Stability of 28 typical prescription drugs in sewer systems and interaction with the biofilm bacterial community

Biomarker selection strategies based on compound stability in wastewater-based epidemiology

“…Although clonazepam and flunitrazepam decayed < 20% in sewage after 24 h, their metabolites, 7-aminoclonazepam, and 7-aminoflunitrazepam, are more stable (decay rates < 5%) (Table 3 ). Therefore, it is more appropriate to use their metabolites as biomarkers (Liu et al 2022 ; Racamonde et al 2014 ). The excretion rate of 7-aminoflunitrazepam is about 90% and CF is 0.81 (Shu et al 2021 ).…”

“… 1 The stability classification of the substances in-sewer and in the storage period is: high stability (decay < 20%), medium stability (decay 20–60%), and low stability (decay > 60%). Data in Table 3 are from Baker and Kasprzyk-Hordern 2011 ; Fedorova et al 2014 ; Gao et al 2019 ; Lin et al 2021a ; Liu et al 2022 ; Racamonde et al 2014 ; Richard et al 2020 ; and Yan et al 2019 . NA: not available a Room temperature stability study for 72 h–7 days; refrigeration stability study for 72 h–7 days; frozen stability study for 27–120 days b In-sewer stability study for 6–24 h …”

“…Currently, most of the research on benzodiazepines is limited to the detection of drugs, and only a few drugs have reported stability data (Liu et al 2022 ). The link between drug use levels and population health has not been established, so more research is needed to promote the use of WBE for this class of drugs.…”

“…The three common antihistamines loratadine, fexofenadine, and cetirizine, as well as the asthma drugs salbutamol and salmeterol, are excreted in the urine after administration. And their consumption is now mainly back-calculated using the parent drug as biomarker (Choi et al 2018 ; Liu et al 2022 ). The decay rate of salbutamol is < 20% after 24 h in sewage and sewer (Table 3 ), which is a highly stable substance.…”

“…Cetirizine is stable in sewage (decay rate < 20% after 72 h at room temperature), but decayed > 20% in aerobic sewer. Whereas, Fexofenadine is stable in both sewage and sewer with a decay rate < 20% (Table 3 ) (Fedorova et al 2014 ; Liu et al 2022 ), making it more suitable as biomarker for antihistamines. In addition to this, more asthma, allergy, and other respiratory medications should be detected, as consumers may use many different medications based on need and preference.…”