Avaliação da biopersistência e da remoção de fármacos do ambiente aquático: um estudo de segurança hídrica da sub-bacia do Rio do Peixe

Abstract

Emerging organic pollutants have been received the attention of the scientific community since they could present a potential risk to human health and the environment. Among these compounds, pharmaceutical products that have been found in several environmental matrices. Considering the lack of specific legislation in Brazil that addresses the contamination and disposal of effluents containing drugs, this study evaluated the persistence and removal of drugs ketoprofen, ciprofloxacin and losartan, which are part of medicines in common use in clinical practice, in the water resources of the Rio do Peixe (fish's river) sub-basin located in the Itabira - MG region. For the determination and quantification of drugs, the High Efficiency Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) technique was used. The collections were carried out in April and July 2019 at six points in Rio do Peixe river. three of them upstream, and three others downstream of the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). The compounds with the highest concentration in decreasing order were ciprofloxacin (1.46 to 2.99 μg.mL- 1), losartan (0.31 to 1.09 μg.mL-1) and ketoprofen (0.31 to 0.37 μg.mL-1) for samples collected in April 2019. For samples of July 2019, only ciprofloxacin was detected with an average concentration between 0.66 to 1.06 ug.mL-1. There is no evidence in the literature that the concentrations found in the determinations may cause harmful effects on human health. However, it is important to consider that there are still few studies that address the chronic effects and exposure to different compounds to assert that the levels are safe. For the removal of the drugs studied in the water samples, nanoparticles synthesized from SBA-16 mesoporous silica were used. After 24 hours of incubation of the mesoporous material with collected water samples, achieving efficient removal of the studied drugs. Adsorption efficiencies of 98% of ketoprofen, 70% of ciprofloxacin and 100% losartan. Based on these results, the use of SBA-16 proved to be a promising technique in the removal of these substances. In addition, technological development such as the use of nanotechnology can be an important auxiliary tool in the recovery of degraded aquatic environments.