Occurrence, distribution, and risk assessment of selected pharmaceuticals in municipal biosolids from the four wastewater treatment plants in Gauteng Province, South Africa.

ABSTRACT: The presence of pharmaceutical residues in municipal biosolids is an emerging environmental concern due to their potential accumulation in agricultural soils following land application. While parent compounds like sulfamethoxazole and carbamazepine are frequently studied, data on their transformation products in biosolids remain limited. This study assessed the occurrence, distribution, and environmental risks of sulfamethoxazole, carbamazepine, and two of their selected metabolites in biosolids collected from four wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Gauteng Province, South Africa. A single biosolid sampling campaign was conducted across the four WWTPs, each characterized by varying operational parameters. Sulfamethoxazole and its two metabolites were not detected in any of the samples.

SUBMITTER: Ngoetjana MP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12748950 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature