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International Journal of Environment Science and Technology
Center for Environment and Energy Research and Studies (CEERS)
ISSN: 1735-1472 EISSN: 1735-1472
Vol. 7, No. 2, 2010, pp. 307-312
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Bioline Code: st10030
Full paper language: English
Document type: Research Article
Document available free of charge
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International Journal of Environment Science and Technology, Vol. 7, No. 2, 2010, pp. 307-312
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Presence of fluoroquinolones and sulfonamides in urban sewage sludge and their degradation as a result of composting
Lillenberg, M.; Yurchenko, S.; Kipper, K.; Herodes, K.; Pihl, V.; Lõhmus, R.; Ivask, M.; Kuu, A.; Kutti, S.; Litvin, S. V. & Nei, L.
Abstract
The concentrations of some widely used pharmaceuticals, namely fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin
C17H18FN3O3, norfloxacin C16H18FN3O3 and ofloxacin C18H20FN3O4) and sulfonamides (sulfadimethoxine C12H14N4O4S
and sulfamethoxazole C10H11N3O3S ) were determined in urban sewage sludge utilized for making compost. The
levels of degradation of these pharmaceuticals resulting from sludge treatment were assessed. The concentrations of
the studied pharmaceuticals sufficiently varied both in sewage sludge and in compost and due to this phenomenon
the possible danger resulting from the presence of pharmaceuticals in sewage sludge, used for composting, can not be
ignored. The concentrations of the studied pharmaceuticals were lower in compost, if compared to the relevant
concentrations in sewage sludge. The highest pharmaceutical concentration in sewage sludge - 426 μg/kg - was
detected in the case of ciprofloxacin. The highest concentrations present in compost were 22 μg/kg of norfloxacin and
20 μg/kg of ciprofloxacin. Results show that before using the sewage sludge for making compost or before using the
compost a fertilizer for food plants, they should be carefully tested against the content of commonly used
pharmaceuticals.
Keywords
Ciprofloxacin; Norfloxacin; Ofloxacin; Pharmaceuticals; Soil pollution; Sulfadimethoxine; Sulfamethoxazole
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