es050991m_si_001.pdf (27.89 kB)
Removal of Pharmaceuticals in Sewage Treatment Plants in Italy
journal contribution
posted on 2006-01-01, 00:00 authored by Sara Castiglioni, Renzo Bagnati, Roberto Fanelli, Francesco Pomati, Davide Calamari, Ettore ZuccatoA listing of “priority pharmaceuticals” for human use in
Italy resulted in the selection of 26 pharmaceuticals, belonging
to 11 therapeutic classes. They were analyzed by liquid
chromatography−tandem mass spectrometry, their
occurrence was assessed in six sewage treatment plants
(STPs), and the loads and the removal rates (RR) were
studied. Total loads ranged from 1.5 to 4.5 g/day/1000
inhabitants in influents and 1.0 and 3.0 g/day/1000 inhabitants
in effluents. Total RR in STPs were mostly lower than
40%. Pharmaceuticals could be divided into three groups
according to their behavior in STPs: one group with RR higher
in summer than in winter, one group with RR similar in
summer and winter, and a last group not removed. Last,
we studied the distribution and fate of residual pharmaceuticals in the surface waters receiving the effluents
of the STPs and identified degradation and sorption as
the major factors affecting attenuation. Ciprofloxacin,
ofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole (antibiotics), atenolol (cardiovascular drug), ibuprofen (antiinflammatory), furosemide,
hydrochlorothiazide (diuretics), ranitidine (gastrointestinal
drug), and bezafibrate (lipid regulator) were the most abundant
residual drugs, thus those of environmental concern.