Progress 01/01/10 to 12/31/10
Outputs OUTPUTS: A number of pharmaceuticals have been detected in surface waters across the United States. The objective of this study was to evaluate the presence of selected pharmaceuticals (macrolidic antibiotics and pseudoephedrine) and illicit drugs (methamphetamine, Ecstasy) in surface waters in the southwestern U.S. and evaluate the potential for food chain transfer when pharmaceutical containing waters are used for irrigation. Samples were collected spatially and temporally from waste stream tributaries and receiving surface waters in the southwestern U.S. Studies included greenhouse experiments where selected food crops were irrigated with water spiked with macrolide antibiotics and field experiments where selected field crops were irrigated with treated waste water effluent containing one or more macrolide antibiotics, pseudoephedrine, and methamphetamine. Water samples were prepared for analysis using an automated extractor (AutoTrace, Caliper Life Sciences) with Oasis MCX cartridges (Waters Corp.), subsequently extracted with 5-mLs of 80:20:1 methyl tertbutyl ether/methanol/acetic acid, and 5 mLs 99:1 methanol/acetic acid, and reduced to 0.5 mL using an automated evaporator (TurboVap-Zymark, Caliper Life Sciences). Plant materials were extracted using a modified pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) technique, followed by a rigorous hexane clean-up. Water extracts and plant PLE extracts were analyzed by liquid chromatography-electrospray-ion trap mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-ITMS/MS) in the positive ionization collision induced mode (CID) for greater specificity. One or more of the pharmaceuticals and/or illicit drugs evaluated were found in urban waste streams at concentrations sometimes exceeding 500 ng/L. However, amounts found in the main surface water channels were always below 10 ng/L and most frequently below detection. The results of the greenhouse and field studies indicate the uptake of one or more of the pharmaceuticals evaluated, albeit at very low-levels, into several of the crops species. PARTICIPANTS: Tammy L Jones-Lepp, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Exposure Research Laboratory-Environmental Sciences Division, Las Vegas, NV 89119. David Alvarez, USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center TARGET AUDIENCES: Not relevant to this project. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts It seems the pharmaceuticals we evaluated are near or below detection in the Colorado River. It also seems the potential for plant uptake is low for those pharmaceuticals we evalauted. Studies with other classes of pharmaceuticals are needed.
Publications
- Method developement and application to determine potential plant uptake of antibiotics and other drugs in irrigated crop production systems Jones-Lepp, T. L., C. A. Sanchez, T Moy, and R. Kazemi. 2010. Method developement and application to determine potential plant uptake of antibiotics and other drugs in irrigated crop production systems. J. Agric. Food Chem. 58:11568-11573
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Progress 01/01/09 to 12/31/09
Outputs OUTPUTS: The objective of this study was to evaluate the presence of macrolidic antibiotics and illicit drugs in surface waters of the lower Colorado River region. The first phase was focused on water sampling.Prelimanry results have been presented at scientific meetings. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts Waste stream tributaries and receiving surface waters at selected locations in Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and California were sampled. These water samples were prepared for analysis using an automated extractor with OASIS HLB cartridges, subsequently extracted with 6mLs of 80:20:1 methyl tertbutyl ether/methanol/acetic acid and 8 mLs 99:1 methanol/acetic acid, and reduced to 0.5 mL using an automated TurboVap. Data were collected with a Varian 500MS ion trap mass spectrometer by performing real-time mass analyses of LC eluents. One or more macrolidic antibiotics and/or illicit drugs were found in urban waste streams at concentrations frequently exceeding 100 ng/L. However, amounts found in the main surface water channels diverted for urban use and irrigation, including the Colorado River, were always <10 ng/L and most frequently below detection.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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