Table 2.
Median concentrations, range of detected concentrations, and positive analysis for target pharmaceuticals. (a) C-WWTP1, (b) C-WWTP2, (c) N-WWTP.
| (a) | ||||||||
| Compound | Point A1 | Point A2 | Point A3 | Point A4 | ||||
|
Median Concentration (min–max Concentration)
(µg·L−1) |
Positive Results (%) |
Median Concentration (min–max Concentration)
(ng·L−1) |
Positive Results (%) |
Median Concentration (min–max Concentration)
(ng·L−1) |
Positive Results (%) |
Median Concentration (min–max Concentration)
(ng·L−1) |
Positive Results (%) | |
| Nicotine | 14.179 (0.005–45.82) |
89.5 | 0.151 (0.064–0.449) |
88.9 | 0.136 (0.002–0.586) |
86.7 | 0.065 (0.001–0.251) |
87.5 |
| Atenolol | 1.134 (0.354–2.899) |
84.2 | 0.218 (0.006–0.643) |
83.3 | 0.287 (0.007–1.949) |
86.7 | 0.061 (0.001–0.088) |
81.3 |
| Trimethoprim | 0.231 (0.053–0.658) |
84.2 | 0.077 (0.034–0.157) |
77.8 | 0.071 (0.029–0.169) |
73.3 | 0.021 (0.013–0.054) |
75.0 |
| Paraxanthine | 47.869 (12.46–95.63) |
89.5 | 0.518 (0.101–6.900) |
88.9 | 0.425 (0.036–5.901) |
86.7 | 0.117 (0.031–1.262) |
81.3 |
| Caffeine | 36.495 (15.47–72.62) |
89.5 | 0.589 (0.095–2.499) |
88.9 | 0.663 (0.120–2.705) |
80.0 | 0.169 (0.051–1.943) |
87.5 |
| Erythromycin | 0.083 (0.070–0.094) |
15.8 | 0.067 (0.043–0.090) |
11.1 | 0.052 (0.044–0.709) |
26.7 | 0.047 (0.047–0.073) |
25.0 |
| Carbamazepine | 0.146 (0.045–2.394) |
89.5 | 0.240 (0.137–2.597) |
88.9 | 0.234 (0.078–4.687) |
86.7 | 0.052 (0.013–0.158) |
87.5 |
| Naproxen | 27.333 (4.910–521.7) |
84.2 | 0.172 (0.072–1.528) |
66.7 | 0.282 (0.057–1.311) |
73.3 | 0.102 (0.011–0.584) |
68.8 |
| Ibuprofen | 19.894 (0.128–147.5) |
84.2 | 0.208 (0.047–1.585) |
77.8 | 0.214 (0.009–1.184) |
80.0 | 0.139 (0.005–1.751) |
56.3 |
| Diclofenac | 0.139 (0.006–0.708) |
47.4 | 0.117 (0.007–0.404) |
77.8 | 0.152 (0.034–0.288) |
73.3 | 0.024 (0.006–0.115) |
37.5 |
| Gemfibrozil | 3.353 (0.053–40.63) |
84.2 | 0.729 (0.012–3.602) |
83.3 | 0.598 (0.033–2.865) |
80.0 | 0.103 (0.004–0.485) |
56.3 |
| (b) | ||||||||
| Point B1 | Point B2 | |||||||
| Compound |
Median Concentration (min–max Concentration)
(µg·L−1) |
Positive Results (%) |
Median Concentration (min–max Concentration)
(ng·L−1) |
Positive Results (%) | ||||
| Nicotine | 0.103 (0.038–0.228) |
100 | 0.105 (0.047–0.343) |
100 | ||||
| Atenolol | 0.286 (0.001–0.521) |
100 | 0.184 (0.167–0.234) |
85.7 | ||||
| Trimethoprim | 0.055 (0.014–0.130) |
100 | 0.043 (0.014–0.074) |
100 | ||||
| Paraxanthine | 0.310 (0.037–1.256) |
100 | 0.241 (0.031–2.634) |
100 | ||||
| Caffeine | 0.378 (0.058–0.817) |
100 | 0.369 (0.050–2.749) |
100 | ||||
| Erythromycin | nd * | 0.0 | nd * | 0.0 | ||||
| Carbamazepine | 0.209 (0.148–0.312) |
85.7 | 0.193 (0.107–0.327) |
85.7 | ||||
| Naproxen | 0.198 (0.150–0.237) |
57.1 | 0.116 (0.077–0.555) |
57.1 | ||||
| Ibuprofen | 0.125 (0.027–0.173) |
100 | 0.074 (0.008–0.969) |
85.7 | ||||
| Diclofenac | 0.202 (0.070–0.280) |
85.7 | 0.091 (0.027–0.139) |
85.7 | ||||
| Gemfibrozil | 0.723 (0.392–1.098) |
85.7 | 0.701 (0.306–0.883) |
85.7 | ||||
| (c) | ||||||||
| Point C1 | Point C2 | Point C3 | Point C4 | |||||
| Compound |
Median Concentration (min–max Concentration)
(µg·L−1) |
Positive Results (%) |
Median Concentration (min–max Concentration)
(ng·L−1) |
Positive Results (%) |
Median Concentration (min–max Concentration)
(ng·L−1) |
Positive Results (%) |
Median Concentration (min–max Concentration)
(ng·L−1) |
Positive Results (%) |
| Nicotine | 9.606 (6.449–63.94) |
89.5 | 7.651 (0.194–37.29) |
89.5 | 3.515 (0.134–12.70) |
88.9 | 0.245 (0.086–1.077) |
81.8 |
| Atenolol | 2.195 (0.757–10.00) |
84.2 | 1.402 (0.037–2.396) |
89.5 | 0.742 (0.072–1.990) |
83.3 | 0.198 (0.082–0.753) |
81.8 |
| Trimethoprim | 0.034 (0.017–2.166) |
63.2 | 0.031 (0.013–0.531) |
68.4 | 0.020 (0.014–0.674) |
50.0 | 0.018 (0.015–0.088) |
36.4 |
| Paraxanthine | 40.050 (9.619–85.77) |
89.5 | 21.243 (6.867–39.84) |
89.5 | 5.084 (0.143–30.56) |
88.9 | 0.596 (0.151–2.480) |
81.8 |
| Caffeine | 37.888 (10.39–126.4) |
89.5 | 41.497 (11.16–65.22) |
89.5 | 16.771 (0.382–47.58) |
88.9 | 1.633 (0.261–5.595) |
81.8 |
| Erythromycin | 0.101 (0.071–0.131) |
10.5 | 0.066 (0.025–0.107) |
10.5 | 0.081 (0.045–5.346) |
33.3 | 0.064 (0.063–0.066) |
18.2 |
| Carbamazepine | 0.299 (0.039–1.306) |
89.5 | 0.306 (0.081–0.969) |
89.5 | 0.432 (0.069–7.797) |
88.9 | 0.604 (0.247–1.009) |
81.8 |
| Naproxen | 9.653 (0.911–320.1) |
84.2 | 9.383 (2.581–177.0) |
84.2 | 7.713 (0.644–77.47) |
83.3 | 1.397 (0.310–5.179) |
81.8 |
| Ibuprofen | 16.942 (4.378–121.4) |
84.2 | 21.886 (5.331–133.7) |
84.2 | 14.209 (0.931–43.97) |
83.3 | 9.803 (6.658–18.76) |
81.8 |
| Diclofenac | 0.035 (0.008–0.055) |
21.1 | 0.028 (0.007–0.718) |
47.4 | 0.139 (0.024–0.591) |
61.1 | 0.525 (0.020–2.813) |
81.8 |
| Gemfibrozil | 0.222 (0.001–16.11) |
73.7 | 0.647 (0.006–5.632) |
78.9 | 2.904 (0.112–7.403) |
83.3 | 3.972 (1.104–7.670) |
81.8 |
* nd: not detected.