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Presence of fluoroquinolones and sulfonamides in urban sewage sludge and their degradation as a result of composting

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Abstract

The concentrations of some widely used pharmaceuticals, namely fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin C17 H18FN3O3, norfloxacin C17 H18FN3O3 and ofloxacin C18 H20FN3O4 and sulfonamides (sulfadimethoxine C12 H14N4O4s and sulfamethoxazole C10 H11N3O3S were determined in urban sewage sludge utilized for making compost. The levels of degradation of these pharmaceuticals resulting from sludge treatment were assessed. The concentrations of the studied pharmaceuticals sufficiently varied both in sewage sludge and in compost and due to this phenomenon the possible danger resulting from the presence of pharmaceuticals in sewage sludge, used for composting, can not be ignored. The concentrations of the studied pharmaceuticals were lower in compost, if compared to the relevant concentrations in sewage sludge. The highest pharmaceutical concentration in sewage sludge — 426 μg/kg — was detected in the case of ciprofloxacin. The highest concentrations present in compost were 22 μg/kg of norfloxacin and 20 μg/kg of ciprofloxacin. Results show that before using the sewage sludge for making compost or before using the compost a fertilizer for food plants, they should be carefully tested against the content of commonly used pharmaceuticals.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Food Science and Hygiene, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 58A, 51014, Tartu, Estonia

    M. Lillenberg M.Sc. (Lecturer, Ph.D. Student)

  2. Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Jakobi 2, 51014, Tartu, Estonia

    S. Yurchenko Ph.D. (Research Fellow), K. Kipper M.Sc. (Ph.D. Student), K. Herodes Ph.D. (Associate Professor) & V. Pihl Ph.D. (Research Fellow)

  3. Institute of Physics, University of Tartu, Riia 142, 51014, Tartu, Estonia

    R. Lõhmus Ph.D. (Senior Research Fellow)

  4. Department of Environmental Protection, Tartu College of Tallinn University of Technology, Puiestee 78, 51008, Tartu, Estonia

    M. Ivask (Professor), A. Kuu Ph.D. (Lecturer), S. Kutti M.Sc., S. V. Litvin B.Sc. (M.Sc. Student) & L. Nei (Director and Professor)

Authors
  1. M. Lillenberg M.Sc.
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  2. S. Yurchenko Ph.D.
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  3. K. Kipper M.Sc.
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  4. K. Herodes Ph.D.
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  5. V. Pihl Ph.D.
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  6. R. Lõhmus Ph.D.
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  7. M. Ivask
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  8. A. Kuu Ph.D.
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  9. S. Kutti M.Sc.
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  10. S. V. Litvin B.Sc.
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  11. L. Nei
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Correspondence to L. Nei.

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Lillenberg, M., Yurchenko, S., Kipper, K. et al. Presence of fluoroquinolones and sulfonamides in urban sewage sludge and their degradation as a result of composting. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 7, 307–312 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03326140

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03326140

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