Wastewater-based epidemiology of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in six cities of Spain: Consumption patterns, seasonal trends, and the role of refined correction factors

IF 4.2 3区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Environmental toxicology and pharmacology Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2026-01-09 DOI:10.1016/j.etap.2026.104934

Paloma De Oro-Carretero, Natalia Melones-Peña, Emma Gracia-Lor , Jon Sanz-Landaluze

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs) pharmaceuticals are one of the most widely used drugs worldwide. Their consumption in Spain experienced an increase from 2020 due to the global pandemic COVID-19, according to prescription packaging sales. However, many of these pharmaceutical products are over-the-counter or not all of the amount sold is consumed. Therefore, wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) was applied to provide objective and real-time information on their consumption. Seven pharmaceuticals were measured in untreated wastewater collected during one week between December 2020 and December 2021 from seven wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in different Spanish cities. The samples were analysed using an analytical methodology based on solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry with prior derivatization. The concentrations found were converted into population normalized daily consumption considering the daily flow rate, population and correction factors. Refined correction factors have been obtained by a systematic review of all accessible studies, considering the excretion factors of each substance and their stability in the sewer system. The results showed that pharmaceutical consumption was similar in the different WWTPs, with paracetamol, ibuprofen and acetylsalicylic acid being the most consumed with mean values of 7, 41 and 12 g/day/1000 inhabitants, respectively. The estimated NSAID consumption (MD), derived from wastewater analysis, aligned with the dispensing values (DCV), except for ibuprofen and diclofenac showing an overestimation of consumption. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed the predominant days of the week for each compound. In addition, an increase in consumption was observed in the New Year's Eve week. Overall, these findings demonstrate that WBE provides a reliable and complementary approach for assessing real NSAID consumption patterns in the population.

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西班牙六个城市中基于废水的非甾体抗炎药流行病学：消费模式、季节性趋势和精细校正因子的作用

非甾体抗炎药（NSAIDs）是世界范围内应用最广泛的药物之一。根据处方包装销售，由于全球大流行COVID-19，从2020年起，西班牙的处方药消费量有所增加。然而，这些药品中有许多是非处方的，或者不是所有销售的量都被消耗掉了。因此，应用基于废水的流行病学（WBE）技术，为其消费提供客观、实时的信息。在2020年12月至2021年12月的一周内，从西班牙不同城市的七个污水处理厂（WWTPs）收集的未经处理的废水中测量了七种药物。样品分析使用基于固相萃取和气相色谱串联质谱分析方法，并进行了事先衍生化。考虑每日流量、人口和校正因素，将发现的浓度转换为人口标准化日消耗量。通过对所有可获得的研究进行系统回顾，考虑到每种物质的排泄因素及其在下水道系统中的稳定性，获得了精确的校正因子。结果表明，不同污水处理项目的药物消费量相似，对乙酰氨基酚、布洛芬和乙酰水杨酸的消费量最大，平均值分别为7、41和12g/d /1000人。来自废水分析的估计非甾体抗炎药消费量（MD）与分配值（DCV）一致，但布洛芬和双氯芬酸显示出对消费量的高估。主成分分析（PCA）揭示了每种化合物在一周中的优势天数。此外，除夕那一周的消费也有所增加。总的来说，这些发现表明，WBE为评估人群中真正的非甾体抗炎药消费模式提供了一种可靠和互补的方法。

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 toxicology and pharmacology 医学-毒理学

CiteScore

7.00

自引率

4.70%

发文量

185

审稿时长

34 days

期刊介绍： Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology publishes the results of studies concerning toxic and pharmacological effects of (human and veterinary) drugs and of environmental contaminants in animals and man. Areas of special interest are: molecular mechanisms of toxicity, biotransformation and toxicokinetics (including toxicokinetic modelling), molecular, biochemical and physiological mechanisms explaining differences in sensitivity between species and individuals, the characterisation of pathophysiological models and mechanisms involved in the development of effects and the identification of biological markers that can be used to study exposure and effects in man and animals. In addition to full length papers, short communications, full-length reviews and mini-reviews, Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology will publish in depth assessments of special problem areas. The latter publications may exceed the length of a full length paper three to fourfold. A basic requirement is that the assessments are made under the auspices of international groups of leading experts in the fields concerned. The information examined may either consist of data that were already published, or of new data that were obtained within the framework of collaborative research programmes. Provision is also made for the acceptance of minireviews on (classes of) compounds, toxicities or mechanisms, debating recent advances in rapidly developing fields that fall within the scope of the journal.