Inactivation of antineoplastics in clinical wastewater by electrolysis

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) Vol. 60; no. 8; pp. 1018 - 1024
• Main Authors: Hirose, Jun, Kondo, Fumitake, Nakano, Takashi, Kobayashi, Toyohide, Hiro, Naoki, Ando, Yoko, Takenaka, Hiroshi, Sano, Kouichi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2005; Elsevier
• Subjects: Antibacterial activity; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; Applied sciences; beta-Galactosidase - metabolism; Cell Line; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Cytotoxicity; DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase; Electrodes; Electrolysis; Epirubicin; Epirubicin hydrochloride; Escherichia coli Proteins - genetics; Exact sciences and technology; Gene Expression; HPLC; Humans; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Mutagenicity; Mutagenicity Tests; Other wastewaters; Platinum; Pollution; Staphylococcus aureus - drug effects; Waste Disposal, Fluid - methods; Wastewaters; Water treatment and pollution; Cytotoxicity; Antibacterial activity; Epirubicin hydrochloride; Mutagenicity; HPLC; Antineoplastic agent; Drug; Toxicity; Inactivation; Mutagen; Biological activity; Carcinogen; Electrolysis; Water quality; Urban waste water; Physicochemical purification; Hospital; Teratogen; Waste water purification; Neutralization
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2005.01.024

Wastewater from clinical institutions contains a considerable amount of toxic substances. Among the toxic substances, antineoplastics may induce carcinogenesis, teratogenesis, and the emergence of mutant microorganisms in the environment. Although the incineration or chemical treatments of disposed antineoplastics are recommended, a high energy during incineration and a careful quality control during chemical treatment are required. In this study, we determined the conditions for the electrolytic treatment of an antineoplastic, epirubicin hydrochloride (EH), using two platinum electrodes with a constant current of 100 mA. We analyzed the cytotoxicity, mutagenicity and antibacterial activity of electrolyzed EH and compared them with those of unelectrolyzed EH. Nearly 100% cytotoxicity, mutagenicity and antibacterial activity were eliminated and HPLC did not detect an EH molecule, in the case of electrolysis for 6 h. We also examined the biological cytotoxicities of electrolyzed irinotecan hydrochloride, vincristine sulfate, mitomycin C, paclitaxel, methotrexate and cisplatin, and found that 72.1–99.999% toxicity was eliminated by electrolysis under the same conditions. The biological toxicity of a mixture of these drugs was determined to be decreased by approximately 99% by electrolysis under the same conditions.