‐(+)‐enantiomer was detected in influent wastewater samples (0.35 ± 0.09 μg l −1 ). It has been reported that R‐(−)‐ibuprofen undergoes chiral inversion during metabolism causing excess of the S‐(+)‐enantiomer in urine . This effect was reflected in this study in the higher concentrations of this enantiomer in influent wastewater.…”

“…It has been reported that R-(À)-ibuprofen undergoes chiral inversion during metabolism causing excess of the S-(+)-enantiomer in urine. [23,[35][36][37] This effect was reflected in this study in the higher concentrations of this enantiomer in influent wastewater. Interestingly, both ibuprofen metabolites were detected in influent wastewater with excess of the first eluted enantiomer (EF of carboxyibuprofen 0.83 AE 0.01; EF of 2hydroxyibuprofen 0.76 AE 0.01).…”

A review on emerging contaminants in wastewaters and the environment: Current knowledge, understudied areas and recommendations for future monitoring

“…It can be postulated that the presence of dissolved organic matter of comparatively high concentration, as well as particulates in environmental waters will reduce EC degradation kinetics by clouding sunlight intensity. However, West and Rowland (2012) found that humic acid (a small molecular weight charged species) slowed or increased degradation rate, dependant on the specific EC investigated. Increased degradation in the presence of humic acid or nitrates can be attributed to indirect photolysis (Andreozzi et al, 2003).…”

“…It should be noted that collated toxicological response information only gives a subjective insight into toxicity as this is highly dependent on the test species studied as ECs can cause varying toxicological responses between species type. Data obtained from: (Henschel et al, 1997;Holten Lü tzhøft et al, 1999;Wollenberger et al, 2000;Cleuvers, 2003;Ferrari et al, 2003;Pro et al, 2003;Cleuvers, 2004;Eguchi et al, 2004;Pomati et al, 2004;Cleuvers, 2005;Isidori et al, 2005a,b;Heckmann et al, 2007;Isidori et al, 2007;Kim et al, 2007;DeLorenzo and Fleming, 2008;Park and Choi, 2008;Quinn et al, 2008b;De Liguoro et al, 2009;Rosal et al, 2010;Han et al, 2010;Van den Brandhof and Montforts, 2010;Dave and Herger, 2012). EC 50 's classified as <1 mg l ¡1 ¼ very toxic to aquatic organisms, 1e10 mg l ¡1 ¼ toxic to aquatic organisms, 10e100 mg l ¡1 ¼ harmful to aquatic organisms and >100 mg l ¡1 ¼ not classified (Commission of the European Communities, 1996;Cleuvers, 2003).…”

An overview of sensors and sensing materials for heavy metals in aqueous environments

“…[70] In addition, the degree to which heavy metal cations complex with organic materials is affected by the pH of the environment. [71,72] Additional challenges are also present when using a polymeric sensing material. Some polymeric materials may shrink or swell with varying pH, which can affect the sensitivity and selectivity of the material.…”