Pharmaceuticals and radiopharmaceuticals in wastewater treatment plants: insights from an Arabian Peninsula nation

IF 5.8 3区环境科学与生态学 0 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Environmental Science and Pollution Research Pub Date : 2025-03-29 DOI:10.1007/s11356-025-36287-6

Ali Alfarsi, Anupama Kumar, Abbasher M. Gismelseed, Ahlam Al Azkawi, Marwa Al Mahdouri, Fadhila N. Al Mabsali, Sathish Babu, Yaqoob Al Harthy, Muna Al Hosni, Dayanthi Nugegoda

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Abstract

The growing introduction of pharmaceutical compounds into waterways is a contemporary environmental issue in the Middle East and North Africa. This escalating problem necessitates a careful examination of the risks associated with the presence of pharmaceuticals in water sources. The present study analysed samples from eight wastewater treatment plants in an Arabian Peninsula nation. Sixty-nine percent of pharmaceuticals were partially or fully removed, while 31% showed higher effluent concentrations, indicating potential accumulation post-treatment. The highest detected pharmaceuticals were paracetamol (1300 ± 8 ng/L), metformin (1100 ± 70 ng/L) in effluent, and mefenamic acid (630 ± 3 ng/L), captopril (560 ± 11 ng/L), and amitriptyline (510 ± 1 ng/L) in influents. For radiopharmaceuticals, influent activity exceeded that in effluents, with Ga-67 being the most prominent (influent, 0.28 ± 0.07 Bq/L; effluent, 0.22 ± 0.02 Bq/L). Sludge samples showed higher radioactivity levels than wastewater samples, primarily from I-131 at 5 ± 2 Bq/kg. The data obtained from this study will enable the assessment of potential hazards posed by pharmaceutical mixtures in the receiving environment in a hitherto less studied region.

Graphical abstract

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废水处理厂中的药物和放射性药物：来自阿拉伯半岛国家的见解。

越来越多的药物化合物进入水道是当代中东和北非的一个环境问题。这一日益严重的问题需要仔细审查与水源中存在药物有关的风险。目前的研究分析了来自阿拉伯半岛国家八个污水处理厂的样本。69%的药品被部分或完全去除，而31%的废水浓度更高，表明处理后可能会积累。出水中检出最高的药物为扑热息痛（1300±8 ng/L）、二甲双胍（1100±70 ng/L），进水中检出最高的药物为甲氧胺酸（630±3 ng/L）、卡托普利（560±11 ng/L）、阿米替林（510±1 ng/L）。对于放射性药物，进水活度高于出水活度，其中Ga-67最为突出(进水，0.28±0.07 Bq/L；出水0.22±0.02 Bq/L)。污泥样品显示出比废水样品更高的放射性水平，主要来自5±2 Bq/kg的I-131。从这项研究中获得的数据将能够在迄今研究较少的地区评估药物混合物在接收环境中造成的潜在危害。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Environmental Science and Pollution Research 环境科学-环境科学

CiteScore

8.70

自引率

17.20%

发文量

6549

审稿时长

3.8 months

期刊介绍： Environmental Science and Pollution Research (ESPR) serves the international community in all areas of Environmental Science and related subjects with emphasis on chemical compounds. This includes: - Terrestrial Biology and Ecology - Aquatic Biology and Ecology - Atmospheric Chemistry - Environmental Microbiology/Biobased Energy Sources - Phytoremediation and Ecosystem Restoration - Environmental Analyses and Monitoring - Assessment of Risks and Interactions of Pollutants in the Environment - Conservation Biology and Sustainable Agriculture - Impact of Chemicals/Pollutants on Human and Animal Health It reports from a broad interdisciplinary outlook.