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The use of non-target high-resolution mass spectrometry screening to detect the presence of antibiotic residues in urban streams of Greensboro North Carolina

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Abstract

Antibiotic pollution in aquatic systems is a concern for human and environmental health. The concern is largely due to the global occurrence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. From 2017 to 2018 in the NC Piedmont, 15 ion masses associated with antibiotics were detected in rural streams and groundwater. Four of these masses were confirmed to be antibiotics through target analysis (sulfamethoxazole, sulfamerazine, erythromycin, danofloxacin). Concentrations of antibiotics were as high as 1.8 μg/L. As a follow-up, antibiotic residues in urban streams sites in Greensboro, NC, USA, were investigated. Urban streams are heavily influenced by the dense populations surrounding them. In the fall, winter, and spring seasons, surface water was collected from eight sites along two urban streams. Sampling was conducted at streams sites above and below municipal hospitals and wastewater treatment facilities in the study area. At the conclusion of the survey, nine ion masses associated with antibiotics used in both human and veterinary medicine were detected from surface water collected. Three of the four antibiotics targeted in rural stream samples were detected and confirmed in urban stream samples (sulfamerazine, danofloxacin, and erythromycin). Detection frequencies of the three antibiotics ranged from 0 to 46%. Concentrations of each target antibiotic was as followed: SMX (0 to <10 ng/L), SMR (0 to <11 ng/L), DAN (0 to <20 ng/L), and ETM (0 to <15 ng/L). Each target antibiotic concentration was below our methods quantification limits. Our risk assessment analysis showed that the target antibiotics posed no risk to fish, daphnia, and green algae within this region of NC (RQ < 0.1). Compared to rural streams in this region of NC, antibiotic pollution is less prevalent in urban streams. The differences between urban and rural streams may be driven by the varying land use and suggest more research should be dedicated to monitoring these contaminants in rural areas of the United States.

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Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank the University of North Carolina at Greensboro Biology Department and the Triad Mass Spec Facility along with Dr. Daniel Todd for assistance with this project.

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  1. Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, USA

    Austin Gray

  2. Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA

    Austin Gray

  3. Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA

    Austin Gray

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Gray, A. The use of non-target high-resolution mass spectrometry screening to detect the presence of antibiotic residues in urban streams of Greensboro North Carolina. J Environ Health Sci Engineer 19, 1313–1321 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40201-021-00688-9

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