SURVEY OF HUMAN USE PHARMACEUTICALS IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY

Excretion or disposal of human use pharmaceuticals followed by incomplete degradation in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) can result in their discharge to surface waters. There is concern that some of these biologically active compounds could impact aquatic ecosystems. To begin investigating this possibility in coastal waters, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the University of Maryland collected water samples adjacent to selected wastewater treatment facilities (WWTPs) in the Chesapeake Bay, to assess the presence of a suite of human use pharmaceuticals and related compounds. Extraction of the water samples occurred at the University of Maryland, and the USGS in Denver analyzed the extracts. Thirteen of 24 compounds were identified in the samples. They included a number of antibiotics, antidepressants, blood pressure medications and analgesics. Also found were caffeine and a nicotine metabolite. At two of the WWTPs, there was some evidence of a downstream concentration gradient.