Investigation of pharmaceuticals in a conventional wastewater treatment plant: Removal efficiency, seasonal variation and impact of a nearby hospital

Discharges from the wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are among main sources of contamination to receiving surface water, therefore quality treated needs be properly monitored. However, not only effluents larger WWTPs employing advanced processes have been considered, but also those more conventional WWTPs. In this study, occurrence and behavior pharmaceuticals investigated in a WWTP which receives an urban area near-by hospital. 24-h composite samples were collected during one week before (influent wastewater, IWW) after (effluent EWW) along three monitoring campaigns distributed over year. Moreover, seven daily IWW discharged hospital collected. A preliminary wide-scope screening using liquid chromatography (LC) coupled high resolution mass spectrometry allowed identify wide number samples. Based on findings, list 40 compounds was established for subsequent target quantitative analyses by LC-tandem spectrometry. Up 75% present all Analyte concentrations discharge significantly higher, evidencing important contribution terms content. Antibiotics showed highest winter season, could related increase prescription these treat respiratory infections. Data work show that biological applied able eliminate nearly half under although still 12 or poorly removed.