Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Occurrence of pharmaceuticals and hormones in drinking water treated from surface waters

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Environmental Chemistry Letters Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The levels of a wide variety of pharmaceuticals and hormones, in source and potable-water supplies of French drinking water treatment plants, were assessed. In surface waters, 27 of the 51 target compounds were determined at least once. Paracetamol, salicylic acid and carbamazepine were quantified in more than 80% of samples. The highest concentration of 71 ng/L was observed for paracetamol. Twelve other substances were widely found in the surface waters studied, contaminating between 33 and 80% of the samples. These compounds include analgesics, psychotropic drugs, antibiotics and beta-blockers consistent with the French consumption, as well as natural hormones (oestrone, progesterone and androgens) and synthetic progestatives. In drinking water supplies, 25 compounds were also present, salicylic acid being the most frequently detected. Carbamazepine and the β-blocker atenolol found at lower levels (maximum 2 ng/L), are also present in more than 30% of the contaminated drinking waters. The pharmaceuticals exhibit different reactivity towards the treatments, while progestagens and androgens seem resistant to most of them. The effectiveness of the treatments is discussed, as well as the consequences of the presence of all these compounds on human health. This is the first time that such a long list of compounds (51) is proposed to assessment, and consequently this study provides the first data on pharmaceuticals and steroids occurrences in French drinking waters and represents a basis for the assessment of risks for humans. Moreover, at the international level, this is the first time that so many substances are quantified in drinking water, due to the very low detection limits, especially in the case of the hormones.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • AFSSAPS (2008) Analysis of sales of medicines to pharmacies and hospitals in France 1996–2006, 6th edition

  • Barel-Cohen K, Shore S, Shemesh M, Wenzel A, Mueller J, Kronfeld-Schor N (2006) Monitoring of natural and synthetic hormones in a polluted river. J Environ Manag 78:16–23

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barnes KK, Kolpin DW, Furlong ET, Zaugg SD, Meyer MT, Barber LB (2008) A national reconnaissance of pharmaceuticals and other organic wastewater contaminants in the United States–I) groundwater. Sci Total Environ 402:192–200

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Belfroid AC, Vand der Horst A, Vethaak AD, Schafer AJ, Rijs GBJ, Wegener J, Cofino WP (1999) Analysis and occurrence of estrogenic hormones and their glucoronides in surface water and waste water in the Netherlands. Sci Total Environ 225:101–108

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Besse JP, Garric J (2008) Human pharmaceutical in surface waters. Implementation of a prioritization methodology and application to the French situation. Toxicol Lett 176:104–123

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cargouet M, Perdiz D, Mouatassim-Souali A, Tamisier-Karolak S, Levi Y (2004) Assessment of river contamination by estrogenic compounds in Paris area (France). Sci Total Environ 324:55–66

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen CY, Wen TY, Wang GS, Cheng HW, Lin YH, Lien GW (2007) Determining estrogenic steroids in Taipei waters and removal in drinking water treatment using high-flow solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. Sci Total Environ 378:352–365

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Christensen FM (1998) Pharmaceuticals in the environment—a human risk? Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 28:212–221

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cleuvers M (2004) Mixture toxicity of the anti-inflammatory drugs diclofenac, ibuprofen, naproxen, and salicylic acid. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 59:309–315

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Collier AC (2007) Pharmaceuticals contaminants in potable water: potential concerns for pregnant women and children. Ecohealth 4:164–171

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cren-Olivé C, Wiest L, Baudot R, Grenier-Loustalot MF (2009) Development of a multi-residue analytical methodology based on liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for screening and trace level determination of pharmaceuticals in surface and groundwaters. J Chromatogr A (submitted)

  • Debska J, Kot-Wasik A, Namiesnik J (2004) Fate and analysis of pharmaceutical residues in the aquatic environment. Crit Rev Anal Chem 34:51–67

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fawell JK, Sheahan D, James HA, Hurst M, Scott S (2001) Oestrogens and oestrogenic activity in raw and treated water in Severn Trent Water. Water Res 35:1240–1244

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Filali-Meknassi Y, Tyagi RD, Surampalli RY, Barata C, Riva MC (2004) Endocrine disrupting compounds in wastewater, sludge treatment processes and receiving waters: overview. Pract Period Hazard Toxic Radioact Waste Manag 8:1–18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Focazio MJ, Kolpin DW, Barnes KK, Furlong ET, Meyer T, Zaugg SD, Barber LB, Thurman ME (2008) A national reconnaissance for pharmaceuticals and other organic wastewater contaminants in the United States—II) untreated drinking water sources. Sci Total Environ 402:201–216

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Halling-Sorensen B, Nielsen SN, Lanzky PF, Ingerslev F, Holten Lutzheft HCH, Jorgensen SE (1998) Occurrence, fate and effects of pharmaceutical substances in the environment—a review. Chemosphere 36:357–393

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hu J, Zhang H, Chang H (2005) Improved method for analyzing estrogens in water by liquid chromatography-electrospray mass spectrometry. J Chromatogr A 1070:221–224

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hua W, Bennett ER, Letcher RJ (2006) Ozone treatment and the depletion of detectable pharmaceuticals and atrazine herbicide in drinking water sourced from the upper Detroit River, Ontario, Canada. Water Res 40:2259–2266

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jones AJ, Lester JN, Voulvoulis N (2005) Pharmaceutical: a threat to drinking water? Trends Biotechnol 23:163–167

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim SD, Cho J, Kim IS, Vanderford BJ, Snyder SA (2007) Occurrence and removal of pharmaceuticals and endocrine disruptors in South Korean surface, drinking, and waste waters. Water Res 41:1013–1021

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kolpin DW, Furlong ET, Meyer MT, Thurman EM, Zaugg SD, Barber LB, Buxton HT (2002) Pharmaceutical, hormones, other organics wastewater contaminants in U.S. streams, 1999–2000: a national reconnaissance. Environ Sci Technol 36:1202–1211

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • KowWin program (1999) Environmental Science Centre, Syracuse Research Corp.: New York, http://www.syrres.com/esc/kowwin.htm

  • Kuch MH, Ballschmiter K (2001) Determination of endocrine-disrupting phenolic compounds and estrogens in surface and drinking water by HRGC-(NCI)-MS in the pictogram per liter range. Environ Sci Technol 35:3201–3206

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kümmerer K (2001) Drugs in the environment: emission of drugs, diagnostic aids and disinfectants into wastewater by hospitals in relation to other sources—a review. Chemosphere 45:957–969

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kümmerer K (2009) The presence of pharmaceuticals in the environment due to human use—present knowledge and future challenges. J Environ Manag 90:2354–2366

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kuster M, Lopez de Alda MJ, Hernando MD, Petrovic M, Martin-Alonso J, Barcelo D (2008) Analysis and occurrence of pharmaceuticals, estrogens, progestagens and polar pesticides in sewage treatment plant effluents, river water and drinking water in the Llobregat river basin (Barcelona, Spain). J Hydrol 358:112–123

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nakada N, Shinohara H, Murata A, Kiri K, Managaki S, Sato N, Takada H (2007) Removal of selected pharmaceuticals and personal car products (PPCPs) and endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) during sand filtration and ozonation at a municipal sewage treatment plant. Water Res 41:4373–4382

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pomati F, Castiglioni S, Zuccato E, Fanelli R, Vigetti D, Rossetti C, Calamari D (2006) Effects of a complex mixture of therapeutic drugs at environmental levels on human embryonic cells. Environ Sci Technol 40:2442–2447

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rodriguez-Mozaz S, Lopez de Alda M, Barcelo D (2004) Monitoring of estrogens, pesticides and bisphenol A in natural waters and drinking water treatment plant by solid-phase extraction-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. J Chromatogr A 1045:85–92

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schulman LJ, Sargent EV, Naumann BD, Faria EC, Dolan DG, Wargo JP (2002) A human health risk assessment of pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment. Hum Ecol Risk Assess 8:657–680

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shore LS, Shemesh M (2003) Naturally produced steroid hormones and their release into the environment. Pure Appl Chem 75:1859–1871

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Simazaki E, Fujiwara J, Manabe S, Matsuda M, Asami M, Kunikane S (2008) Removal of selected pharmaceuticals by chlorination, coagulation-sedimentation and powdered activated carbon treatment. Water Sci Technol 58:1129–1135

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stackelberg PE, Furlong ET, Meyer MT, Zaugg SD, Henderson AK, Reissman DB (2004) Persistence of pharmaceutical compound and other organic wastewater contaminants in a conventional drinking-water-treatment plant. Sci Total Environ 329:99–113

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stackelberg PE, Gibs J, Furlong ET, Meyer MT, Zaugg SD, Lippincott RL (2007) Efficiency of conventional drinking-water-treatment processes in removal of pharmaceuticals and other organic compounds. Sci Total Environ 377:255–272

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stolker AMM, Niesing W, Hogendoorn EA, Versteegh JFM, Fuchs R, Brinkman UAT (2004) Liquid chromatography with triple-quadrupole or quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry for screening and confirmation of residues of pharmaceuticals in water. Anal Bioanal Chem 378:955–963

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ternes TA, Stumpf M, Mueller J, Haberer K, Wilken RD, Servos M (1999) Behavior and occurrence of estrogens in municipal sewage treatment plants–I. Investigations in Germany, Canada and Brazil. Sci Total Environ 225:81–90

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ternes TA, Meisenheimer M, McDowell D, Sacher F, Brauch HJ, Haist-Gulde B, Preuss G, Wilme U, Zulei-Seibert N (2002) Removal of pharmaceuticals during drinking water treatment. Environ Sci Technol 36:3855–3863

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vanderford BJ, Pearson RA, Rexing DJ, Snyder SA (2007) Analysis of endocrine disruptors, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products in water using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. Anal Chem 75:6265–6274

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vulliet E, Wiest L, Baudot R, Grenier-Loustalot MF (2008) Multi-residue analysis of steroids at sub ng/L levels in surface and ground-waters using liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. J Chromatogr A 1210:84–91

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Webb S, Ternes T, Gibert M, Olejniczak K (2003) Indirect human exposure to pharmaceuticals via drinking water. Toxicol Lett 142:157–167

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Westerhoff P, Yoon Y, Snyder S, Wert E (2005) Fate of endocrine-disruptor, pharmaceutical, and personal care product chemicals during simulated drinking water treatment processes. Environ Sci Technol 39:6649–6663

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zuccato E, Calamari D, Natangelo M, Fanelli R (2000) Presence of therapeutic drugs in the environment. Lancet 355:1789–1790

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zuccato E, Castiglioni S, Fanelli R, Reitano G, Bagnati R, Chiabrando C, Pomati F, Rossetti C, Calamari D (2006) Pharmaceuticals in the environment in Italy: causes, occurrence, effects and control. Environ Sci Pollut Res 13:15–21

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Service Central d’Analyse du CNRS - USR59, Chemin du Canal, 69360, Solaize, France

    Emmanuelle Vulliet, Cécile Cren-Olivé & Marie-Florence Grenier-Loustalot

Authors
  1. Emmanuelle Vulliet
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Cécile Cren-Olivé
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Marie-Florence Grenier-Loustalot
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Emmanuelle Vulliet.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Vulliet, E., Cren-Olivé, C. & Grenier-Loustalot, MF. Occurrence of pharmaceuticals and hormones in drinking water treated from surface waters. Environ Chem Lett 9, 103–114 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-009-0253-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-009-0253-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation