Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Pollutant Levels in Wastewater and the Waters of the Zarqa River, Jordan
Assamra wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) is the largest treatment facility in Jordan. Treated wastewater is discharged into the Zarqa River (ZR) and used to irrigate fodder and vegetables. ZR also includes surface runoff, stormwater, and raw wastewater illegally discharged into the river. This stud...
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doaj-742658e151da49b9a0538795f546cdca2021-09-25T23:41:40ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172021-09-01118638863810.3390/app11188638Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Pollutant Levels in Wastewater and the Waters of the Zarqa River, JordanMakoto Shigei0Almoayied Assayed1Ayat Hazaymeh2Sahar S. Dalahmeh3Department of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University, P.O. Box Villavägen 16, SE 753 38 Uppsala, SwedenRoyal Scientific Society, P.O. Box 1438, Amman 11941, JordanRoyal Scientific Society, P.O. Box 1438, Amman 11941, JordanDepartment of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University, P.O. Box Villavägen 16, SE 753 38 Uppsala, SwedenAssamra wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) is the largest treatment facility in Jordan. Treated wastewater is discharged into the Zarqa River (ZR) and used to irrigate fodder and vegetables. ZR also includes surface runoff, stormwater, and raw wastewater illegally discharged into the river. This study examined pharmaceutically active compounds (PhAC) in water resources in the ZR basin. Samples of WWTP influent and effluent and river water from four sites along ZR were collected. Concentrations of 18 target antibiotics, one stimulant, and 15 other PhACs were determined in the samples. Five antibiotics were detected in WWTP influent (510–860 ng L<sup>−1</sup> for ∑Antibiotics) and six in the effluent (2300–2600 ng L<sup>−1</sup> for ∑Antibiotics). Concentrations in the effluent of all antibiotics except clarithromycin increased by 2- to 5-fold compared with those in influent, while clarithromycin concentration decreased by around 4- fold (from 308 to 82 ng L<sup>−1</sup>). WWTP influent and effluent samples contained 14 non-antibiotic PhACs, one simulant, and six antibiotics at detectable concentrations. The dominant PhACs were paracetamol (74% of ∑PhACs) in the influent and carbamazepine (78% of ∑PhACs) in the effluent. At ZR sampling sites, carbamazepine was the dominant PhAC in all cases (800–2700 ng L<sup>−1</sup>). The antibiotics detected in WWTP effluent were also detected at the ZR sites. In summary, water in ZR is contaminated with PhACs, including antibiotics, and wastewater discharge seems to be the main pathway for this contamination. The occurrence of antibiotics and other PhACs in the irrigated soil requires investigation to assess their fate.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/18/8638Assamra WWTPcaffeinecarbamazepineirrigationofloxacinparacetamol |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Makoto Shigei Almoayied Assayed Ayat Hazaymeh Sahar S. Dalahmeh |
spellingShingle |
Makoto Shigei Almoayied Assayed Ayat Hazaymeh Sahar S. Dalahmeh Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Pollutant Levels in Wastewater and the Waters of the Zarqa River, Jordan Applied Sciences Assamra WWTP caffeine carbamazepine irrigation ofloxacin paracetamol |
author_facet |
Makoto Shigei Almoayied Assayed Ayat Hazaymeh Sahar S. Dalahmeh |
author_sort |
Makoto Shigei |
title |
Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Pollutant Levels in Wastewater and the Waters of the Zarqa River, Jordan |
title_short |
Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Pollutant Levels in Wastewater and the Waters of the Zarqa River, Jordan |
title_full |
Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Pollutant Levels in Wastewater and the Waters of the Zarqa River, Jordan |
title_fullStr |
Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Pollutant Levels in Wastewater and the Waters of the Zarqa River, Jordan |
title_full_unstemmed |
Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Pollutant Levels in Wastewater and the Waters of the Zarqa River, Jordan |
title_sort |
pharmaceutical and antibiotic pollutant levels in wastewater and the waters of the zarqa river, jordan |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Applied Sciences |
issn |
2076-3417 |
publishDate |
2021-09-01 |
description |
Assamra wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) is the largest treatment facility in Jordan. Treated wastewater is discharged into the Zarqa River (ZR) and used to irrigate fodder and vegetables. ZR also includes surface runoff, stormwater, and raw wastewater illegally discharged into the river. This study examined pharmaceutically active compounds (PhAC) in water resources in the ZR basin. Samples of WWTP influent and effluent and river water from four sites along ZR were collected. Concentrations of 18 target antibiotics, one stimulant, and 15 other PhACs were determined in the samples. Five antibiotics were detected in WWTP influent (510–860 ng L<sup>−1</sup> for ∑Antibiotics) and six in the effluent (2300–2600 ng L<sup>−1</sup> for ∑Antibiotics). Concentrations in the effluent of all antibiotics except clarithromycin increased by 2- to 5-fold compared with those in influent, while clarithromycin concentration decreased by around 4- fold (from 308 to 82 ng L<sup>−1</sup>). WWTP influent and effluent samples contained 14 non-antibiotic PhACs, one simulant, and six antibiotics at detectable concentrations. The dominant PhACs were paracetamol (74% of ∑PhACs) in the influent and carbamazepine (78% of ∑PhACs) in the effluent. At ZR sampling sites, carbamazepine was the dominant PhAC in all cases (800–2700 ng L<sup>−1</sup>). The antibiotics detected in WWTP effluent were also detected at the ZR sites. In summary, water in ZR is contaminated with PhACs, including antibiotics, and wastewater discharge seems to be the main pathway for this contamination. The occurrence of antibiotics and other PhACs in the irrigated soil requires investigation to assess their fate. |
topic |
Assamra WWTP caffeine carbamazepine irrigation ofloxacin paracetamol |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/18/8638 |
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