considered as large-sized pharmaceuticals, as mentioned by Chuang and co-workers
[20]. Of these pharmaceuticals, five were antibiotics (clarithromycin, streptomycin,
oxytetracycline, tetracycline and lincomycin), two drugs against high blood pressure
(verapamil and valsartan) and one lipid regulator (atorvastatin). All selected compounds can enter the roots, and only a minor amount of the tested pharmaceuticals
could have difficulties to enter because of their high molar mass.
Table 1 Chemical properties of neutral pharmaceuticals, as well as the average BCFs and TFs
calculated per compound in hydroponic studies
Compounds
log
K OW
pH
pKa
log
D OW
BCF TF
Authors
Average values
Analgesic
Acetaminophen
0.46 5.60 0.00
0.09
1.43 0.49
[20, 58, 107–111]
Antibacterial
Triclocarban
4.34 na
0.00
5.23 31.39 0.01
[109, 110]
Antibiotic
Sulfamethoxazole
0.89 5.59 0.00 À0.06
0.55 0.13
[11, 109, 110, 112–
114]
Sulfapyridine
0.35 6.53 0.00
4.21
3.29 0.03
[105]
Anticonvulsant
Carbamazepine
2.45 6.23 0.00
3.64
0.93 2.05
[10, 11, 20, 110, 114–
119]
Primidone
0.91 na
0.00 À1.23
1.61 0.17
[109]
Hormone
17β-estradiol
0.20 na
0.00
4.33
2.01 1.11
[106]
17α-ethinylestradiol
3.67 5.30 0.00
4.94
0.98 1.04
[106, 112, 114]
Beta-estradiol
3.67 5.55 0.00
4.33
0.01 nd in
leaf
[20, 114]
Estrone
3.13 5.55 0.00
4.23
0.13 0.07
[20, 114]
Levonorgestrel
3.48 na
0.00
4.27 17.26 nd in
leaf
[101]
Lipid regulator
Atorvastatin
6.36 na
0.00
2.38
0.48 0.26
[109]
Psychotropic drug
Meprobamate
0.70 na
0.00
1.16
0.37 6.11
[109, 110]
Stimulant
Caffeine
À0.07 5.68 0.00
0.95
0.32 12.06
[20, 109, 114, 116,
119, 120]
Symbols: na, means not available; nd, means not detected
120
Y. Bigott et al.
[20]. Of these pharmaceuticals, five were antibiotics (clarithromycin, streptomycin,
oxytetracycline, tetracycline and lincomycin), two drugs against high blood pressure
(verapamil and valsartan) and one lipid regulator (atorvastatin). All selected compounds can enter the roots, and only a minor amount of the tested pharmaceuticals
could have difficulties to enter because of their high molar mass.
Table 1 Chemical properties of neutral pharmaceuticals, as well as the average BCFs and TFs
calculated per compound in hydroponic studies
Compounds
log
K OW
pH
pKa
log
D OW
BCF TF
Authors
Average values
Analgesic
Acetaminophen
0.46 5.60 0.00
0.09
1.43 0.49
[20, 58, 107–111]
Antibacterial
Triclocarban
4.34 na
0.00
5.23 31.39 0.01
[109, 110]
Antibiotic
Sulfamethoxazole
0.89 5.59 0.00 À0.06
0.55 0.13
[11, 109, 110, 112–
114]
Sulfapyridine
0.35 6.53 0.00
4.21
3.29 0.03
[105]
Anticonvulsant
Carbamazepine
2.45 6.23 0.00
3.64
0.93 2.05
[10, 11, 20, 110, 114–
119]
Primidone
0.91 na
0.00 À1.23
1.61 0.17
[109]
Hormone
17β-estradiol
0.20 na
0.00
4.33
2.01 1.11
[106]
17α-ethinylestradiol
3.67 5.30 0.00
4.94
0.98 1.04
[106, 112, 114]
Beta-estradiol
3.67 5.55 0.00
4.33
0.01 nd in
leaf
[20, 114]
Estrone
3.13 5.55 0.00
4.23
0.13 0.07
[20, 114]
Levonorgestrel
3.48 na
0.00
4.27 17.26 nd in
leaf
[101]
Lipid regulator
Atorvastatin
6.36 na
0.00
2.38
0.48 0.26
[109]
Psychotropic drug
Meprobamate
0.70 na
0.00
1.16
0.37 6.11
[109, 110]
Stimulant
Caffeine
À0.07 5.68 0.00
0.95
0.32 12.06
[20, 109, 114, 116,
119, 120]
Symbols: na, means not available; nd, means not detected
120
Y. Bigott et al.