Quantification and Spatial Distribution of Enrofloxacin in Earthworms after its Uptake from Contaminated Soil

abstract

English

A range of pharmaceuticals plays a key role in the management of diseases. However, up to 90% of the drug dosage can be excreted in the form of faeces or urine. These residues may subsequently enter the soil environment, e.g. through irrigation with wastewater, application of animal manure, or treated sewage sludge. Studies have shown that crops grown in contaminated soil may contain trace amounts of drug residues, raising concerns about the potential human health risks associated with long-term dietary intake of these substances and the development of antibiotic-resistance genes. Currently, it is estimated that around 1.2 million deaths worldwide and another 2.6 to 4.8 million are associated with AMR; by 2050, this number will rise to 10 million deaths per year. Furthermore, studies suggest that uptake of these compounds by earthworms can occur, which raises concerns about the potential decrease in soil quality and secondary poisoning of their predators. Although many studies have focussed on the investigation of the fate of veterinary antibiotics in terrestrial environments, there is still a lack of knowledge on the uptake of these compounds and their metabolites by plants and soil organisms; therefore, potential environmental and health risks are not investigated thoroughly. Some studies have also suggested that these compounds could also be removed from animal manure or soil by vermicomposting (ex-situ vermiremediation). Therefore, this novel work focussed on the quantification of enrofloxacin in earthworms after its uptake in contaminated soil environment (sampling after 1; 3; and 5 days of exposure) via extraction using the QuEChERS method, followed by LC-ESI-TQ analysis. Furthermore, the mechanism of earthworm uptake was investigated by MALDI-TOF analysis, specifically by characterising the spatial distribution of enrofloxacin within the earthworm tissue. In addition, metabolic changes in earthworms due to soil contamination were investigated by complementary mass spectrometry analyses (LC-ESI-qTOF and MALDI-TOF).

earthworms, enrofloxacin, veterinary antibiotics, QuEChERS, liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, MALDI

FUČÍK, J.; JAROŠOVÁ, R.; BAUMEISTER, A.; REXROTH, S.; NAVRKALOVÁ, J.; AMRICHOVÁ, A.; HAMPLOVÁ, M.; SEDLÁŘ, M.; ZLÁMALOVÁ GARGOŠOVÁ, H.; MRAVCOVÁ, L.

30. 11. 2023

Vysoké učení technické v Brně, Fakulta chemická

Brno

978-80-214-6204-5

Sborník abstraktů - Studentská odborná konference Chemie je život 2023

první

50

51

2