Investigation of pharmaceutical and hormone distributions in water, biota and surface sedi̇ments from the golden horn estuary (Marmara Sea, Turkey)

In this study, it was investigated that the presence and distribution of diclofenac, fenoprofen, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, naproxen, carbamazepine, gemfibrozil, clofibric acid, 17α-ethinylestradiol, 17β-estradiol and estrone in water, sediment and biota (macro algae, mussels, fish species) samples collected from the Golden Horn Estuary. Water samples were taken seasonally from two different depths as bottom and top surface from each stations in the Golden Horn. Also, surface sediment samples were collected from four stations once a year. Liquid-liquid and solid phase extraction (SPE) methods were applied for the water samples. Sediment and biota samples were extracted with ultrasonic extraction and cleaned-up with SPE methods. Finally, all samples were analyzed by HPLC with DAD detector. It was determined that the compounds were found to be higher in bottom water than surface water. Also, it was found that concentrations measured in winter period was higher than the other sampling periods. The most dominant compound was found as gemfibrozil (<0.016-7.41 µg/L) in water samples. Other pharmaceuticals found at high levels in water samples were fenoprofen (<0.017-1.28 µg/L), ibuprofen (<0.015-3.00 µg/L) and 17α-ethinylestradiol (<0.011-1.65 µg/L). Furthermore, 17α-ethinylestradiol (319 ng/g), ibuprofen (215 ng/g), fenoprofen (242 ng/g), gemfibrozil (124 ng/g), carbamazepine (118 ng/g) were determined in the surface sediments. Gemfibrozil (56.0-9136 ng/g) were detected in the most of the biota samples. Compared with other biota species, the accumulation of pharmaceutical compounds were higher in mussels. Keywords: Pharmaceuticals, hormones, Golden Horn estuary, water, sediment, biota, HPLC