Analysis by liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry and acute toxicity evaluation for β-blockers and lipid-regulating agents in wastewater samples

This paper describes a multiresidue method for the extraction and determination of two therapeutic groups of pharmaceuticals, lipid-regulating agents (clofibric acid, bezafibrate, gemfibrocil, fenofibrate) and β-blockers (atenolol, sotalol, metoprolol, betaxolol) in waters by solid-phase extraction followed by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC–ESI-MS–MS). Recoveries obtained from spiked HPLC water, as well as, from spiked real samples (sewage treatment plants influent and effluents, river and tap water) were all above 60%, with the exception of betaxolol with a 52% recovery. The quantitative MS analysis was performed using a multiple reaction monitoring. The LC–MS–MS method gave detection limits ranging from 0.017 to 1.25 μg/l in spiked effluent. Precision of the method, calculated as relative standard deviation, ranged from 3.7 to 18.5%. Individual and combined effects on Daphnia magna were evaluated for both therapeutic groups. Individual effects in culture medium showed these compounds as not harmful and not toxic, an exception is fenofibrate that was found to be harmful, but at high, in the environment unrealistic concentrations (EC50 of 50 mg/l). Combined effect in wastewater showed synergistic toxic effects at low concentration level (2 μg/l).