Impact of pharmaceutical levels in untreated wastewater on Belgrade river water quality

Abstract

In the city of Belgrade, raw sewage is discharged directly into the Sava and the Danube rivers affecting the quality of river water. To determine the level of this impact, eight frequently used and detected pharmaceuticals were selected for the study. A previously developed method for analysis of pharmaceuticals in different water matrices was used. Sample extracts were analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, using the electrospray ionization technique. The most commonly detected analytes in both municipal wastewater and surface water were carbamazepine, known for its high environmental stability, and diclofenac, known as having high acute ecotoxicity. The dilution effect, noted for most of the detected drugs, was not as pronounced with diclofenac, indicating a higher risk for aquatic organisms.