Autor(es):
Paíga, Paula 
; Santos, Lúcia ; Amorim, Célia G. ; Araújo, Alberto N. ; Montenegro, M. Conceição B. S. M. ; Pena, Angelina ; Delerue-Matos, Cristina
Data: 2013
Identificador Persistente: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.22/3400
Origem: Repositório Científico do Instituto Politécnico do Porto
Assunto(s): Ibuprofen; Monitoring; Surface waters; Wastewaters; Landfill leachate; Portugal; Environmental risk assessment
Descrição
Ibuprofen is amongst the most worldwide consumed
pharmaceuticals. The present work presents the first
data in the occurrence of ibuprofen in Portuguese surface
waters, focusing in the north area of the country, which is
one of the most densely populated areas of Portugal. Analysis
of ibuprofen is based on pre-concentration of the analyte with
solid phase extraction and subsequent determination with
liquid chromatography coupled to fluorescence detection. A
total of 42 water samples, including surface waters, landfill
leachates,Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), and hospital
effluents, were analyzed in order to evaluate the occurrence of
ibuprofen in the north of Portugal. In general, the highest
concentrations were found in the river mouths and in the
estuarine zone. The maximum concentrations found were
48,720 ngL−1 in the landfill leachate, 3,868 ngL−1 in hospital
effluent, 616 ngL−1 in WWTP effluent, and 723 ngL−1 in
surface waters (Lima river). Environmental risk assessment
was evaluated and at the measured concentrations only landfill
leachates reveal potential ecotoxicological risk for aquatic
organisms. Owing to a high consumption rate of ibuprofen
among Portuguese population, as prescribed and nonprescribed
medicine, the importance of hospitals, WWTPs,
and landfills as sources of entrance of pharmaceuticals in the
environment was pointed out. Landfill leachates showed the
highest contribution for ibuprofen mass loading into surface
waters. On the basis of our findings, more studies are needed
as an attempt to assess more vulnerable areas.
