Multiclass Analysis for the Determination of Pharmaceuticals and Their Main Metabolites in Leafy and Root Vegetables.

The irrigation of soils with reclaimed contaminated wastewater or its amendment with sewage sludge contributes to the uptake of pharmaceuticals by vegetables growing in the soil. A multiresidue method has been devised to determine five pharmaceuticals and nine of their main metabolites in leafy and root vegetables. The method employs ultrasound-assisted extraction, clean-up via dispersive solid-phase extraction, and analysis through liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Alginate/geopolymer hybrid beads as an innovative adsorbent applied to the removal of 5-fluorouracil from contaminated environmental water.

Water contaminated by cytostatic drugs has many negative impacts on the ecosystems. In this work, cross-linked adsorbent beads based on alginate and a geopolymer (prepared from an illito-kaolinitic clay) were developed for a promising decontamination of the 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) cytostatic drug from water samples. The characterization of the prepared geopolymer and its hybrid derivative was performed by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared and termogravimetric analysis.

Enantioselective LC-MS/MS determination of antidepressants, β-blockers and metabolites in agricultural soil, compost and digested sewage sludge.

In this work, an analytical method was optimised and validated for the simultaneous extraction and enantioselective determination of chiral β-blockers, antidepressants and two of their metabolites in agricultural soils, compost and digested sludge. Sample treatment was based on ultrasound-assisted extraction and extract clean-up by dispersive solid-phase extraction. Analytical determination was carried out by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry using a chiral column.

Adsorption of Fluoroquinolone Antibiotics from Water and Wastewater by Colemanite.

Pharmaceutical residues in water and wastewater have become a worldwide problem with environmental and public health consequences. Antibiotics are of special importance because of the emergence of antibiotic-resistant genes. This study evaluates the adsorptive removal of four common fluoroquinolone antibiotics by using natural colemanite as an alternative adsorbent for the first time.

Comparison of Different Techniques for the Determination of Platinized Cytostatic Drugs in Urine Samples.

Platinum-based cytostatic drugs are one of the most widely used cancer treatments. They are excreted via the urinary tract and can reach the environment through wastewater, posing a risk to human health due to their side effects. Four identification and quantification techniques, including liquid chromatography (LC) separation coupled to (i) a diode array ultraviolet (UV(DAD)) (ii), mass spectrometer in single ion monitoring mode (LC-MS) and (iii) multiple reaction monitoring mode (LC-MS/MS) and (iv) derivatization with diethyldithiocarbamate prior to LC-MS/MS analysis, have been optimized and compared for the multiresidue determination of main platinized cytostatic drugs (cisplatin, carboplatin, and oxaliplatin) in urine samples.