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Widespread occurrence and seasonal variation of pharmaceuticals in surface waters and municipal wastewater treatment plants in central Finland

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Abstract

The presence of five selected pharmaceuticals, consisting of four anti-inflammatory drugs, diclofenac, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, naproxen, and an antiepileptic drug carbamazepine, was determined at four municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and in the receiving waterway in central Finland. The samples were taken from influents and effluents of the WWTPs and from surface water of six locations along the water way, including northern Lake Päijänne. In addition, seasonal variation in the area was determined by comparing the concentrations in the winter and summer. The samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in the multiple reaction monitoring mode. The concentrations in the influents and effluents ranged from hundreds of nanogram per liter to microgram per liter while ranged from tens of nanogram per liter in northern parts of the waterway to hundreds of nanogram per liter in northern Lake Päijänne near the city area. In addition, the concentrations were higher in the winter compared to summer time in surface water due to decreased temperature and solar irradiation. On the other hand, higher concentrations of ibuprofen, ketoprofen, and naproxen were found in summer at the WWTPs, possibly due to seasonal variations in consumption. In conclusion, there are considerable amounts of pharmaceuticals not only in influents and effluents of the WWTPs but also in lake water along the waterway and in northern Lake Päijänne.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank for the financial support from Maa-ja vesitekniikan tuki ry. In addition, the cooperation during sampling with Nab Labs Oy, Nenäinniemi WWTP (Jyväskylän Seudun Puhdistamo Oy), Äänekoski WWTP (Äänekosken Energia Oy), and Saarilampi and Pylkönmäki WWTPs (Saarijärven Vesihuolto Oy) is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, FI-40014, Jyväskylä, Finland

    Petra C. Lindholm-Lehto & Juha S. Knuutinen

  2. Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE), Laboratory Centre, Ecotoxicology and Risk Assessment, Survontie 9A, FI-40500, Jyväskylä, Finland

    Heidi S. J. Ahkola & Sirpa H. Herve

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  1. Petra C. Lindholm-Lehto
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  2. Heidi S. J. Ahkola
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  3. Juha S. Knuutinen
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Correspondence to Petra C. Lindholm-Lehto.

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Lindholm-Lehto, P.C., Ahkola, H.S.J., Knuutinen, J.S. et al. Widespread occurrence and seasonal variation of pharmaceuticals in surface waters and municipal wastewater treatment plants in central Finland. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23, 7985–7997 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-5997-y

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