dynamic between BCF and TF reported in the two studies was the opposite of what
was expected (i.e. BCF > TF) but might be explained due to the high lipophilicity of
triclocarban (log K OW ¼ 4.34). Indeed, several models purposed different ranges
during which translocation is favoured or not. All of these models predicted a low
transfer for compounds with around log K OW > 4 [25, 61, 140, 141].
Another neutral compound that stands out from the proposed observation was
levonorgestrel (hormone). Li and co-workers [101] described a BCF average of 17.3,
where no compound was detected in stems and leaves. Therefore, further investigation is needed to scrutinize these results.
Sulfamethoxazole was another pharmaceutical, which was studied intensively in
hydroponic and soil experiments. This antibiotic and the analgesic acetaminophen,
which is also studied on several hydroponic experiments, showed a slightly higher
average BCF > TF. Moreover, as many observations were showing similar results
for these two pharmaceuticals, the validity is high. The reason for this might be their
Table 3 Chemical properties of anionic 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
Antibacterial
Triclosan
4.76 5.47 À0.01
5.42
1.50 0.20
[9, 19, 41, 55, 117]
Antibiotic
Ofloxacin
À0.39 7.80 À0.16
0.74
0.01 nm in
leaves
[131]
Oxytetracycline
À0.90 5.97 À0.15
À6.49
0.59 0.02
[25, 55]
Sulfadiazine
À0.09 6.81 À0.88
1.04 14.87 0.15
[46, 87]
Sulfamerazine
0.14 6.81 À0.58
3.54 25.98 0.03
[105]
Sulfamethazine
0.89 6.85 À0.23
4.39
9.13 0.02
[105, 116]
Sulfamethoxazole
0.89 6.85 À0.002 À0.06 16.61 0.02
[105]
Sulfapyridine
0.35 6.91 À0.01
4.21 11.78 0.03
[105]
Tetracycline
À1.30 na
À0.08
À5.44
0.15 3.18
[103]
Anticonvulsant
Dilantin
2.47 na
À0.003
1.71
0.95 2.98
[41, 110]
Anti-inflammatory
Diclofenac
4.51 6.61 À0.98
1.85
2.82 0.24
[43, 55, 56, 65,
101, 132]
Ibuprofen
3.97 5.48 À0.90
2.25
0.21 1.52
[109, 110, 116,
133–135]
Naproxen
3.18 5.65 À0.89
2.09
0.61 0.90
[109, 110, 114,
119]
Lipid regulator
Clofibric acid
3.32 6.00 À0.99
1.20
1.37 1.59
[119]
Gemfibrozil
4.77 na
À1.00
2.92
4.03 0.04
[109]
Symbols: na, means not available; nm, means not measured
122
Y. Bigott et al.
was expected (i.e. BCF > TF) but might be explained due to the high lipophilicity of
triclocarban (log K OW ¼ 4.34). Indeed, several models purposed different ranges
during which translocation is favoured or not. All of these models predicted a low
transfer for compounds with around log K OW > 4 [25, 61, 140, 141].
Another neutral compound that stands out from the proposed observation was
levonorgestrel (hormone). Li and co-workers [101] described a BCF average of 17.3,
where no compound was detected in stems and leaves. Therefore, further investigation is needed to scrutinize these results.
Sulfamethoxazole was another pharmaceutical, which was studied intensively in
hydroponic and soil experiments. This antibiotic and the analgesic acetaminophen,
which is also studied on several hydroponic experiments, showed a slightly higher
average BCF > TF. Moreover, as many observations were showing similar results
for these two pharmaceuticals, the validity is high. The reason for this might be their
Table 3 Chemical properties of anionic 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
Antibacterial
Triclosan
4.76 5.47 À0.01
5.42
1.50 0.20
[9, 19, 41, 55, 117]
Antibiotic
Ofloxacin
À0.39 7.80 À0.16
0.74
0.01 nm in
leaves
[131]
Oxytetracycline
À0.90 5.97 À0.15
À6.49
0.59 0.02
[25, 55]
Sulfadiazine
À0.09 6.81 À0.88
1.04 14.87 0.15
[46, 87]
Sulfamerazine
0.14 6.81 À0.58
3.54 25.98 0.03
[105]
Sulfamethazine
0.89 6.85 À0.23
4.39
9.13 0.02
[105, 116]
Sulfamethoxazole
0.89 6.85 À0.002 À0.06 16.61 0.02
[105]
Sulfapyridine
0.35 6.91 À0.01
4.21 11.78 0.03
[105]
Tetracycline
À1.30 na
À0.08
À5.44
0.15 3.18
[103]
Anticonvulsant
Dilantin
2.47 na
À0.003
1.71
0.95 2.98
[41, 110]
Anti-inflammatory
Diclofenac
4.51 6.61 À0.98
1.85
2.82 0.24
[43, 55, 56, 65,
101, 132]
Ibuprofen
3.97 5.48 À0.90
2.25
0.21 1.52
[109, 110, 116,
133–135]
Naproxen
3.18 5.65 À0.89
2.09
0.61 0.90
[109, 110, 114,
119]
Lipid regulator
Clofibric acid
3.32 6.00 À0.99
1.20
1.37 1.59
[119]
Gemfibrozil
4.77 na
À1.00
2.92
4.03 0.04
[109]
Symbols: na, means not available; nm, means not measured
122
Y. Bigott et al.