Monitoring of pharmaceuticals in aquatic biota (Procambarus clarkii) of the Doñana National Park (Spain)

• Published in: Journal of environmental management Vol. 297; p. 113314
• Main Authors: Kazakova, Julia, Villar-Navarro, Mercedes, Ramos-Payán, María, Aranda-Merino, Noemí, Román-Hidalgo, Cristina, Bello-López, Miguel Ángel, Fernández-Torres, Rut
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2021
• Subjects: Environmental protected area; Environmental water; Multiresidue pharmaceuticals analysis; Pollutants of emerging concern; Procambarus clarkii; Multiresidue pharmaceuticals analysis; Procambarus clarkii; Environmental water; Environmental protected area; Pollutants of emerging concern
• ISSN: 0301-4797; 1095-8630
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113314

In this work the presence of different pharmaceuticals at Doñana National Park (Spain) and their main entry sources (input source or entry points) have been stated over the 2011–2016 years period. Twenty-three selected pharmaceuticals (corresponding to eight therapeutic families) were evaluated in crayfish and water samples from Doñana National Park (Spain) (six sampling points selected in order to cover different possible pollution sources into and surrounding the Park). The multiresidue determination was carried out using enzymatic-microwave assisted extraction prior to high performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry detection. Sulphonamides (sulfadiazine, sulfamerazine, sulfamethazine, and sulfamethoxazole); trimethoprim, an antibiotic that is frequently co-administered with sulfamethoxazole; amphenicols (chloramphenicol, florfenicol and thiamphenicol); fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, flumequine, danofloxacin, gatifloxacin, norfloxacin, marbofloxacin and grepafloxacin); penicillins (amoxicillin); tetracyclines (chlortetracycline and oxytetracycline); non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (salicylic acid and ibuprofen); beta-blocker drugs (atenolol); and antiepileptics (carbamazepine) were analysed. Ciprofloxacin, ibuprofen, salicylic acid, flumequine, and carbamazepine were detected and/or quantified at some of the selected sampling points. A clear ecotoxicological risk to the ecosystem was demonstrated from the occurrence of ciprofloxacin in samples obtained after the punctual and massive presence of people inside the Park. Furthermore, flumequine and carbamazepine have been detected in Procambarus clarkii specimens in concentrations around 30 ng g−1 and 14 ng g−1, respectively, and their occurrence in the specimens could indicate the persistence of the discharge sources. The main source of pharmaceuticals into the Park might be the livestock farming activities, and the influence of urban wastewaters from surrounding villages does not seem to be very important. [Display omitted] •Monitoring of 23 pharmaceuticals in environmental samples from the Doñana National Park.•Analytes were quantified in aquatic biota (Procambarus clarkii) and water samples.•Captured Procambarus clarkii specimens might be used as future bioindicators.•The main sources for pharmaceuticals contamination into the Park might be the livestock farm activities.•Discharges from the urban wastewater treatment plants in the surroundings seems not to affect deep areas of the Park.