T5 PM Emerging Pollutants
Tuesday, 15 November 2005: 1:50 PM - 5:30 PM in 321-323

(AAA-1122-049414) Veterinary Pharmaceuticals in Animal Wastes and their Effect on Water Resources.

Al-Savvagh, T¹, Kassim, T², ¹ Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), Kuwait² Seattle University, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Seattle, WA, USA

ABSTRACT- Research is documenting with increasing frequency that many organic chemicals that have not historically been considered as contaminants are present in the environment on a global scale. These "emerging contaminants" are commonly derived from municipal, agricultural, and industrial wastewater sources. The interest in veterinary pharmaceuticals as potential emerging contaminants has stemmed from the proliferation of large-scale animal feeding operations (AFOs) during the last decade. The large number of animals produced creates a proportionately large volume of animal waste and associated emerging contaminants (specifically veterinary antibiotics). Expansion and intensification of large-scale AFOs in the State of Kuwait has resulted in concern about environmental contamination and its potential public health impacts. The objective of this investigation was to obtain background data on a broad profile of antimicrobial residues in animal wastes, and surface and ground waters proximal to large-scale AFOs. The animal waste samples were measured for antimicrobial compounds and multiple classes of veterinary antibiotics at concentrations of >100 g/L were detected. In addition, several classes of antimicrobial compounds were detected in surface and ground water samples collected proximal to the animal farms. This study indicates that animal waste may serve as a source of antimicrobial residues for the aquatic environment of the State of Kuwait.

Key words: veterinary pharmaceuticals, animal waste