PARENT SESSION
40 - Pharmaceuticals in the Environment
8:00 AM to 6:30 PM, Tuesday, 14 May 2002
Exhibition Area

(40-14) Determination of Beta-Adrenergic Receptor Blocking Pharmaceuticals in United States Wastewater Effluent.

Huggett, Duane^*,1, Khan, Ikhlas¹, Foran, Christy¹, Schlenk, Daniel², ¹ University of Mississippi, University, MS² University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA

ABSTRACT- Beta-adrenergic receptor antagonists (B-blockers) are frequently prescribed medications in the United States and have been identifed in European muncipal wasewater effluent. However, no studies to date have investigated these compounds in United States wastewater effluent. Municipal effluent was collected from treatment facilities in Mississippi, Texas and New York to investigate the occurrence of metoprolol, nadolol and propranolol.Propranolol was identified in all wastewater samples analyzed (n= 34) at concentrations < 1.9 ug/L. Metoprolol and nadolol were identified in > 71% of the samples with concentrations of metoprolol <1.2 ug/L and nadolol < 0.36 ug/L. Time course studies in Mississippi and Texas plants indicate that concentrations of propranolol, metoprolol and nadolol remain relatively constant. Thsi study indicates that B-blockers are present in United States wastewater effluent in the ng/L to ug/L range with little variability.

Key words: pharmaceuticals , wastewater, B-blockers