Simultaneous analysis of selected dissolved pharmaceuticals in the water of the Danube River and its three major tributaries in Romania

Abstract

Occurrence and fate of 18 pharmaceuticals belonging to various therapeutic classes were investigated in the aqueous phase of river water at 16 sampling locations along the Romanian side of the Danube and its three tributaries (Jiu, Olt, Arges). Analyses were performed by solid-phase extraction (SPE) followed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization (LC-ESI-MS/MS). The target analytes belonged to the following therapeutic classes: analgesics, antiepileptics, stimulants and antibiotics. Out of 18 pharmaceuticals analysed, only 7 were detected and confirmed at concentration ranging from 1.2 ng/L to 128.0 ng/L. Caffeine and carbamazepine were the most ubiquitos compounds with detection frequencies of 100 % at a maximal concentration of 128 ng/L and 15.4 ng/L, respectively. Results revealed the presence of sulfamethoxazole in 87% water samples, clarithromycin in 75%, trimethoprim in 69%, cephalexin in 50% and ciprofloxacin in 12%. The obtained results are discussed in relation to relevant data available in literature.