Occurrence and Seasonal Variation of Antibiotics in Fez-Morocco Surface Water

Abstract

The presence and accumulation of antibiotics in the water environment has become emerging contaminants of concern causing disruption of ecosystems worldwide. We describe here the seasonal variation and the occurrence of antibiotic residues in Fez city surface water (Morocco). During one year between February 2014 and January 2015, 8 surface water samples were collected monthly. Quantification of the 7 antibiotics was performed by on-line Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). A total of 96 surface water samples were investigated and the results revealed that 100% of the sites were contaminated by at least one antibiotic. Amoxicillin had the highest concentration with maximum concentration (4107 ng L 1), followed by ciprofloxacin (1058 ng L 1) and sulfamethoxazole was the most widely detected (93%). Seasonal variation showed that the concentration of antibiotics was higher in winter for trimethoprim (96 ng L 1), ciprofloxacin (438 ng L 1) and in summer for amoxicillin (1113 ng L 1), sulfamethoxazole (162 ng L 1) and erythromycin (47 ng L 1). The results from this research show that antibiotics are frequent contaminants in Fez city surface water. This is the first attempt to assess the occurrence of these 7 pharmaceutical residues in water samples in Fez Morocco.

Emerging Pollutants in Moroccan Wastewater: Occurrence, Impact, and Removal Technologies

“…e occurrence of bisphenol A, atrazine, amoxicillin, and paracetamol in surface water, groundwater, wastewater, and seawater from 11 countries was examined in this study, and the results are summarised in Table 2. For instance, Chaib et al [52] determined the presence of seven antibiotics in the Sebou River (surface water) of the city of Fez (Morocco), in which amoxicillin had the highest concentration (C Max � 4107 ng L −1 ). In contrast, Radwan et al [53] found phenolic EDs in surface and groundwater in Egypt and bisphenol A was most frequently detected in surface water with the maximum (C Max ) and average (C Avg ) concentrations (85,500 and 1085.3 ng L −1 , respectively), followed by methylparaben in groundwater with a C Max of 680 ng L −1 and a C Avg of 71.1 ng L −1 ; these results show that bisphenol A is present at high concentrations in water resources in Egypt.…”

“…e finding of Chafi et al [83] indicated that 27 endocrine disruptors and pharmaceuticals are present in Moroccan surface waters (Bouregreg River), in which bisphenol A and paracetamol are presented with maximum concentrations (302 and 120 ng L −1 ). On the other hand, Chaib et al [52] studied the occurrence of amoxicillin and other antibiotics in the surface water of the city of Fez (Morocco), where amoxicillin concentration reached 4107 ng L −1 . Indeed, few research studies have been conducted in Morocco on the effects of these contaminants on human health and the environment.…”

Drinking Water Systems as a Cocktail of Emerging Organic Contaminants: Occurrence, Public Health Risks, and Research Needs

“…For example, antibiotics in the range of 0.21-25.6 µg/L were detected along the Umgeni River in South Africa [42]. A related study reported the occurrence of antibiotics in surface waters in Fez-Morocco with amoxicillin, erythromycin, sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, oxolinic acid, trimethoprim having concentrations in the range of 0.0019-4.107 µg/L [44]. Furthermore, higher concentrations (3.4-18.4 µg/L) were detected in Tunisian groundwater [43], indicating that they can contaminate drinking water sources.…”

Occurrence and fate of pharmaceuticals, personal care products (PPCPs) and pesticides in African water systems: A need for timely intervention

“…However, most of these studies vary as some focus on specific compounds and concentrations, while some studies do not focus on the particular kind of these ECs. Besides, the compounds' nature varies between them [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 ]. The occurrence and fate of PPCPs and pesticides in water bodies such as surface waters, seawaters, wastewaters, and groundwater have been the subject of few studies in Africa ( Table 1 ), although they are the largest category of ECs [ 21 , 22 , 23 ].…”