Determination of the occurrence of pharmaceuticals in Irish surface waters

The rising consumption of pharmaceuticals in the last decade have led to the contamination of global surface water ecosystems from µg/L to ng/L concentrations. The concentrations, fate and toxicological implications of pharmaceuticals and their residues remain generally unknown. The continual release, stability and biological activity of these “micro-pollutants” can lead to chronic environmental exposure, with ensuing behavioural and health-related effects to wildlife and potentially to humans. The objective of this project is to determine the presence and concentrations of pharmaceuticals in surface water and relate it to potential environmental effects to aquatic ecosystems. 12 pharmaceuticals are investigated in this study including diclofenac, trimethoprim, ciprofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole, amoxicillin, gemfibrozil, venlafaxine, carbamazepine, Estrone, 17α-ethylene estradiol, 17β-estradiol. These pharmaceuticals were selected from the water framework directives “Watch List”, or are recognised as contaminants of emerging concern. Seasonal surface water grab samples were collected and further underwent pre-treatment and concentrated using solid phase extraction (SPE) with OASIS HLB cartridges. Detection was performed by high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometer (HPLC-MS/MS). Outcomes from this research will aim to provide a robust method for the systematic monitoring of the occurrence of pharmaceuticals in surface waters at environmentally relevant concentrations.