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Pollution pathways of pharmaceutical residues in the aquatic environment on the island of Mallorca, Spain

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-19, 20:35 authored by Rodriguez-Navas, C, Bjorklund, E, Bak, SA, Hansen, M, Krogh, KA, Fernando Maya AlejandroFernando Maya Alejandro, Forteza, R, Cerda, V
This work determines the principal environmental pollution pathways of pharmaceuticals on the island of Mallorca (Spain). The evaluation was made on the basis of the quantification of pharmaceutical residues by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry in several environmental water samples, including wastewater-treatment plant effluents, municipal solid waste landfill leachates, groundwater (GW), and marine water. An overall set of 19 pharmaceuticals has been identified in the environment of the 27 human pharmaceuticals investigated in this study. WWTP effluents are the main source of discharge of the pharmaceuticals into the aquatic environment. The data indicate that reuse of treated domestic wastewater for irrigation (which supplies some 30 % of the total water demand in Mallorca) contributes to the contamination of GW. In addition, leaching from landfills is identified as another, but minor, possible source of introduction of pharmaceuticals to GW aquifers. Finally, WWTP effluents ending in the Mediterranean Sea, primarily highly urbanized coastal areas, cause pharmaceutical residues to occur in marine water bodies.

History

Publication title

Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology

Volume

65

Pagination

56-66

ISSN

0090-4341

Department/School

School of Natural Sciences

Publisher

Springer-Verlag

Place of publication

175 Fifth Ave, New York, USA, Ny, 10010

Rights statement

Copyright 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Expanding knowledge in the chemical sciences

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