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Determination of NSAIDs in river sediment samples
1Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana, Askerceva cesta 5, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry
|November 23, 2006
Summary
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are polluting rivers. Researchers optimized a method to detect NSAIDs like naproxen, ketoprofen, and diclofenac in sediment and water, finding them downstream of a Slovenian town.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Chemistry
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Increasing consumption of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) leads to environmental pharmaceutical pollution.
- NSAIDs are toxic to aquatic species, necessitating effective monitoring methods.
- Four widely used NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen, ketoprofen, diclofenac) were selected for study.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and optimize a robust analytical method for extracting and detecting NSAIDs in environmental sediment samples.
- To identify the presence and levels of specific NSAIDs in river water and sediment near an urban area in Slovenia.
Main Methods:
- Evaluation of multiple extraction techniques including ultrasonic, Soxhlet, pressurized liquid, supercritical fluid, and microwave-assisted extraction.
- Optimization of extraction conditions, followed by a clean-up step, derivatization (MSTFA), and analysis using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MSD).
- Application of the optimized method to environmental river samples from the Krka River near Novo mesto, Slovenia.
Main Results:
- Microwave-assisted extraction combined with SPE clean-up, MSTFA derivatization, and GC-MSD determination was identified as the optimal procedure.
- NSAIDs were not detected upstream of Novo mesto.
- Quantifiable levels of naproxen and ketoprofen were found downstream, along with diclofenac in the river water.
Conclusions:
- The developed analytical method is effective for monitoring NSAIDs in environmental matrices.
- The study confirmed the presence of NSAIDs (naproxen, ketoprofen, diclofenac) in the Krka River downstream of Novo mesto, indicating a pollution source.
- Further monitoring on various Slovenian rivers is recommended to pinpoint pollution sources.
