Application of electrolysis to inactivation of antibacterials in clinical use

• Published in: Ecotoxicology and environmental safety Vol. 90; pp. 98 - 102
• Main Authors: Nakano, Takashi, Hirose, Jun, Kobayashi, Toyohide, Hiro, Naoki, Kondo, Fumitake, Tamai, Hiroshi, Tanaka, Kazuhiko, Sano, Kouichi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Diego, CA Elsevier Inc 01.04.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Active chlorine; amikacin; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Anti-Bacterial Agents - chemistry; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; antibacterial properties; Antiinfectives and antibacterials; Antimicrobials; Applied ecology; aquatic organisms; Bacteria; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Line; Cell Survival - drug effects; Contamination; cytotoxicity; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Electrolysis; Environmental Pollutants - chemistry; Environmental Pollutants - toxicity; Escherichia coli - drug effects; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Hospitals; Humans; Inactivation; new methods; Organisms; Pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs); plant growth; Predicted environmental concentrations (PECs); sewage; Sewage - chemistry; Staphylococcus aureus - drug effects; surface water; Waste Disposal, Fluid - methods; Waste water; wastewater; Active chlorine; Inactivation; Antimicrobials; Pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs); Predicted environmental concentrations (PECs); Cosmetic; Drug; Ecotoxicology; Chlorine; Toxicity; Concentration measurement; Environment; Antibacterial agent; Organic compounds
• ISSN: 0147-6513; 1090-2414
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2012.12.017

Contamination of surface water by antibacterial pharmaceuticals (antibacterials) from clinical settings may affect aquatic organisms, plants growth, and environmental floral bacteria. One of the methods to decrease the contamination is inactivation of antibacterials before being discharged to the sewage system. Recently, we reported the novel method based on electrolysis for detoxifying wastewater containing antineoplastics. In the present study, to clarify whether the electrolysis method is applicable to the inactivation of antibacterials, we electrolyzed solutions of 10 groups of individual antibacterials including amikacin sulfate (AMK) and a mixture (MIX) of some commercial antibacterials commonly prescribed at hospitals, and measured their antibacterial activities. AMK was inactivated in its antibacterial activities and its concentration decreased by electrolysis in a time-dependent manner. Eighty to ninety-nine percent of almost all antibacterials and MIX were inactivated within 6h of electrolysis. Additionally, cytotoxicity was not detected in any of the electrolyzed solutions of antibacterials and MIX by the Molt-4-based cytotoxicity test. ► Contamination of surface water with antibacterials may induce drug resistant bacteria. ► We examined if the electrolysis capable to inactivate 10 groups of antibacterials. ► Electrolysis was able to inactivate almost all antibacterials and the mixture. ► Cytotoxicity was not detected in any of the electrolyzed solutions. ► Electrolysis is considered to be applicable to treat hospital wastewater.