Abstract
In this study, ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a quadruple time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-ToF-MS) was employed to screen and identify pharmaceutical pollutants and emerging contaminants (ECs) in the Periyar River near Aster Medicity hospital, the dumping yard of Amrutha hospital, and the Vaduthala bridge regions in Kerala, India. The analysis was conducted in both positive and negative ionization modes using electrospray ionization (ESI). The QuEChERS method was employed for initial sediment sample preparation. Among the twenty-five identified ECs, four compounds were identified as pharmaceutical pollutants. This study have great significance as it represents the first comprehensive investigation of pharmaceutical pollutants in these hospital regions, highlighting the urgent need for further analysis and understanding of the situation. The presence of ECs poses an urgent need for attention due to the irreversible harm caused to the riverine ecosystem by the degradation of water quality resulting from industrial and domestic discharge.
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Acknowledgements
The authors acknowledge with gratitude to the Mahatma Gandhi University Kottayam for the Junior Research Fellowship and the Directorate of Collegiate Education, Government of Kerala for an internship to carry out the research work. Special thanks are extended to Dr. Mahesh Mohan, Assistant Professor at the School of Environmental Sciences, for his valuable guidance during the internship. The authors also express their gratitude to the Inter-University Instrumentation Centre and Dr. C. T. Aravindakumar, Professor and Director of Inter-University Instrumentation Centre School of Environmental Sciences Mahatma Gandhi University Kottayam for providing the UPLC-Q-ToF-MS facility. Additionally, the authors acknowledge to Mr. Naveen Babu Research Scholar of the School of Environmental Science at Mahatma Gandhi University Kottayam who produced the map of the study area.
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Tomy, T., Jameson, J. Screening of Pharmaceutical Pollutants Along with Emerging Contaminants in the Sediments of the Periyar River, Located in Kerala (India) by Using High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-Q-ToF-MS). Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 111, 31 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-023-03791-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-023-03791-9