The distribution of pharmaceuticals in dissolved and solid phase samples from wastewater treatment plants and their relation with endocrine disrupting activity

  • 李 哲宏

Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis

Abstract

The concentrations of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in the aquatic environment are getting higher due to the increasing use of various medicines In this study concentrations of 15 PPCPs in dissolved phase and solid phase samples from hospital and domestic wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) were analyzed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) Also recombinant yeast-based reporter gene assays were used to determine whether WWTP samples and 15 target PPCPs showed endocrine disrupting activities Bioassay results revealed that WWTP samples exhibited glucocorticoid receptor and thyroid hormone receptor antagonistic activities In addition most of the substances showing glucocorticoid antagonist activities were discharged through sludge samples LC-MS/MS results showed that the concentrations of some pharmaceuticals such as acetaminophen fexofenadine valsartan and acetylsalicylic acid in dissolved phase samples were up to dozens μg/L Negative removal efficiencies of certain PPCPs were also found in several WWTPs According to the risk quotient results naproxen diclofenac telmisartan carbamazepine and triclosan showed medium or high risk in WWTP effluents Our study suggested that analyzing the distribution of PPCPs in solid phase and dissolved phase samples is important to know the fate and potential risk of PPCPs
Date of Award2019
Original languageEnglish
SupervisorPei-Hsin Chou (Supervisor)

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