Systematic Evaluation of the In-Sample Stability of Selected Pharmaceuticals, Illicit Drugs, and Their Metabolites in Wastewater

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c00396
• Publication Date: 2021-05-20T13:14:39Z
• Authors: Xialu Lin; Phil M. Choi; Jack Thompson; Timothy Reeks; Rory Verhagen; Benjamin J. Tscharke; Elissa O’Malley; Katja M. Shimko; Xiong Guo; Kevin V. Thomas; Jake W. O’Brien
• Keywords: Illicit drug; Sample (material); Street drugs

The in-sample stability of selected pharmaceuticals, illicit drugs, and their metabolites in wastewater was assessed under six different conditions-untreated, addition hydrochloric acid or sodium metabisulfite solution, combined with without sterile filtration, at four representative temperatures, 35 °C for up to 28 days, 22 56 4 -20 196 freeze/thaw cycles 24 weeks. Paracetamol, 6-monoacetylmorphine, morphine, cocaine were poorly stable untreated wastewater-e.g., 50% transformation within 1.2-8.1 days °C, acidification reduced transformations. Acesulfame, carbamazepine, cotinine, methamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA), ketamine, norfentanyl, 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-ethylamphetamine (MDEA), norbuprenorphine highly moderately over the observed period, even wastewater. Fitting pseudo-first-order kinetics Arrhenius equation used develop a multistage estimation model an interactive tool evaluate possible scenarios biomarkers processes from sampling preanalysis. However, as composition can vary between sites time, variability requires further exploration.