The Use of Separation Methods for the Study of Selected Drugs and Pesticides in Water

This work is focused on the study of penetration of pesticides and pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment. The aim was to develop and verify the optimal method for long-term monitoring of the occurrence of selected pesticides and pharmaceuticals in surface waters. Two frequently used analgesics ibuprofen and diclofenac, and carbamazepine that is used to treat epilepsy, were chosen from the group of drugs. A group of 41 pesticides were selected for monitoring too. The attention was focused on a group of urea pesticides and phenoxyacetic acids, as well as on selected pesticides falling to the group of priority substances or identified as environmental quality standards. Some of pesticides were selected because their consumption in the Czech Republic exceeds 30 tons a year. Liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC / MS / MS) was used for the determination of selected analytes in surface waters. Two optimized analytical method were developed. Ten analytes were determined in negative ion mode and 34 analytes in positive ion mode. Solid phase extraction (SPE) was used for purification and concentration of the samples. Developed methodology was validated and used for monitoring of selected compounds in samples of surface waters from the Morava River basin. Samples were collected on the rivers Morava and Svratka monthly for two years. Samples from the river Blata and stream Nivnička were collected for one year. Surface water samples were also collected from the river Litava. Four samples were taken throughout the length of the flow during one day. Smaller streams were chosen for monitoring because of the probability of occurrence of pesticides. They flow abundantly agriculturally cultivated areas. Drugs ibuprofen and diclofenac were detected in all taken samples, carbamazepine mostly. Among the most commonly occurring pesticides were bentazon, diuron, isoproturon, carbendazim, MCPA, MCPP, propiconazole, tebuconazole and 2,4-D