Environment Protection Authority, EPA Science, Victoria, Australia.
Environment Protection Authority, EPA Science, Victoria, Australia.
Environ Pollut. 2024 Oct 15;359:124695. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124695. Epub 2024 Aug 8.
Globally, pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) are detected in surface waters receiving wastewater, yet their presence in biota, remain largely understudied. To address this, we conducted a study that measured 46 PPCPs in spot water samples and fish caught up- and downstream from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Victoria, Australia. We sampled 15 sites located along four waterways following a 3-site design: WWTP-discharge('hotspot'), 'upstream'(∼2 km) and 'downstream'(∼2 km). Spot water and fish were also sampled at reference sites >100 km from WWTP discharge (n = 3). Additionally, spot water samples were taken from WWTP effluent outflows (n = 3). From each locality, we analysed 3-12 fish (n = 131 total). In waterways, passive samplers (POCIS; ∼28d, n = 19 PPCPs) were also deployed. Individual fish (axial muscle) and water were analysed with LC-MS-MS. We found that PPCP concentrations in environmental surface water ranged from<0.02-0.97 μg/L. In WWTP effluent, the range was <0.02-1.4 μg/L. Of the 46 PPCPs analysed, 12 were detected in spot water samples and five in fish. In water, the highest concentration detected was for antidepressant venlafaxine (3 μg/L). The most frequently detected PPCPs: venlafaxine (54.9%), metoprolol (41.2%), propranolol (29.4%), carbamazepine (29.4%), caffeine (17.6%) and sulfamethoxazole (17.6%). Out of 131 fish analysed, 35 fish had detectable levels of PPCPs in the muscle tissue. The highest muscle concentrations were: venlafaxine (150 μg/kg, redfin perch), and sertraline (100 μg/kg, eel). Bioaccumulation factors ranged from 104 to 341L/kg for venlafaxine in redfins, 21-1,260L/kg for carbamazepine in redfins and eels, and 367-3,333L/kg for sertraline in eels. Based on our human health risk calculations for venlafaxine, carbamazepine, sertraline, triclosan, and caffeine, consumption of fish does not pose a significant risk to human health. Despite this, most of the detected PPCPs in surface waters exceeded 10 ng/L trigger value, which has led to further investigations by EPA. Our study highlights the need for using multiple lines of evidence for estimating risks of PPCPs.
全球范围内，在接受废水的地表水和水域生物中都检测到了药品和个人护理产品（PPCPs），然而，对于它们在水域生物中的存在情况，人们的研究还很有限。为了解决这个问题，我们在澳大利亚维多利亚州的污水处理厂（WWTP）上下游进行了一项研究，测量了 46 种 PPCPs 在现场水样和鱼类中的含量。我们采用 3 个站点设计，在 4 条水道沿线的 15 个站点进行采样：污水处理厂排放口（“热点”）、“上游”（约 2 公里）和“下游”（约 2 公里）。在距离 WWTP 排放口>100 公里的参考站点（n=3）也采集了现场水样和鱼类样本。此外，还从 WWTP 流出物（n=3）中采集了现场水样。从每个地点，我们分析了 3-12 条鱼（n=131 条）。在水道中，还部署了被动采样器（POCIS；约 28 天，n=19 种 PPCPs）。使用 LC-MS-MS 对个体鱼（轴向肌肉）和水进行了分析。我们发现，环境地表水的 PPCP 浓度范围为<0.02-0.97μg/L。在 WWTP 流出物中，范围为<0.02-1.4μg/L。在所分析的 46 种 PPCPs 中，有 12 种在现场水样中被检测到，5 种在鱼类中被检测到。在水中，检测到的最高浓度是抗抑郁药文拉法辛（3μg/L）。最常检测到的 PPCPs：文拉法辛（54.9%）、美托洛尔（41.2%）、普萘洛尔（29.4%）、卡马西平（29.4%）、咖啡因（17.6%）和磺胺甲恶唑（17.6%）。在所分析的 131 条鱼中，有 35 条鱼的肌肉组织中检测到 PPCPs 水平。肌肉中最高浓度的 PPCPs：文拉法辛（红鳍鲈，150μg/kg）和舍曲林（鳗鱼，100μg/kg）。文拉法辛在红鳍鲈中的生物蓄积因子范围为 104-341L/kg，卡马西平在红鳍鲈和鳗鱼中的生物蓄积因子范围为 21-1,260L/kg，舍曲林在鳗鱼中的生物蓄积因子范围为 367-3,333L/kg。根据我们对文拉法辛、卡马西平、舍曲林、三氯生和咖啡因的人类健康风险计算，鱼类的消费不会对人类健康构成重大风险。尽管如此，地表水中大多数检测到的 PPCPs 都超过了 10ng/L 的触发值，这促使 EPA 进行了进一步的调查。我们的研究强调了需要使用多种证据来评估 PPCPs 的风险。
