Determination of Antibiotics in Water Samples from Anil River, in Northeast of Brazil

Rogério Luís Nascimento de Jesus, Djárea Costa Silva, Reyla Andressa Silva Dias, Lanna Karinny Silva, Marta dos Santos Diniz, Jean Carlo Ferreira Goiabeira, Adriana das Mercês Pereira Ferreira, Ozelito Possidônio de Amarante Júnior, and Natilene Mesquita Brito

Federal Institute of Maranhao, Brazil

Abstract: There is a growing concern in monitoring the occurrence of antibiotics in the environment because even in low concentrations they may further increase resistance of pathogenic bacteria. Because the low concentrations in water samples (ng.L -1 or lower), it is necessary to incorporate a concentration procedure prior to analysis by a chromatographic technique. This study aims to determine the presence of fluoroquinolones drugs such as levofloxacin (LEV), ciprofloxacin (CIP), enrofloxacin (ENR), sarafloxacin (SAR) and norfloxacin (NOR) in water samples from Anil River, located in Sao Luis, Maranhao, northeast of Brazil, using solid phase extraction as preconcentration procedure and analyses by liquid chromatography. LEV, NOR and CIP were found in concentrations of ng.L-1. ENR and SAR were not detected. These results confirm the contamination by domestic wastes and demonstrate the importance of effective actions against contamination in environment by sewage, since they could have compounds such as fluoroquinolones that may cause a strong negative impact to aquatic organisms.

Key words: fluoroquinolones drugs, Anil River, solid phase extraction, liquid chromatography