Fate of pharmaceutical residue in two Romanian rivers receiving treated water: Occurrence, distribution and risk assessment.

This study presents the first set of data on the removal of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and histamine H2 receptor antagonists (HRAs) and their transformation products in two Romanian wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), as well as the impact of these organic pollutants on freshwater receiving effluents. The research investigated eight target pharmaceuticals and three metabolites using a newly developed and validated Liquid Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method. The combined determination had a range of quantification limits varying from 0.

Occurrence and distribution of azole antifungal agents in eight urban Romanian waste water treatment plants.

Azole compounds are utilized to combat fungal infections in plants to protect them and also used for treating mycosis in humans. The LC-MS/MS method is a technique that combines liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry for analysis of twelve azole compounds from wastewater (influent, effluent) and sewage sludge. The compounds were isolated from waste water using automatic extraction in the solid phase.

An Initial Survey on Occurrence, Fate, and Environmental Risk Assessment of Organophosphate Flame Retardants in Romanian Waterways.

Organophosphate ester flame retardants (OPFRs) are ubiquitous organic pollutants in the environment and present an important preoccupation due to their potential toxicity to humans and biota. They can be found in various sources, including consumer products, building materials, transportation industry, electronic devices, textiles and clothing, and recycling and waste management. This paper presents the first survey of its kind in Romania, investigating the composition, distribution, possible sources, and environmental risks of OPFRs in five wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and the rivers receiving their effluents.