Occurrence of pharmaceutical and personal care products in Cau River, Vietnam

Comprehensive evaluation of antibiotics pollution the Yangtze River basin, China: Emission, multimedia fate and risk assessment

Antibiotics have attracted global attention because of their potential ecological and health risks. The emission, multimedia fate and risk of 18 selected antibiotics in the entire Yangtze River basin were evaluated by using a level Ⅳ fugacity model. High antibiotic emissions were found in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River basin. The total antibiotic emissions in the Yangtze River basin exceeded 1600 tons per year between 2013 and 2021. The spatial distribution of antibiotics concentration was the upper Yangtze River > middle Yangtze River > lower Yangtze River, which is positively correlated with animal husbandry size in the basin. Temperature and precipitation increases may decrease the antibiotic concentrations in the environment. Transfer fluxes showed that source emission inputs, advection processes, and degradation fluxes contributed more to the total input and output. High ecological risks in the water environment were found in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021. The comprehensive health risk assessment through drinking water and fish consumption routes showed that a small part of the Yangtze River basin is at medium risk, and children have a relatively high degree of health risk. This study provides a scientific basis for the pollution control of antibiotics at the basin scale.

Antifungal drugs in the aquatic environment: A review on sources, occurrence, toxicity, health effects, removal strategies and future challenges

Fungal infections pose a significant global health burden, resulting in millions of severe cases and deaths annually. The escalating demand for effective antifungal treatments has led to a rise in the wholesale distribution of antifungal drugs, which consequently has led to their release into the environment, posing a threat to ecosystems and human health. This article aims to provide a comprehensive review of the presence and distribution of antifungal drugs in the environment, evaluate their potential ecological and health risks, and assess current methods for their removal. Reviewed studies from 2010 to 2023 period have revealed the widespread occurrence of 19 various antifungals in natural waters and other matrices at alarmingly high concentrations. Due to the inefficiency of conventional water treatment in removing these compounds, advanced oxidation processes, membrane filtration, and adsorption techniques have been developed as promising decontamination methods.In conclusion, this review emphasizes the urgent need for a comprehensive understanding of the presence, fate, and removal of antifungal drugs in the environment. By addressing the current knowledge gaps and exploring future prospects, this study contributes to the development of strategies for mitigating the environmental impact of antifungal drugs and protecting ecosystems and human health.

Pilot and full scale applications of floating treatment wetlands for treating diffuse pollution

Floating treatment wetlands (FTW) are nature-based solutions for the purification of open water systems such as rivers, ponds, and lakes polluted by diffuse sources as untreated or partially treated domestic wastewater and agricultural run-off. Compared with other physicochemical and biological technologies, FTW is a technology with low-cost, simple configuration, easy to operate; has a relatively high efficiency, and is energy-saving, and aesthetic. Water remediation in FTWs is supported by plant uptake and the growth of a biofilm on the water plant roots, so the selection of the macrophyte species is critical, not only to pollutant removal but also to the local ecosystem integrity, especially for full-scale implementation. The key factors such as buoyant frame/raft, plant growth support media, water depth, seasonal variation, and temperature have a considerable role in the design, operation, maintenance, and pollutant treatment performance of FTW. Harvesting is a necessary process to maintain efficient operation by limiting the re-pollution of plants in the decay phase. Furthermore, the harvested plant biomass can serve as a green source for the recovery of energy and value-added products.

Insight into pharmaceutical and personal care products removal using constructed wetlands: A comprehensive review

Pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) were regarded as emerging environmental pollutants due to their ubiquitous appearance and high environmental risks. The wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) became the hub of PPCPs receiving major sources of PPCPs used by humans. Increasing concern has been focused on promoting cost-effective ways to eliminate PPCPs within WWTPs for blocking their route into the environment through effluent discharging. Among all advanced technologies, constructed wetlands (CWs) with a combination of plants, substrates, and microbes attracted attention due to their cost-effectiveness and easier maintenance during long-term operation. This study offers baseline data for risk control and future treatment by discussing the extent and dispersion of PPCPs in surface waters over the past ten years and identifying the mechanisms of PPCPs removal in CWs based on the up-to-present research, with a special focus on the contribution of sediments, vegetation, and the interactions of microorganisms. The significant role of wetland plants in the removal of PPCPs was detailed discussed in identifying the contribution of direct uptake, adsorption, phytovolatilization, and biodegradation. Meanwhile, the correlation between the physical-chemical characteristics of PPCPs, the configuration operation of wetlands, as well as the environmental conditions with PPCP removal were also further estimated. Finally, the critical issues and knowledge gaps before the real application were addressed followed by promoted future works, which are expected to provide a comprehensive foundation for study on PPCPs elimination utilizing CWs and drive to achieve large-scale applications to treat PPCPs-contaminated surface waters.

Evaluating the spatial and temporal distribution of emerging contaminants in the Pearl River Basin for regulating purposes

Little information is available on how the types, concentrations, and distribution of chemicals have evolved over the years. The objective of the present study is therefore to review the spatial and temporal distribution profile of emerging contaminants with limited toxicology data in the pearl river basin over the years to build up the emerging contaminants database in this region for risk assessment and regulatory purposes. The result revealed that seven groups of emerging contaminants were abundant in this region, and many emerging contaminants had been detected at much higher concentrations before 2011. Specifically, antibiotics, phenolic compounds, and acidic pharmaceuticals were the most abundant emerging contaminants detected in the aquatic compartment, while phenolic compounds were of the most profound concern in soil. Flame retardants and plastics were the most frequently studied chemicals in organisms. The abundance of the field concentrations and frequencies varied considerably over the years, and currently available data can hardly be used for regulation purposes. It is suggested that watershed management should establish a regular monitoring scheme and comprehensive database to monitor the distribution of emerging contaminants considering the highly condensed population in this region. The priority monitoring list should be formed in consideration of historical abundance, potential toxic effects of emerging contaminants as well as the distribution of heavily polluting industries in the region.

Occurrence, potential sources, and risk assessment of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in atmospheric particulate matter in Hanoi, Vietnam

Pharmaceutical and personal care products (PCPPs) were recently recognized as emerging pollutants due to their potential for adverse health and environmental impacts. One potential route of exposure, atmospheric particulate matter (APM), for polar PPCP chemicals has to date received limited attention. This study screened for 190 polar PPCP chemicals in outdoor APM samples collected from two locations in Hanoi, Vietnam, and predictions of source and potential effects on human health are presented. Day and night, as well as dry and rainy seasonal samples, were taken, and samples screened by LC-TOF, using sequential window acquisition and all theoretical fragment ion spectra method. Eleven PPCP chemicals were detected above the LOD and in more than one sample. The ∑11PPCP chemicals ranged from 0.61 to 21.9 ng m^-3 (median 2.07 ng m^-3), with between 2 and 6 compounds identified in individual samples (median 4). The ∑11PPCP chemicals collected near a heavy traffic area was greater than that in a populated residential zone. Night concentrations were significantly greater than day in both dry and rainy seasons (p < 0.05). Butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane, benzophenone-3, acetaminophen, cotinine, and fluorescent brightener 71 were detected in > 50% of samples. These are typically found in sunscreens, cosmetics, antipyretics, tobacco, and dyes. The DI_air, hazard quotient (HQ), and hazard index (HI) for adults and children at sampling sites were estimated. The HQ for both adults and children were orders of magnitude less than the risk or were close to or whichever. APM does appear to be a potential additional secondary exposure source of PPCP chemicals to the environment and more work is needed to identify if sources are local or ubiquitous and if there is a greater health risk.

Estrogenic, androgenic, and glucocorticoid activities and major causative compounds in river waters from three Asian countries

Estrogen, androgen, and glucocorticoid receptors (ER, AR, and GR) agonist activities in river water samples from Chennai and Bangalore (India), Jakarta (Indonesia), and Hanoi (Vietnam) were evaluated using a panel of chemical-activated luciferase gene expression (CALUX) assays and were detected mainly in the dissolved phase. The ER agonist activity levels were 0.011-55 ng estradiol (E2)-equivalent/l, higher than the proposed effect-based trigger (EBT) value of 0.5 ng/l in most of the samples. The AR agonist activity levels were < 2.1-110 ng dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-equivalent/l, and all levels above the limit of quantification exceeded the EBT value of 3.4 ng/l. GR agonist activities were detected in only Bangalore and Hanoi samples at dexamethasone (Dex)-equivalent levels of < 16-150 ng/l and exceeded the EBT value of 100 ng/l in only two Bangalore samples. Major compounds contributing to the ER, AR, and GR agonist activities were identified for water samples from Bangalore and Hanoi, which had substantially higher activities in all assays, by using a combination of fractionation, CALUX measurement, and non-target and target chemical analysis. The results for pooled samples showed that the major ER agonists were the endogenous estrogens E2 and estriol, and the major GR agonists were the synthetic glucocorticoids Dex and clobetasol propionate. The only AR agonist identified in major androgenic water extract fractions was DHT, but several unidentified compounds with the same molecular formulae as endogenous androgens were also found.

Effects of particle size on the adsorption behavior and antifouling performance of magnetic resins

Adequately choosing the physicochemical characteristics of adsorbent is crucial in improving its adsorption performance. This work investigated the effect of particle size of magnetic resins on adsorption behaviors of tetracycline (TC) and their antifouling performance. Smaller particle size resin Q150 (10-30 μm) shows notably faster TC adsorption kinetics when compared resins with hundreds of microns (Q100 and Q1). Simulated by Weber-Morris equation, the film diffusion time of Q150 was only 20 min, 2-25 times faster than that of other resins. At this adsorption time, Q150 can reach more than 80% of the maximum adsorption, and the ring-like fluorescence images indicate that the molecules are accumulated on the external surface. Q150 also shows better reusability and antifouling performance over Q100 and Q1. After 20 adsorption-desorption cycles, the adsorption capacity of Q150 at 20 min only decreases 9.7%. The presence of tannic acid also only slightly decreases the adsorption capacity. The faster adsorption kinetics and the superior antifouling performance of Q150 make it a promising adsorbent in future use.

Removal of Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) by Free Radicals in Advanced Oxidation Processes

As emerging pollutants, pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) have received extensive attention due to their high detection frequency (with concentrations ranging from ng/L to μg/L) and potential risk to aqueous environments and human health. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are effective techniques for the removal of PPCPs from water environments. In AOPs, different types of free radicals (HO·, SO₄·^-, O₂·^-, etc.) are generated to decompose PPCPs into non-toxic and small-molecule compounds, finally leading to the decomposition of PPCPs. This review systematically summarizes the features of various AOPs and the removal of PPCPs by different free radicals. The operation conditions and comprehensive performance of different types of free radicals are summarized, and the reaction mechanisms are further revealed. This review will provide a quick understanding of AOPs for later researchers.

Constructed wetlands for the removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) from wastewater: origin, impacts, treatment methods, and SWOT analysis

The continuous exposure to pharmaceuticals and personal care products can lead to a series of individual antagonistic and synergistic effects and long-lasting toxicity to humans and aquatic lives. This may also lead to developing antibiotic resistance, teratogenic, carcinogenic, and endocrine-disrupting effects. However, several PPCPs are also considered biologically active for non-target aquatic organisms, such as mosquito fish, goldfish, and the algae Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata. Various physicochemical methods such as ozonation, photolysis, and membrane separation are recognized for the effective removal of PPCPs. However, the high operation and maintenance costs and associated ecological impacts have limited their further use. Constructed wetlands are considered eco-friendly and sustainable for the removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products together with antibiotic resistance genes. Several mechanisms such as sorption, biodegradation, oxidation, photodegradation, volatilization, and hydrolysis are occurring during the phytoremediation of PPCPs. During these processes, more than 50% of PPCPs can be eliminated through constructed wetlands. They also offer several additional benefits as obtained macrophytic biomass may be used as raw material in pulp and paper industries and a source for second-generation biofuel production. In this study, we have discussed the origin and impacts of PPCPs together with their treatment methods. We have also investigated the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats associated with constructed wetlands during the treatment of wastewater laden with pharmaceutical and personal care products.

Distribution and Ecological Risk Assessment of Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products in Sediments of North Canal, China

The pollution of water bodies by pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) has attracted widespread concern due to their widespread use and pseudo-persistence, but their effects on sediments are less known. In this study, solid-phase extraction-high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (SPE-LC/MSMS) was used to investigate the occurrence and ecological risks of five typical pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in thirteen key reservoirs, sluices, dams, and estuaries in the Haihe River Basin. At the same time, the PPCP exchanges of surface water, groundwater, and sediments in three typical sections were studied. Finally, the PPCP’s environmental risk is evaluated through the environmental risk quotient. The results showed that the five PPCPs were tri-methoprazine (TMP), sinolamine (SMX), ibuprofen (IBU), triclosan (TCS), and caffeine (CAF). The average concentration of these PPCPs ranged from 0 to 481.19 μg/kg, with relatively high concentrations of TCS and CAF. The relationship between PPCPs in the surface sediments was analyzed to reveal correlations between SMX and TMP, CAF and IBU, CAF and TCS. The risk quotients (RQ) method was used to evaluate the ecological risk of the five detected PPCPs. The major contributors of potential environmental risks were IBU, TCS and CAF, among which all the potential environmental risks at the TCS samples were high risk. This study supplemented the research on the ecological risk of PPCPs in sediments of important reaches of the North Canal to reveal the importance of PPCP control in the North Canal and provided a scientific basis for pollution control and risk prevention of PPCPs.

The environmental distribution and removal of emerging pollutants, highlighting the importance of using microbes as a potential degrader: A review

Emerging pollutants (EPs) create a worldwide concern owing to their low concentration and severe toxicity to the receptors. The prominent emerging pollutants categories as pharmaceutical and personal care product, plasticizer, surfactants, and persistent organic pollutants. Typically, EPs are widely disseminated in the aquatic ecosystem and capable of perturbing the physiology of water bodies as well as humans. The primary sources of EPs in the environment include anthropogenic release, atmospheric deposition, untreated or substandard treated wastewater, and extreme weather events. Intensive research has been done covering the environmental distribution, ecological disturbance, fate, and removal of EPs in the past decades. However, a systematic review on the distribution of EPs in the engineered and natural aquatic environment and the degradation of different EPs by using anaerobic sludge, aerobic bacteria, and isolated strains are limited. This review article aims to highlight the importance, application, and future perceptions of using different microbes to degrade EPs. Overall, this review article illustrates the superiority of using non-cultivable and cultivable microbes to degrade the EPs as an eco-friendly approach. Practically, the outcomes of this review paper will build up the knowledge base solutions to remove EPs from the wastewater.

COVID-19 and antimicrobial resistance: A cross-study

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is emerging as a severe concern due to the escalating instances of resistant human pathogens encountered by health workers. Consequently, there is a shortage of antibiotics to treat Multidrug Resistance (MDR) and Extensively Drug Resistance (XDR) patients. The primary cause of AMR is the vast array of anthropogenic disturbances in natural microfauna brought about by the extensive use of antibiotics. Coronavirus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) has crashed antibiotic stewardship and single-handedly increased the global usage of antibiotics, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and biocide, causing a ripple effect in the existing global AMR problem. This surge in antibiotic usage has escalated the residual antibiotics reaching Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) from pharmaceutical companies, health care centers, and domestic settings. Ultimately the natural water bodies receiving their effluents will have higher concentrations of emerging contaminants as the WWTPs cannot remove the Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) completely. Furthermore, increased biocides usage will increase AMR by co-resistance, and increasing plastics will turn into microplastics and get converted to plastisphere, which will further enhance its propagation. Therefore, it is crucial to curb antibiotic usage, implement antibiotic stewardship dynamically; and, ameliorate the present condition of WWTPs to remove residual PPCPs efficiently. The need of the hour is to address the grave threat of AMR, which is loitering silently; if not the mankind will endure more affliction hereafter.

Occurrence of Pharmaceutically Active Compounds and Potential Ecological Risks in Wastewater from Hospitals and Receiving Waters in Sri Lanka

The presence of pharmaceutically active compounds (PACs) in the environment and their associated hazards is a major global health concern; however, data on these compounds are scarce in developing nations. In the present study, the existence of 39 non-antimicrobial PACs and six of their metabolites in wastewater from hospitals and adjacent surface waters in Sri Lanka was investigated from 2016 to 2018. The highest amounts of the measured chemicals, including the highest concentrations of atorvastatin (14,620 ng/L) and two metabolites, mefenamic acid (12,120 ng/L) and o-desmethyl tramadol (8700 ng/L), were detected in wastewater from the largest facility. Mefenamic acid, gemfibrozil, losartan, cetirizine, carbamazepine, and phenytoin were detected in all the samples. The removal rates in wastewater treatment were 100% for zolpidem, norsertaline, quetiapine, chlorpromazine, and alprazolam. There was substantial variation in removal rates of PACs among facilities, and the overall data suggest that treatment processes in facilities were ineffective and that some PAC concentrations in the effluents were increased. The estimated risk quotients revealed that 14 PACs detected in water samples could pose low to high ecological risk to various aquatic organisms. Compounds such as ibuprofen, tramadol, and chlorpromazine detected in untreated and treated wastewater at these facilities pose a high risk to several aquatic organisms. Our study provides novel monitoring data for non-antimicrobial PAC abundance and the associated potential ecological risk related to hospitals and urban surface waters in Sri Lanka and further offers valuable information on pre-COVID-19 era PAC distribution in the country. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:298-311. © 2021 SETAC.

Simple and Rapid Detection of Ibuprofen─A Typical Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products─by a Liquid Crystal Aptasensor

This work established a liquid crystal (LC) aptasensor for simple and rapid detection of ibuprofen, a typical pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) pollutant. A negatively charged DNA aptamer specific for ibuprofen and a positively charged amphiphilic surfactant, hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), were incubated with the sample and then directly added onto the LC interface. In the presence of ibuprofen, the specific binding of ibuprofen with the DNA aptamer will release CTAB, which then adsorbed at the LC-aqueous interface and induced the orientational change of LCs to homeotropic orientation with a dark optical signal output. While in the absence of ibuprofen, the DNA aptamer binds with CTAB through hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions, LCs remained in the planar orientation with a bright optical signal output. This LC aptasensor also has good specificity for ibuprofen and can even detect ibuprofen drug in tap water. Moreover, the response time of the LC aptasensor is fast in minutes. Additionally, this LC aptasensor benefits in monitoring the water quality and inspires the exploration of a general platform for PPCPs detection.

Emerging contaminants in Brazilian aquatic environment: identifying targets of potential concern based on occurrence and ecological risk

Although studies have shown the presence of Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs) in the Brazilian environment in recent decades, several biological effects on the aquatic ecosystem are unknown. Brazil is the fifth largest country in extension in the world, and its wide territory presents geographic regions with diverse demographic and economic characteristics. In order to identify targets of potential concern based on occurrence and ecological risk, available data from previous studies were examined to conduct environmental risk analysis and provide a ranking of CECs in Brazilian aquatic environment based on environmental concentration measured in the last 10 years. The results indicate that 17α-ethynylestradiol, 17ß-estradiol, acetaminophen, Bisphenol A, caffeine, diclofenac, ibuprofen, methylparaben, sulfamethoxazole and triclosan are the CECs that represent the greatest threats to the Brazilian environment. Therefore, these contaminants should be considered as a priority in future monitoring studies. Besides, identification of target monitoring compounds can facilitate the selection of pollutant candidates in future legislations.

Distribution of pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) in aquatic environment in Hanoi and Metro Manila

Pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) recently defined as emerging pollutants that widespread in surface water all around the world. This study investigated the distribution, and ecological risk of PPCPs in urban rivers of Hanoi, Vietnam, and Metro Manila, the Philippines. Of the 56 investigated PPCPs, 48 and 33 compounds were detected in the river water in Hanoi and in Metro Manila, respectively. The individual PPCP concentrations ranged from a few ng L^-1 to thousands of ng L^-1_. The total concentration of PPCPs detected in water samples ranged from 7.5 to 20,789 ng L^-1 in Hanoi and 118 to 3,394 ng L^-1 in Manila. The predominant antibiotics was sulfamethoxazole detected in 27/28 samples with a maximum concentration up to 2,778 ng L^-1 in Hanoi and presented in all samples with a maximum concentration up to 261 ng L^-1 in Metro Manila. In Hanoi, the level of PPCPs in urban canals of Kim Nguu and To Lich Rivers was as high as that detected in domestic wastewater. The PPCP concentrations in tributaries and mainstream were lower than those found in urban canals. In rivers of both sites, PPCPs tended to increase along the stream. The concentration ratio of the labile marker caffeine to recalcitrant marker carbamazepine indicated that untreated domestic wastewater is the significant source of PPCPs in river water in Hanoi and Metro Manila. The ecological risk estimated by the risk quotient of the obtained maximum residue of PPCPs in investigated river water predicted a high risk of PPCPs to the aquatic organism in both Hanoi and Manila.

Antibiotic and antiparasitic residues in surface water of urban rivers in the Red River Delta (Hanoi, Vietnam): concentrations, profiles, source estimation, and risk assessment

Antibiotic residues and antimicrobial resistance in surface water are issues of global concern, especially in developing countries. In this study, the occurrence of seven antibiotics and one antiparasitic agent was determined in surface water samples collected from four rivers running through Hanoi urban area in the Red River Delta, northern Vietnam. The pharmaceuticals in water samples were analyzed by solid-phase extraction combined with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method. The concentrations of pharmaceuticals in our samples ranged from 3050 to 16,700 (median 7800) ng/L, which were generally higher than levels found in river water from many other locations in the world. Amoxicillin, oxfendazole, and lincomycin were the most dominant and frequently detected compounds (detection rate 100%), which together accounted for 76 ± 14% of total concentrations. Sulfacetamide and sulfamethoxazole were detected at moderate concentrations in more than two-thirds of the analyzed samples. The remaining antibiotics (i.e., azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, and ofloxacin) were found at lower detection frequency and concentrations. Antibiotic concentrations in the water samples were not significantly different between the investigated rivers. Meanwhile, levels of pharmaceuticals in the samples collected in February 2020 were higher than those found in the remaining samples, largely due to the sharp decrease in sulfamethoxazole and azithromycin concentrations of the samples collected in March and April. Considerable ecological risks of antibiotics in surface water were estimated for some compounds such as amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin, and ofloxacin.

Determination of Pharmaceutical Residues by UPLC-MS/MS Method: Validation and Application on Surface Water and Hospital Wastewater

In this study, an analytical method for the simultaneous determination of 7 major pharmaceutical residues in Vietnam, namely, carbamazepine, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, ketoprofen, paracetamol, sulfamethoxazole, and trimethoprim, in surface water and hospital wastewater has been developed. The method includes enrichment and clean-up steps by solid phase extraction using mix-mode cation exchange, followed by identification and quantification using an ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry and employing electrospray ionization (UPLC-ESI-MS/MS). Seven target compounds were separated on the reversed phase column and detected in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode within 6 minutes. The present study also optimized the operating parameters of the mass spectrometer to achieve the highest analytical signals for all target compounds. All characteristic parameters of the analytical method were investigated, including linearity range, limit of detection, limit of quantification, precision, and accuracy. The important parameter in UPLC-ESI-MS/MS, matrix effect, was assessed and implemented via preextraction and postextraction spiking experiments. The overall recoveries of all target compounds were in the ranges from 55% to 109% and 56 % to 115% for surface water and hospital wastewater, respectively. Detection limits for surface water and hospital wastewater were 0.005-0.015 µg L^-1 and 0.014-0.123 µg L^-1, respectively. The sensitivity of the developed method was allowed for determination of target compounds at trace level in environmental water samples. The in-house validation of the developed method was performed by spiking experiment in both the surface water and hospital wastewater matrix. The method was then applied to analyze several surface water and hospital wastewater samples taken from West Lake and some hospitals in Vietnam, where the level of these pharmaceutical product residues was still missed. Sulfamethoxazole was present at a high detection frequency in both surface water (33% of analyzed samples) and hospital wastewater (81% of analyzed samples) samples.