The use of non-target high-resolution mass spectrometry screening to detect the presence of antibiotic residues in urban streams of Greensboro North Carolina

AbstractAntibiotic pollution in aquatic systems is a concern for human and environmental health. The concern is largely due to the global occurrence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. From 2017 to 2018 in the NC Piedmont, 15 ion masses associated with antibiotics were detected in rural streams and groundwater. Four of these masses were confirmed to be  antibiotics through target analysis (sulfamethoxazole, sulfamerazine, erythromycin, danofloxacin). Concentrations of antibiotics were as high as 1.8 μg/L. As a follow-up, antibiotic residues in urban streams sites in Greensboro, NC, USA, were investigated. Urban streams are heavily influenced by the dense populations surrounding them. In the fall, winter, and spring seasons, surface water was collected from eight sites along two urban streams. Sampling was conducted at streams sites above and below municipal hospitals and wastewater treatment facilities in the study area. At the conclusion of the survey, nine ion masses associated with antibiotics used in both human and veterinary medicine were detected from surface water collected. Three of the four antibiotics targeted in rural stream samples were detected and confirmed in urban stream samples (sulfamerazine, danofloxacin, and eryth romycin). Detection frequencies of the three antibiotics ranged from 0 to 46%. Concentrations of each target antibiotic was as followed: SMX (0 to<10  ng/L), SMR (0 to<11  ng/L), DAN (0 to<20  ng/L), and ETM (0 to<15  ng/L). Each...
Source: Journal of Environmental Health Science and Engineering - Category: Environmental Health Source Type: research