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  • Uptake and effects of a mixture of widely used therapeutic drugs in Eruca sativa L. and Zea mays L. plants.

Uptake and effects of a mixture of widely used therapeutic drugs in Eruca sativa L. and Zea mays L. plants.

Ecotoxicology and environmental safety (2014-07-22)
Milena Marsoni, Fabrizio De Mattia, Massimo Labra, Antonia Bruno, Antonella Bruno, Marcella Bracale, Candida Vannini
ABSTRACT

Pharmaceutically active compounds (PACs) are continuously dispersed into the environment due to human and veterinary use, giving rise to their potential accumulation in edible plants. In this study, Eruca sativa L. and Zea mays L. were selected to determine the potential uptake and accumulation of eight different PACs (Salbutamol, Atenolol, Lincomycin, Cyclophosphamide, Carbamazepine, Bezafibrate, Ofloxacin and Ranitidine) designed for human use. To mimic environmental conditions, the plants were grown in pots and irrigated with water spiked with a mixture of PACs at concentrations found in Italian wastewaters and rivers. Moreover, 10× and 100× concentrations of these pharmaceuticals were also tested. The presence of the pharmaceuticals was tested in the edible parts of the plants, namely leaves for E. sativa and grains for Z. mays. Quantification was performed by liquid chromatography mass spectroscopy (LC/MS/MS). In the grains of 100× treated Z. mays, only atenolol, lincomycin and carbamazepine were above the limit of detection (LOD). At the same concentration in E. sativa plants the uptake of all PACs was >LOD. Lincomycin and oflaxacin were above the limit of quantitation in all conditions tested in E. sativa. The results suggest that uptake of some pharmaceuticals from the soil may indeed be a potential transport route to plants and that these environmental pollutants can reach different edible parts of the selected crops. Measurements of the concentrations of these pharmaceuticals in plant materials were used to model potential adult human exposure to these compounds. The results indicate that under the current experimental conditions, crops exposed to the selected pharmaceutical mixture would not have any negative effects on human health. Moreover, no significant differences in the growth of E. sativa or Z. mays plants irrigated with PAC-spiked vs. non-spiked water were observed.

MATERIALS
Product Number
Brand
Product Description

Sigma-Aldrich
Lincomycin hydrochloride, 96.0-102.0% (HPLC)
Supelco
Lincomycin hydrochloride monohydrate, VETRANAL®, analytical standard
Supelco
Carbamazepine, Pharmaceutical Secondary Standard; Certified Reference Material
Supelco
Albuterol sulfate, Pharmaceutical Secondary Standard; Certified Reference Material
Sigma-Aldrich
Lincomycin hydrochloride, ≥90% (TLC)
Sigma-Aldrich
Bezafibrate, ≥98%, solid
Sigma-Aldrich
Lincomycin hydrochloride, BioReagent, suitable for cell culture
Sigma-Aldrich
Carbamazepine, meets USP testing specifications
Sigma-Aldrich
Carbamazepine, powder
Sigma-Aldrich
Atenolol, ≥98% (TLC), powder
Atenolol, European Pharmacopoeia (EP) Reference Standard
USP
Atenolol, United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Reference Standard
Bezafibrate, European Pharmacopoeia (EP) Reference Standard
Carbamazepine, European Pharmacopoeia (EP) Reference Standard
Supelco
Carbamazepine, analytical standard
Supelco
Atenolol solution, 1.0 mg/mL in acetonitrile, ampule of 1 mL, certified reference material, Cerilliant®
Salbutamol sulfate, European Pharmacopoeia (EP) Reference Standard
USP
Carbamazepine, United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Reference Standard
Sigma-Aldrich
Ofloxacin, fluoroquinolone antibiotic
Sigma-Aldrich
Ranitidine hydrochloride, solid
Sigma-Aldrich
Salbutamol hemisulfate salt, ≥98%
USP
Ranitidine hydrochloride, United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Reference Standard
USP
Lincomycin hydrochloride, United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Reference Standard
Supelco
Ranitidine hydrochloride, Pharmaceutical Secondary Standard; Certified Reference Material
Supelco
Ofloxacin, VETRANAL®, analytical standard
Ranitidine hydrochloride, European Pharmacopoeia (EP) Reference Standard
Lincomycin hydrochloride, European Pharmacopoeia (EP) Reference Standard
Supelco
Carbamazepine solution, 1.0 mg/mL in methanol, ampule of 1 mL, certified reference material, Cerilliant®
Supelco
Ofloxacin, Pharmaceutical Secondary Standard; Certified Reference Material
USP
Ofloxacin, United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Reference Standard