contaminants in this coastal marine system follow a trend where levels are highest at
sites having the lowest flushing potential (i.e., high residence time) [51].
In 2011, Keil et al. evaluated the presence of 37 organic compounds in 66 locations of Barkley Sound (British Columbia, Canada) and Puget Sound (Washington
State, USA), since marine organisms in the Pacific Northwest, particularly those in
Puget Sound, were already showing signs of environmental stress. Those locations
are proximal to large and growing urban populations. After GC-MS analysis,
salicylic acid was the only NSAID ranking among the compounds with statistically
higher concentrations in Puget Sound and higher frequencies of detection [49].
Finally in Norway, selected pharmaceuticals were determined in seawater from
Tromsø-Sound, into which the sewage treatment plant effluents and non-treated
sewage were discharged. Analyses were performed by means of LC-MS, and only
ibuprofen and two of its metabolites were detected. By that time, this report
represented the first scientific evidence on the presence of ibuprofen and its metabolites in a marine environment. Authors also concluded that despite the strong tidal
current and the resulting dilution with presumably non-contaminated North Atlantic
water, ibuprofen and/or its metabolites can be found in most seawater samples [50].
The review of these studies allowed us to observe that fortunately, the most recent
research conducted in marine waters complements the quantitative analysis of
pollutants with the ecotoxic evaluation of the waters sampled on marine model
organisms.
Table 6 NSAIDs quantified in groundwater samples
NSAID
Study country [reference]
Maximum concentration measured (ng/L)
India [24]
Portugal [61]
Diclofenac
Surface: 2.19;
aquifer: 73.86
n.i.
Ibuprofen
Surface: 1.09;
aquifer: 0.44
n.i.
Acetaminophen n.a.
n.i.
Nimesulide
n.a.
9.24
Salicylates
n.a.
71
Ketoprofen
n.a.
n.i.
Detection
method
LC-MS/MS
UHPLC-MS/MS system triple quadrupole mass spectrometer with an electrospray ionization source (ESI)
n.a. not analyzed in the study, n.i. not identified in any sample, UHPL-LC-MS/MS ultraperformance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry, LC-MS/MS liquid
chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry
74
L. I. Castro-Pastrana et al.
sites having the lowest flushing potential (i.e., high residence time) [51].
In 2011, Keil et al. evaluated the presence of 37 organic compounds in 66 locations of Barkley Sound (British Columbia, Canada) and Puget Sound (Washington
State, USA), since marine organisms in the Pacific Northwest, particularly those in
Puget Sound, were already showing signs of environmental stress. Those locations
are proximal to large and growing urban populations. After GC-MS analysis,
salicylic acid was the only NSAID ranking among the compounds with statistically
higher concentrations in Puget Sound and higher frequencies of detection [49].
Finally in Norway, selected pharmaceuticals were determined in seawater from
Tromsø-Sound, into which the sewage treatment plant effluents and non-treated
sewage were discharged. Analyses were performed by means of LC-MS, and only
ibuprofen and two of its metabolites were detected. By that time, this report
represented the first scientific evidence on the presence of ibuprofen and its metabolites in a marine environment. Authors also concluded that despite the strong tidal
current and the resulting dilution with presumably non-contaminated North Atlantic
water, ibuprofen and/or its metabolites can be found in most seawater samples [50].
The review of these studies allowed us to observe that fortunately, the most recent
research conducted in marine waters complements the quantitative analysis of
pollutants with the ecotoxic evaluation of the waters sampled on marine model
organisms.
Table 6 NSAIDs quantified in groundwater samples
NSAID
Study country [reference]
Maximum concentration measured (ng/L)
India [24]
Portugal [61]
Diclofenac
Surface: 2.19;
aquifer: 73.86
n.i.
Ibuprofen
Surface: 1.09;
aquifer: 0.44
n.i.
Acetaminophen n.a.
n.i.
Nimesulide
n.a.
9.24
Salicylates
n.a.
71
Ketoprofen
n.a.
n.i.
Detection
method
LC-MS/MS
UHPLC-MS/MS system triple quadrupole mass spectrometer with an electrospray ionization source (ESI)
n.a. not analyzed in the study, n.i. not identified in any sample, UHPL-LC-MS/MS ultraperformance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry, LC-MS/MS liquid
chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry
74
L. I. Castro-Pastrana et al.