PW08 Ecotoxicity and Environmental Chemistry of Antibiotics
Exhibit Hall
8:00 AM - Wednesday, 12 November 2003
(PW139) Occurence of Antibiotics in the Wastewaters and Sediments of the Hudson River.
Batt, A1, Aga, D1, 1 University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, United States
ABSTRACT- The Hudson River, which flows from the Adirondack Mountains to the New York Harbor, is an important source of recreation and industry in New York State. In recent years, the concern over the contamination of freshwater sources with antibiotics from both human and animal sources has grown due to the potential that low, constant levels of antibiotics in the environment have to increase antibiotic resistance in microorganisms. The large urban populations and farmlands surrounding the Hudson River could be potential sources of antibiotics and many other organic wastewater contaminants (OWWCs). Liquid Chromatography in combination with Tandem Ion-trap Mass Spectrometry and positive-ion electrospray ionization (LC/MS/MS-ESI(+)) is a powerful analytical tool which can be used to separate and identify unknown contaminants in surface water and sediment samples. This study will report the temporal trend in concentrations of antibiotics in the river water and sediments. Preliminary results from Lake Erie sediment samples found concentrations of chlortetracycline to be in the eight ppb range, indicating the importance of sediments as a sink for antibiotics and OWWCs. Results from this study will provide background information on the important contaminants that need to be monitored in the wastewaters discharged into the Hudson River.
Key words: Antibiotics, LC-MS/MS, Wastewaters, River Sediments