ASSESSING THE PREVALENCE OF PHARMACEUTICAL RESIDUES IN WADI ZOMAR CATCHMENT AREA IN PALESTINE: RISK ASSESSMENT FOR REUSE AND IMPACT ON HUMAN HEALTH
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Date
2023-06-08
Authors
Ala'a Monther Hassan Jaddou
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Abstract
Abstract
The occurrence of various classes of antibiotics and pharmaceuticals (PhCs) in the environment and their contribution to Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) development is questionable. AMR is recognized as a major health threat. Discharges from wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) is considered to be the major source contributing to the vast bulk of different pharmaceuticals in the environment. The researcher intends to investigate the prevalence of pharmaceutical residues in diverse aquatic matrices with more attention to the removal capacity of West Nablus WWTP with respect to the detected pharmaceuticals. Method: 2 raw wastewater, 2 treated wastewater, and 2 surface wastewater run-offs were collected in two grab sampling campaigns. An additional ground water sample was collected using a Passive Organic Chemical Integrative Sampler (POCIS). All samples were analyzed using LC-MS/MS. The Risk Quotient (RQ) was used for Measured Environmental Concentration (MEC) of detected antibiotics against Predicted No-Effect Concentration ((PNEC) to evaluate the risk for antibiotic resistance development according to the detected antibiotics residues. Sulfamethoxazole, Trimethoprim, Diclofenac, and Carbamazepine were the most frequently detected in all water samples. West Nablus WWTP delivered a significant removal efficiency in both campaigns. However, it was noticed that there was a significant spatial difference between the WWTP effluent discharge point and the Anabta-Zomar point of sampling directly after the rainy season. Ofloxacin residual concentration in immediate WWTP effluent discharges and surface run-offs along the sampling point is found to pose risk for AMR development in the environment. Groundwater is found to be polluted with Carbamazepine, Diclofenac, Ciprofloxacin, and Sulfamethoxazole. The local status indicates the need for further in-depth investigation regarding the risk of antibiotics to the environment and its role in the emergence of AMR concerning the detected antibiotics. Additional wastewater treatment methodologies are needed for better removal yield. Groundwater pollution requires urgent ecotoxicological studies for both human and animal health and environmental life forms.
Keywords: Antibiotics; Antimicrobial resistance; Bacteria; Environment; Health; Pharmaceuticals; Wastewater; WWTP.