Mood Altering Waters: Multidimensional Profiling and Chiral Characterization of Antidepressants in Effluent-Impacted...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Chemistry
• Analytical Chemistry
• Ecotoxicology

Background:

• Antidepressants (ADs) are frequently detected in wastewater effluent and aquatic environments.
• Incomplete removal during wastewater treatment leads to widespread environmental contamination.
• Existing analytical methods struggle to identify diverse ADs due to isomer coelution and structural similarities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a comprehensive analytical workflow for identifying and quantifying a wide range of ADs and their metabolites in environmental samples.
• To establish a publicly available reference library for AD analysis.
• To assess the prevalence of AD contamination in effluent-impacted waterways.

Main Methods:

• A multidimensional analytical workflow integrating liquid chromatography, drift tube ion mobility spectrometry, and mass spectrometry.
• Fragmentation analysis for high-confidence identification.
• Chiral chromatography for enantiomeric separation of selected compounds.
• Application of the workflow to water samples from effluent-impacted sites.

Main Results:

• Successfully identified and quantified 26 parent ADs and 8 AD metabolites.
• Developed and established a publicly available reference library for AD analysis.
• Detected 17 distinct AD chemicals across five sampling sites in effluent-impacted waterways.
• Characterized enantiomeric ADs, noting differing biological activities.

Conclusions:

• The developed workflow enables high-confidence identification and quantification of a broad spectrum of ADs in environmental matrices.
• Widespread contamination by ADs in waterways necessitates improved wastewater treatment and monitoring strategies.
• Addressing AD contamination is crucial for mitigating ecological risks and protecting human health.