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Wen J, Duan L, Wang B, Dong Q, Liu Y, Chen C, Huang J, Yu G. In-sewer stability assessment of 140 pharmaceuticals, personal care products, pesticides and their metabolites: Implications for wastewater-based epidemiology biomarker screening. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 184:108465. [PMID: 38324926 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
The monitoring of pharmaceuticals, personal care products (PCPs), pesticides, and their metabolites through wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) provides timely information on pharmaceutical consumption patterns, chronic disease treatment rates, antibiotic usage, and exposure to harmful chemicals. However, before applying them for quantitative WBE back-estimation, it is necessary to understand their stability in the sewer system to screen suitable WBE biomarkers thereby reducing research uncertainty. This study investigated the in-sewer stability of 140 typical pharmaceuticals, PCPs, pesticides, and their metabolites across 15 subcategories, using a series of laboratory sewer sediment and biofilm reactors. For the first time, stability results for 89 of these compounds were reported. Among the 140 target compounds, 61 biomarkers demonstrated high stability in all sewer reactors, while 41 biomarkers were significantly removed merely by sediment processes. For biomarkers exhibiting notable attenuation, the influence of sediment processes was generally more pronounced than biofilm, due to its stronger microbial activities and more pronounced diffusion or adsorption processes. Adsorption emerged as the predominant factor causing biomarker removal compared to biodegradation and diffusion. Significantly different organic carbon-water partitioning coefficient (Koc) and distribution coefficient at pH = 7 (logD) values were observed between highly stable and unstable biomarkers, with most hydrophobic substances (Koc > 100 or logD > 2) displaying instability. In light of these findings, we introduced a primary biomarker screening process to efficiently exclude inappropriate candidates, achieving a commendable 77 % accuracy. Overall, this study represents the first comprehensive report on the in-sewer stability of 89 pharmaceuticals, PCPs, pesticides, and their metabolites, and provided crucial reference points for understanding the intricate sewer sediment processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqi Wen
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Beijing Key Laboratory for Emerging Organic Contaminants Control, Beijing Laboratory for Environmental Frontier Technologies, China
| | - Lei Duan
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Beijing Key Laboratory for Emerging Organic Contaminants Control, Beijing Laboratory for Environmental Frontier Technologies, China
| | - Bin Wang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Beijing Key Laboratory for Emerging Organic Contaminants Control, Beijing Laboratory for Environmental Frontier Technologies, China
| | - Qian Dong
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yanchen Liu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Chao Chen
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Jun Huang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Beijing Key Laboratory for Emerging Organic Contaminants Control, Beijing Laboratory for Environmental Frontier Technologies, China
| | - Gang Yu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Beijing Key Laboratory for Emerging Organic Contaminants Control, Beijing Laboratory for Environmental Frontier Technologies, China; Advanced Interdisciplinary Institute of Environment and Ecology, Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai, 519087, China.
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Sullivan MV, Fletcher C, Armitage R, Blackburn C, Turner NW. A rapid synthesis of molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles for the extraction of performance enhancing drugs (PIEDs). NANOSCALE ADVANCES 2023; 5:5352-5360. [PMID: 37767033 PMCID: PMC10521259 DOI: 10.1039/d3na00422h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
It is becoming increasingly more significant to detect and separate hormones from water sources, with the development of synthetic recognition materials becoming an emerging field. The delicate nature of biological recognition materials such as the antibodies means the generation of robust viable synthetic alternatives has become a necessity. Molecularly imprinted nanoparticles (NanoMIPs) are an exciting class that has shown promise due the generation of high-affinity and specific materials. While nanoMIPs offer high affinity, robustness and reusability, their production can be tricky and laborious. Here we have developed a simple and rapid microwaveable suspension polymerisation technique to produce nanoMIPs for two related classes of drug targets, Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMs) and steroids. These nanoMIPs were produced using one-pot microwave synthesis with methacrylic acid (MAA) as the functional monomer and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as a suitable cross-linker, producing particles of an approximate range of 120-140 nm. With the SARMs-based nanoMIPs being able to rebind 94.08 and 94.46% of their target molecules (andarine, and RAD-140, respectively), while the steroidal-based nanoMIPs were able to rebind 96.62 and 96.80% of their target molecules (estradiol and testosterone, respectively). The affinity of nanoMIPs were investigated using Scatchard analysis, with Ka values of 6.60 × 106, 1.51 × 107, 1.04 × 107 and 1.51 × 107 M-1, for the binding of andarine, RAD-140, estradiol and testosterone, respectively. While the non-imprinted control polymer (NIP) shows a decrease in affinity with Ka values of 3.40 × 104, 1.01 × 104, 1.83 × 104, and 4.00 × 104 M-1, respectively. The nanoMIPs also demonstrated good selectivity and specificity of binding the targets from a complex matrix of river water, showing these functional materials offer multiple uses for trace compound analysis and/or sample clean-up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark V Sullivan
- Department of Chemistry, Dainton Building, University of Sheffield Brook Hill Sheffield S3 7HF UK
- Leicester School of Pharmacy, De Montfort University The Gateway Leicester LE1 9BH UK
| | - Connor Fletcher
- Leicester School of Pharmacy, De Montfort University The Gateway Leicester LE1 9BH UK
| | - Rachel Armitage
- Leicester School of Pharmacy, De Montfort University The Gateway Leicester LE1 9BH UK
| | - Chester Blackburn
- Department of Chemistry, Dainton Building, University of Sheffield Brook Hill Sheffield S3 7HF UK
- Leicester School of Pharmacy, De Montfort University The Gateway Leicester LE1 9BH UK
| | - Nicholas W Turner
- Department of Chemistry, Dainton Building, University of Sheffield Brook Hill Sheffield S3 7HF UK
- Leicester School of Pharmacy, De Montfort University The Gateway Leicester LE1 9BH UK
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Chang WCW, Hsu MC, Liao PC. Detection of emerging patterns of drug misuse in sports via wastewater monitoring: A mini-review and potential strategies. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 333:122087. [PMID: 37348696 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
Biological testing is a key component of the current anti-doping programme implemented by the authorities to detect doping in sports. Strategies such as longitudinal individualised data analysis and sport-specific analysis have been developed to increase the comprehensiveness of the testing. However, the trends of drug misuse in sports might not be effectively captured through today's testing plan. Wastewater testing, assembling individual-level data of a designated group to produce population-level results in one single aggregated sample, can be employed to as a complementary strategy offering added value for doping control. This paper presents an updated summary of the status of anti-doping testing and analytical methodologies for wastewater. The available literature on wastewater-based analyses of drugs prohibited in sports is reviewed. Publications surrounding sporting activities or competitions and others relevant to sports doping are selected. We debate between potential strategies and major limitations of using wastewater monitoring in anti-doping. Knowledge gaps and research directions, specifically on metabolites, stability, sensitivity, and ethical and legal considerations, are discussed. Choosing different wastewater sampling sites allows target sub-population that involved competing athletes and potentially reveal sport-specific or athlete-level-specific behaviour. Sampling from on-board toilets or athlete villages could target international-level athletes, sampling from the dormitories of national training centres allows monitoring of national-level athletes on a daily basis, and sampling from sports stadiums provides a full picture of drug use in the general population during an event. Confounding occurs as (i) the presence of non-athlete composition and the difficulty of analyses to be completely selective to the athlete population; and (ii) the identification of compounds prescribed legitimately with Therapeutic Use Exemptions, only banned in-competition, and naturally occurring. The practicalities of the approach are contextualised in monitoring the non-threshold substances such as anabolic agents, selective androgen receptor modulators, metabolic modulators, and hypoxia-inducible factor activators.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Chih-Wei Chang
- School of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 807, Taiwan; College of Pharmacy, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 807, Taiwan.
| | - Mei-Chich Hsu
- Department of Sports Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 807, Taiwan.
| | - Pao-Chi Liao
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 704, Taiwan.
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Wen J, Duan L, Wang B, Dong Q, Liu Y, Huang J, Yu G. Stability and WBE biomarkers possibility of 17 antiviral drugs in sewage and gravity sewers. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 238:120023. [PMID: 37150064 PMCID: PMC10149109 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is a promising technique for monitoring the rapidly increasing use of antiviral drugs during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is essential to evaluate the in-sewer stability of antiviral drugs in order to determine appropriate biomarkers. This study developed an analytical method for quantification of 17 typical antiviral drugs, and investigated the stability of target compounds in sewer through 4 laboratory-scale gravity sewer reactors. Nine antiviral drugs (lamivudine, acyclovir, amantadine, favipiravir, nevirapine, oseltamivir, ganciclovir, emtricitabine and telbivudine) were observed to be stable and recommended as appropriate biomarkers for WBE. As for the other 8 unstable drugs (abacavir, arbidol, ribavirin, zidovudine, ritonavir, lopinavir, remdesivir and efavirenz), their attenuation was driven by adsorption, biodegradation and diffusion. Moreover, reaction kinetics revealed that the effects of sediments and biofilms were regarded to be independent in gravity sewers, and the rate constants of removal by biofilms was directly proportional to the ratio of surface area against wastewater volume. The study highlighted the potential importance of flow velocity for compound stability, since an increased flow velocity significantly accelerated the removal of unstable biomarkers. In addition, a framework for graded evaluation of biomarker stability was proposed to provide reference for researchers to select suitable WBE biomarkers. Compared with current classification method, this framework considered the influences of residence time and different removal mechanisms, which additionally screened four antiviral drugs as viable WBE biomarkers. This is the first study to report the stability of antiviral drugs in gravity sewers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqi Wen
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Beijing Key Laboratory for Emerging Organic Contaminants Control, Beijing Laboratory for Environmental Frontier Technologies, China
| | - Lei Duan
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Beijing Key Laboratory for Emerging Organic Contaminants Control, Beijing Laboratory for Environmental Frontier Technologies, China
| | - Bin Wang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Beijing Key Laboratory for Emerging Organic Contaminants Control, Beijing Laboratory for Environmental Frontier Technologies, China
| | - Qian Dong
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yanchen Liu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Jun Huang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Beijing Key Laboratory for Emerging Organic Contaminants Control, Beijing Laboratory for Environmental Frontier Technologies, China
| | - Gang Yu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Beijing Key Laboratory for Emerging Organic Contaminants Control, Beijing Laboratory for Environmental Frontier Technologies, China; Advanced Interdisciplinary Institute of Environment and Ecology, Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai, 519087, China.
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