Pharmaceutical occurrence, distribution and degradation in rural wastewaters and surface waters in Scotland
type: CreativeWork
description: It is widely recognised that the inadequate removal of pharmaceuticals within wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) may results in these compounds (and their transformation products (TPs) and metabolites) entering surface water. Knowledge gaps exist on pharmaceutical presence and potential effects in rural regions (e.g., Scotland’s Highlands and Islands), where historic monitoring has been limited. These areas may face challenges relating to wastewater management and environmental pollution, as wastewater is generally treated at small, less advanced WWTPs. These WWTPs may struggle to adequately eliminate pharmaceutical compounds as populations grow, wastewater volumes increase and pharmaceutical usage continues to rise. This thesis sought to fill knowledge gaps on pharmaceutical occurrence, distribution and degradation in rural wastewaters and surface waters in Scotland. The aim was carried out through: (i) comprehensive literature review; (ii) target compound selection; (iii) characterisation of hospital wastewater and its impact on pharmaceutical concentrations in a rural ‘source-to-sink’ water cycle; (iv) targeted monitoring and suspect screening of pharmaceuticals, TPs and metabolites within separate stages of a rural WWTP; and (v) assessment of temporal and spatial trends in pharmaceutical presence in the River Dee (Aberdeenshire) over 12 months using both passive and grab sampling. Eight common pharmaceutical compounds were selected for this work: paracetamol, diclofenac and ibuprofen (analgesics/nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs); clarithromycin and trimethoprim (antibiotics); carbamazepine and fluoxetine (psychoactive drugs); and 17α-ethynylestradiol (synthetic hormone). Overall, results suggest that the studied rural community produced wastewater with significant concentrations of the target compounds. Paracetamol was generally detected in highest concentration within the hospital and municipal wastewaters. Values ranged: 3 ng/L (carbamazepine) to 105910 n…
abstract: It is widely recognised that the inadequate removal of pharmaceuticals within wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) may results in these compounds (and their transformation products (TPs) and metabolites) entering surface water. Knowledge gaps exist on pharmaceutical presence and potential effects in rural regions (e.g., Scotland’s Highlands and Islands), where historic monitoring has been limited. These areas may face challenges relating to wastewater management and environmental pollution, as wastewater is generally treated at small, less advanced WWTPs. These WWTPs may struggle to adequately eliminate pharmaceutical compounds as populations grow, wastewater volumes increase and pharmaceutical usage continues to rise. This thesis sought to fill knowledge gaps on pharmaceutical occurrence, distribution and degradation in rural wastewaters and surface waters in Scotland. The aim was carried out through: (i) comprehensive literature review; (ii) target compound selection; (iii) characterisation of hospital wastewater and its impact on pharmaceutical concentrations in a rural ‘source-to-sink’ water cycle; (iv) targeted monitoring and suspect screening of pharmaceuticals, TPs and metabolites within separate stages of a rural WWTP; and (v) assessment of temporal and spatial trends in pharmaceutical presence in the River Dee (Aberdeenshire) over 12 months using both passive and grab sampling. Eight common pharmaceutical compounds were selected for this work: paracetamol, diclofenac and ibuprofen (analgesics/nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs); clarithromycin and trimethoprim (antibiotics); carbamazepine and fluoxetine (psychoactive drugs); and 17α-ethynylestradiol (synthetic hormone). Overall, results suggest that the studied rural community produced wastewater with significant concentrations of the target compounds. Paracetamol was generally detected in highest concentration within the hospital and municipal wastewaters. Values ranged: 3 ng/L (carbamazepine) to 105910 n…
author: Niemi, Lydia Marie
language: eng
date published: 2021-1-25
date modified: 2026-07-24T05:12:07Z
provider: University of the Highlands and Islands
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of the Highlands and Islands