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Antibiotic and antiparasitic residues in surface water of urban rivers in the Red River Delta (Hanoi, Vietnam): concentrations, profiles, source estimation, and risk assessment

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Abstract

Antibiotic residues and antimicrobial resistance in surface water are issues of global concern, especially in developing countries. In this study, the occurrence of seven antibiotics and one antiparasitic agent was determined in surface water samples collected from four rivers running through Hanoi urban area in the Red River Delta, northern Vietnam. The pharmaceuticals in water samples were analyzed by solid-phase extraction combined with liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method. The concentrations of pharmaceuticals in our samples ranged from 3050 to 16,700 (median 7800) ng/L, which were generally higher than levels found in river water from many other locations in the world. Amoxicillin, oxfendazole, and lincomycin were the most dominant and frequently detected compounds (detection rate 100%), which together accounted for 76 ± 14% of total concentrations. Sulfacetamide and sulfamethoxazole were detected at moderate concentrations in more than two-thirds of the analyzed samples. The remaining antibiotics (i.e., azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, and ofloxacin) were found at lower detection frequency and concentrations. Antibiotic concentrations in the water samples were not significantly different between the investigated rivers. Meanwhile, levels of pharmaceuticals in the samples collected in February 2020 were higher than those found in the remaining samples, largely due to the sharp decrease in sulfamethoxazole and azithromycin concentrations of the samples collected in March and April. Considerable ecological risks of antibiotics in surface water were estimated for some compounds such as amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin, and ofloxacin.

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All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article and its supplementary information files.

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Funding

This study was financially supported by the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN) under the project CRRP2019-10MY-Le and the Vietnam’s National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED-Vietnam) under the project No. 105.08-2018.317 (Thi Phuong Quynh Le).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Natural Product Chemistry, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi, 10000, Vietnam

    Nhu Da Le, Thi Thu Ha Hoang, Van Chung Hoang & Thi Phuong Quynh Le

  2. Graduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi, 10000, Vietnam

    Nhu Da Le & Thi Phuong Quynh Le

  3. University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, 334 Nguyen Trai, Hanoi, 10000, Vietnam

    Anh Quoc Hoang, Thi Anh Huong Nguyen, Van Chung Hoang & Huu Tuyen Le

  4. Center of Advanced Technology for the Environment (CATE), Graduate School of Agriculture, Ehime University, 3-5-7 Tarumi, Matsuyama, 790-8566, Japan

    Anh Quoc Hoang

  5. Institute of Environmental Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi, 10000, Vietnam

    Thi Thuy Duong

  6. Hanoi University of Industry, 298 Cau Dien, Hanoi, 10000, Vietnam

    Thi Mai Huong Pham

  7. Center for Research and Technology Transfer, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi, 10000, Vietnam

    Tien Dat Nguyen

  8. Electric Power University, 235 Hoang Quoc Viet, Hanoi, 10000, Vietnam

    Thi Xuan Binh Phung

  9. National Institute for Food Control (NIFC), 65 Pham Than Duat, Hanoi, 10000, Vietnam

    Cao Son Tran, Thu Hien Dang & Ngoc Tu Vu

  10. Faculty of Chemical Technology and Environment, Hung Yen University of Technology and Education, Khoai Chau, Hung Yen, 17000, Vietnam

    Trong Nghia Nguyen

Authors
  1. Nhu Da Le
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  2. Anh Quoc Hoang
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  3. Thi Thu Ha Hoang
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  4. Thi Anh Huong Nguyen
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  5. Thi Thuy Duong
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  6. Thi Mai Huong Pham
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  15. Thi Phuong Quynh Le
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection, and analysis were performed by Nhu Da Le, Thi Thu Ha Hoang, Thi Anh Huong Nguyen, Thi Thuy Duong, Thi Mai Huong Pham, Tien Dat Nguyen, Van Chung Hoang, Thi Xuan Binh Phung, Huu Tuyen Le, Cao Son Tran, Thu Hien Dang, Ngoc Tu Vu, Trong Nghia Nguyen, and Thi Phuong Quynh Le. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Anh Quoc Hoang and Thi Phuong Quynh Le, and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Da Le, N., Hoang, A.Q., Hoang, T.T.H. et al. Antibiotic and antiparasitic residues in surface water of urban rivers in the Red River Delta (Hanoi, Vietnam): concentrations, profiles, source estimation, and risk assessment. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28, 10622–10632 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-11329-3

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