Multi-target analysis of cytostatics in hospital effluents over a 9-month period

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2023

Authors

Gouveia, TIA (Author) FEUP; Silva, Adrian (Author) FEUP; Freire, MG (Author) Other; Sousa, ACA (Author) Other; Arminda Alves (Author) FEUP; Santos, MSF (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Journal of Hazardous Materials

Vol. 448

ISSN: 0304-3894

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 0 Citations

Scopus - 0 Citations

Associated Projects

Healthy Waters - Healthy Waters - Identification, Elimination, Social Awareness and Education of Water Chemical and Biological Micropollutants with Health and Environmental Implications

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00X-TT6

DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.130883

Abstract (EN): The consumption of cytostatics, pharmaceuticals prescribed in chemotherapy, is increasing every year and worldwide, along with the incidence of cancer. The presence and the temporal evolution of cytostatics in wastewaters from a Portuguese hospital center was evaluated through a 9-month sampling campaign, comprising a total of one hundred and twenty-nine samples, collected from May 2019 to February 2020. Eleven cytostatics out of thirteen pharmaceuticals were studied, including flutamide, mycophenolate mofetil and mycophenolic acid, which have never been monitored before. Target analytes were extracted and quantified by solid-phase extraction coupled to liquid-chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis; the method was fully validated. All pharmaceuticals were detected in at least one sample, bicalutamide being the one found with higher frequency (detected in all samples), followed by mycophenolic acid, which was also the compound detected at higher concentrations (up to 5340 +/- 211 ng/L). Etoposide, classified as carcinogenic to humans, was detected in 60% of the samples at concentrations up to 142 +/- 15 ng/L. The risk from exposure to cytostatics was estimated for aquatic organisms living in receiving bodies. Cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, etoposide, fluta-mide, megestrol and mycophenolic acid are suspected to induce risk. Long-term and synergic effects should not be neglected, even for the cytostatics for which no risk was estimated.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 13