Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Spatial distribution of illicit drugs in surface waters of the natural park of Pego-Oliva Marsh (Valencia, Spain)

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background, aim and scope

The Pego-Oliva Marsh is the second most important wetland in the Valencian Community (Spain). It is included in the RAMSAR agreement and represents one key point for migratory birds. Emerging contaminants from the human pressure, such as pharmaceuticals, illicit drugs and personal care product, are not included in the list of priority contaminants of the Water Framework Directive yet, and are neither monitored nor controlled. However, pollution of emerging contaminants can threaten the environment and even human health. In order to understand the status of the emerging contamination and recommend future rationalization of countermeasures, the occurrence of illicit drugs was investigated.

Material and methods

Samples were collected at 23 sites from the main irrigation channels and the marsh. Illicit drugs were extracted using solid phase extraction and determined by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. The method detection limits ranged from 0.01 to 1.54 ng l−1 and the recoveries from 57% to 120%.

Results and discussion

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine, ketamine, morphine, benzoylecgonine, cocaine, methadone, 6-acetylmorphine and nor-9-carboxy-tetrahydrocannabinol were detected. The mean concentrations were 0.62, 21.33, 1.30, 1.92, 2.25, 0.32, 0.04 and 0.07 ng l−1, respectively. The highest concentrations were in the north of Pego-Oliva Marsh.

Conclusions

The pollution status by illicit drugs of the Pego-Oliva Marsh has been established. However, contamination levels in all the area of the natural park were low compared with those reported in other superficial waters.

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

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Baker DR, Kasprzyk-Hordern B (2011) Multi-residue analysis of drugs of abuse in wastewater and surface water by solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography-positive electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry. J Chromatogr A 1218:1620–1631

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bartelt-Hunt SL, Snow DD, Damon T, Shockley J, Hoagland K (2009) The occurrence of illicit and therapeutic pharmaceuticals in wastewater effluent and surface waters in Nebraska. Environ Pollut 157:786–791

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Berset JD, Brenneisen R, Mathieu C (2010) Analysis of llicit and illicit drugs in waste, surface and lake water samples using large volume direct injection high performance liquid chromatography—electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). Chemosphere 81:859–866

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bijlsma L, Sancho JV, Pitarch E, Ibanez M, Hernandez F (2009) Simultaneous ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry determination of amphetamine and amphetamine-like stimulants, cocaine and its metabolites, and a cannabis metabolite in surface water and urban wastewater. J Chromatogr A 1216:3078–3089

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Blasco C, Pico Y (2009) Prospects for combining chemical and biological methods for integrated environmental assessment. TrAC Trend Anal Chem 28:745–757

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Boleda MR, Galceran MT, Ventura F (2007) Trace determination of cannabinoids and opiates in wastewater and surface waters by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. J Chromatogr A 1175:38–48

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Boleda MR, Galceran MT, Ventura F (2009) Monitoring of opiates, cannabinoids and their metabolites in wastewater, surface water and finished water in Catalonia, Spain. Water Res 43:1126–1136

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bones J, Thomas KV, Paull B (2007) Using environmental analytical data to estimate levels of community consumption of illicit drugs and abused pharmaceuticals. J Environ Monit 9:701–707

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cantoral-Uriza EA, Sanjurjo MA (2010) Benthic algal communities of some sources of the Oliva-Pego marsh, Valencia, Spain. Limnetica 29:287–299

    Google Scholar 

  • Castiglioni S, Zuccato E, Chiabrando C, Fanelli R, Bagnati R (2008) Mass spectrometric analysis of illicit drugs in wastewater and surface water. Mass Spectrom Rev 27:378–394

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds. Official Journal of the European Community L 103, 0001–0018. 25-4-1979

  • Dupré M, Fumanal MP, Sanjaume E, Santisteban C, Usera J, Vidals MJ (1988) Quaternary evolution of the Pego coastal lagoon (Southern Valencia, Spain). Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 68:291–299

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fernandez M, Ibañez M, Pico Y, Mañes J (1998) Spatial and temporal trends of paraquat, diquat, and difenzoquat contamination in water from marsh areas of the Valencian community (Spain). Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 35:377–384

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gheorghe A, van Nuijs A, Pecceu B, Bervoets L, Jorens PG, Blust R, Neels H, Covaci A (2008) Analysis of cocaine and its principal metabolites in waste and surface water using solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography-ion trap tandem mass spectrometry. Anal Bioanal Chem 391:1309–1319

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gonzalez-Marino I, Quintana JB, Rodriguez I, Cela R (2010) Determination of drugs of abuse in water by solid-phase extraction, derivatisation and gas chromatography-ion trap-tandem mass spectrometry. J Chromatogr A 1217:1748–1760

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Grung M, Heimstad ES, Moe M, Schlabach M, Svenson A, Thomas K, Woldegiorgis A (2007) Human and veterinary pharmaceuticals, narcotics, and personal care products in the environment. Current State of Knowledge and Monitoring Requirements. Norwegian Pollution Control Authority. TA-2325/2007, 1–96. Oslo, Statens forurensningstilsyn

  • Huerta-Fontela M, Galceran MT, Ventura F (2007) Ultraperformance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis of stimulatory drugs of abuse in wastewater and surface waters. Anal Chem 79:3821–3829

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huerta-Fontela M, Galceran MT, Ventura F (2008) Stimulatory drugs of abuse in surface waters and their removal in a conventional drinking water treatment plant. Environ Sci Technol 42:6809–6816

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kasprzyk-Hordern B, Dinsdale RM, Guwy AJ (2007) Multi-residue method for the determination of basic/neutral pharmaceuticals and illicit drugs in surface water by solid-phase extraction and ultra performance liquid chromatography-positive electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry. J Chromatogr A 1161:132–145

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kasprzyk-Hordern B, Dinsdale RM, Guwy AJ (2008) Multiresidue methods for the analysis of pharmaceuticals, personal care products and illicit drugs in surface water and wastewater by solid-phase extraction and ultra performance liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. Anal Bioanal Chem 391:1293–1308

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lin AYC, Wang XH, Lin CF (2010) Impact of wastewaters and hospital effluents on the occurrence of controlled substances in surface waters. Chemosphere 81:562–570

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Madden JC, Enoch SJ, Hewitt M, Cronin MTD (2009) Pharmaceuticals in the environment: good practice in predicting acute ecotoxicological effects. Toxicol Lett 185:85–101

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nyman JA, La Peyre MK, Caldwell A, Piazza S, Thom C, Winslow C (2009) Defining restoration targets for water depth and salinity in wind-dominated Spartina patens (Ait.) Muhl. coastal marshes. J Hydrol 376:327–336

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Postigo C, de Alda MJL, Barcelo D (2008) Fully automated determination in the low nanogram per liter level of different classes of drugs of abuse in sewage water by on-line solid-phase extraction-liquid chromatography-electrospray-tandem mass spectrometry. Anal Chem 80:3123–3134

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Postigo C, de Alda MJL, Viana M, Querol X, Alastuey A, Artinano B, Barcelo D (2009) Determination of drugs of abuse in airborne particles by pressurized liquid extraction and liquid chromatography-electrospray-tandem mass spectrometry. Anal Chem 81:4382–4388

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Postigo C, Lopez de Alda MJ, Barceló D (2010) Drugs of abuse and their metabolites in the Ebro River basin: occurrence in sewage and surface water, sewage treatment plants removal efficiency, and collective drug usage estimation. Environ Int 36:75–84

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rawls SM, Patil T, Yuvasheva E, Raffa RB (2010) First evidence that drugs of abuse produce behavioral sensitization and cross sensitization in planarians. Behav Pharmacol 21:301–313

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Riehl R, Kyzar E, Allain A, Green J, Hook M, Monnig L, Rhymes K, Roth A, Pham M, Razavi R, DiLeo J, Gaikwad S, Hart P, Kalueff AV (2011) Behavioral and physiological effects of acute ketamine exposure in adult zebrafish. Neurotoxicol Teratol. doi:10.1016/j.ntt.2011.05.011.

  • Sedore Willard S, Koss CM, Cronmiller C (2006) Chronic cocaine exposure in Drosophila: life, cell death and oogenesis. Dev Biol 296:150–163

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Soutullo A, De Castro M, Urios V (2008) Linking political and scientifically derived targets for global biodiversity conservation: implications for the expansion of the global network of protected areas. Divers Distrib 14:604–613

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stewart A, Riehl R, Wong K, Green J, Cosgrove J, Vollmer K, Kyzar E, Hart P, Allain A, Cachat J, Gaikwad S, Hook M, Rhymes K, Newman A, Utterback E, Chang K, Kalueff AV (2011) Behavioral effects of MDMA (‘ecstasy’) on adult zebrafish. Behav Pharmacol 22:275–280

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Strehler M, Klotzbach H, Madea B, Reibe S (2008) Development of Calliphora vicina when methadone is added to the food source. Rechtsmedizin 18:425–430

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Nuijs ALN, Pecceu B, Theunis L, Dubois N, Charlier C, Jorens PG, Bervoets L, Blust R, Neels H, Covaci A (2009a) Cocaine and metabolites in waste and surface water across Belgium. Environ Pollut 157:123–129

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Nuijs ALN, Pecceu B, Theunis L, Dubois N, Charlier C, Jorens PG, Bervoets L, Blust R, Neels H, Covaci A (2009b) Spatial and temporal variations in the occurrence of cocaine and benzoylecgonine in waste- and surface water from Belgium and removal during wastewater treatment. Water Res 43:1341–1349

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vazquez-Roig P, Andreu V, Blasco C, Pico Y, Andreu V (2010) SPE and LC-MS/MS determination of 14 illicit drugs in surface waters from the Natural Park of L’Albufera (Valencia, Spain). Anal Bioanal Chem 397:2851–2864

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zuccato E, Castiglioni S (2009) Illicit drugs in the environment. Phil Trans R Soc A 367:3965–3978

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zuccato E, Castiglioni S, Bagnati R, Chiabrando C, Grassi P, Fanelli R (2008) Illicit drugs, a novel group of environmental contaminants. Water Res 42:961–968

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work has been supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through the project Consolider-Ingenio 2010 CSD2009-00065 as well as by this Ministry and the European Regional Development Funds (projects CTQ2010-16448 and CGL2008-01693/BTE). Pablo Vazquez-Roig is holder of FPI grant from the Ministry of Science and Innovation (Spain). Dr. Vicente Urios, director of the natural park, is also acknowledged for the help and facilities to obtain the samples.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratori de Nutrició i Bromatologia, Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de València, Av, Vicent Andrés s/n, 46100, Burjassot, València, Spain

    Pablo Vazquez-Roig, Cristina Blasco & Yolanda Picó

  2. Centro de Investigaciones sobre Desertificacion-CIDE (CSIC-UV-GV), Camí de la Marjal s/n, 46470, Albal, Valencia, Spain

    Vicente Andreu

  3. Departament d’Economia Aplicada, Facultat d’Economia, Universitat de València, Campus dels Tarongers s/n, 46022, València, Spain

    Francisco Morillas

Authors
  1. Pablo Vazquez-Roig
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Vicente Andreu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Cristina Blasco
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Francisco Morillas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Yolanda Picó
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yolanda Picó.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Vazquez-Roig, P., Andreu, V., Blasco, C. et al. Spatial distribution of illicit drugs in surface waters of the natural park of Pego-Oliva Marsh (Valencia, Spain). Environ Sci Pollut Res 19, 971–982 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-011-0617-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-011-0617-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation