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Occurrence, distribution and ecological risks of sulfonamides in the Qinzhou Bay, South China |
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Abstract Five antibiotics (including four sulfonamides and trimethoprim) in the Qinzhou Bay, South China, were analyzed using highperformance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. Focus was on the levels and distribution of antibiotics pollution in the waters. Sulfamethoxazole, with concentrations up to 12ng/L, was the most frequently detected compound, following by TMP. In general, the contamination level was relatively low when compared with other areas. The average antibiotic concentrations from different sections of the bay decreased in the following order: Maowei Sea (8.4ng/L) > outer Qinzhou Bay (1.9ng/L) > Sanning Bay (1.4ng/L). The concentrations of antibiotics in the aquaculture area were higher those in other areas, indicating that aquaculture activities could contribute to the antibiotic residues in the environment. An ecological risk assessment revealed that sulfamethoxazole may present possible risk to the environment. Therefore, the long-term ecological effects caused by the continuous discharge of antibiotics in the Qinzhou Bay can not be ignored.
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Received: 18 January 2013
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