Showing papers by "Jolanta Kumirska published in 2013"

A new approach for the estimation of expanded uncertainty of results of an analytical method developed for determining antibiotics in seawater using solid-phase extraction disks and liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry technique.

Abstract: Although the uncertainty estimate should be a necessary component of an analytical result, the presentation of measurements together with their uncertainties is still a serious problem, especially in the monitoring of the presence of pharmaceuticals in the environment. Here we discuss the estimation of expanded uncertainty in analytical procedures for determining residues of twelve pharmaceuticals in seawaters using solid-phase extraction (SPE) with H2O-Philic BAKERBOND speed disks and liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Matrix effects, extraction efficiency and absolute recovery of the developed analytical method were determined. A validation was performed to obtain the method's linearity, precision, accuracy, limits of detection (LODs) and quantification (LOQs). The expanded uncertainty of the data obtained was estimated according to the Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement and ISO 17025:2005 standard. We applied our method to the analysis of drugs in seawaters samples from the coastal area of the southern Baltic Sea. As a result, a new approach (concerning the uncertainty estimation as well as the development of analytical method) to the analysis of pharmaceutical residues in environmental samples is presented. The information given here should facilitate the introduction of uncertainty estimation in chromatographic measurements on a much greater scale than is currently the case.

What Do We Know About the Chronic and Mixture Toxicity of the Residues of Sulfonamides in the Environment

Abstract: Thanks to their low cost and their broad spectrum of activity in preventing or treating bacterial infections, sulfonamides (SAs) are one of the oldest groups of veterinary chemo‐ therapeutics, having been used for more than fifty years. To a lesser extent they are also applied in human medicine. After tetracyclines, they are the most commonly consumed veterinary antibiotics in the European Union. As these compounds are not completely metabolized, a high proportion of them are excreted unchanged in feces and urine. Therefore, both the unmetabolized antibiotics as well as their metabolites are released either directly to the environment in aquacultures and by grazing animals or indirectly during the application of manure or slurry [1-3].

Analysis and Fate of Emerging Pollutants during Water Treatment

Abstract: Emerging pollutants defined as compounds that are not currently covered by existing water-quality regulations all over the world, have not been studied widely before, and are thought to be potential threats to environmental ecosystems and human health. This special issue compiles 5 exciting papers, which are very meticulously performed researches. Generally, emerging pollutants encompass a diverse group of compounds, including pharmaceuticals, drugs of abuse, personal-care products (PCPs), steroids and hormones, surfactants, perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), flame retardants, industrial additives and agents, gasoline additives, new disinfection byproducts (DBPs), nanomaterials, and the toxic minerals. The analysis methods, occurrence, and fate of hormonal and endocrine disruptors compounds (EDCs) were discussed in two papers of this special issue. R. Guedes-Alonso et al. determine the hormonal residues in treated water by ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) and evaluate the efficiency of the conventional wastewater treatment for the removal of hormonal compounds. Moreover, Y. Liu et al. study another kinds of PPCPs, named as phthalate esters that is typical kind of EDCs. The occurrence in a surface water and the removal efficiency in a traditional drinking water treatment palnt are studied. According to results of the two papers, the occurrence and fate of hormonal and EDCs in water or wastewater treatment are very clear. J. Xing et al. report a new wastewater treatment technology, bioflocculation, for the removal of sulfamethoxazole that is a typical pharmaceutical in wastewater. The performance and the reaction mechanism of the biodegradation of sulfamethoxazole by the bioflocculation are discussed in depth. Moreover, the optimum reaction condition is obtained. The heavy metal and toxic mineral are also important pollutants in the environment, especially in the mining area. Two papers of this issue are focused on this. K. Naeemullah et al. report a green preconcentration method for the determination of cobalt and lead in water. Y. Liu et al. do a novel research on the electrochemical reaction of pyrite as a simulation of the natural environmental. By compiling this special issue, we hope to enrich our readers and researchers on the analysis and fate of emerging pollutants during water treatment. Fei Qi Guang-Guo Ying Kaimin Shih Jolanta Kumirska Elif Pehlivanoglu-Mantas Xiaojun Luo