Cited by 2,140Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental ImpactsPesticide Residue Analysis and SafetyAntibiotic Use and Resistance

Occurrence of Antibiotics in the Aquatic Environment

Hirsch, Roman, Ternes, Thomas, Haberer, Klaus, Kratz, Karl-Ludwig·1999·Science of The Total Environment

Abstract

The recent monitoring of drug residues in the aquatic environment has gained much interest as many pharmaceutical compounds can frequently be found in sewage treatment plant (STP) effluents and river water at concentrations up to several microgram/l. This article describes the analysis of various water samples for 18 antibiotic substances, from the classes of macrolid antibiotics, sulfonamides, penicillins and tetracyclines. Samples were preconcentrated via lyophilization and quantified using HPLC-electrospray-tandem-mass spectrometry. The investigated STP effluents and surface water samples showed frequent appearance of an erythromycin degradation product, roxithromycin and sulfamethoxazole with concentrations up to 6 micrograms/l. Neither tetracyclines nor penicillins could be detected at concentration levels above 50 and 20 ng/l, respectively. From the large number of ground water samples that were taken from agricultural areas in Germany, no contamination by antibiotics was detected except for two sites. This indicates that intake from veterinary applications to the aquatic environment is of minor importance.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1016/s0048-9697(98)00337-4

Cites

31 of 31 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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Authors
Hirsch, R., Ternes, T., Haberer, K., & Kratz, K.-L.
Affiliations
Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (DE)
Venue
Science of The Total Environment
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
1999-01
Volume
225
Issue
1-2
Pages
109-118
ISSN
0048-9697 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2029593210
Cited by
2,140
References
32
Citations by year
2026: 19 · 2025: 37 · 2024: 48 · 2023: 54 · 2022: 74 · 2021: 83 · 2020: 100 · 2019: 93 · 2018: 117 · 2017: 103 · 2016: 102 · 2015: 112 · 2014: 121 · 2013: 113 · 2012: 124
FWCI
25.17
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • The Science of The Total Environment (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung
  • Ministry of Environment
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Pesticide Residue Analysis and Safety
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology › Antibiotic Use and Resistance
Keywords
antibiotic residues, aquatic environment, sewage treatment plant effluent, surface water, groundwater contamination, sulfonamides, penicillin, tetracycline, roxithromycin, sulfamethoxazole, veterinary antibiotic use, agricultural land
MeSH terms
Agriculture, Animals, Anti-Bacterial Agents, Bacteria, Biodegradation, Environmental, Drug Resistance, Microbial, Erythromycin, Germany, Humans, Sewage, Water Pollutants, Chemical

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