Retrospective mass spectrometric analysis of wastewater-fed mesocosms to assess the degradation of drugs and their human metabolites

Temporary rivers become dependent on wastewater effluent for base flows, which severely impacts river ecosystems through exposure to elevated levels of nutrients, dissolved organic matter, and micropollutants. However, biodegradation processes occurring in these can be enhanced by bacteria/biofilms. Here, we evaluated the attenuation pharmaceuticals their human metabolites performing retrospective analysis 120 compounds (drugs, transformation products) mesocosm channels loaded with effluents twice a week period 31 days. Eighteen seven biotransformation products were identified high level confidence. Compounds classified into five categories. Type-A: recalcitrant drugs (diclofenac, carbamazepine venlafaxine); Type-B: degradable forming (TPs) (atenolol, sitagliptin, valsartan); Type-C: no known or TPs detected (atorvastatin, azithromycin, citalopram, clarithromycin, diltiazem, eprosartan, fluconazole, ketoprofen, lamotrigine, lormetazepam, metformin, telmisartan, trimethoprim); Type-D: drug (4-hydroxy omeprazole sulfide, erythro/threo-hydrobupropion, zolpidem carboxylic acid); Type-E: unstable whose parent was not detectable (norcocaine, benzolylecgonine, erythromycin A enol ether). Noteworthy valsartan acid formation from transient TP-336.