Pharmaceuticals A Mixed Bag: analyzing for PPCPs, waste water treatment, and one ugly pharmacy Laurie Tenace Florida DEP NAHMMA 2005

Thanks to my good buddy Jazz for helping me figure out my topics for this presentation

To join the Pharmwaste list serve: go to and follow the directions Or drop me an and I’ll send you the link (the easy way) Coming soon to a water body near you?!

Today’s topics Analyzing for EPOCs or PhACs or Micro constituents – different groups have different acronyms & focuses Analyzing for EPOCs or PhACs or Micro constituents – different groups have different acronyms & focuses What happens at the waste water treatment plant? What happens at the waste water treatment plant? The legacy of a family-owned pharmacy The legacy of a family-owned pharmacy

How much? “Typical occurrence is <100ng/L (<0.1μg/L)” 1 part/million =.001g/L or 1mg/L or 1 mg/kg or 4 drops of ink in a 55 gallon drum 1 part/million =.001g/L or 1mg/L or 1 mg/kg or 4 drops of ink in a 55 gallon drum 1ppb = g/L or 1μg/kg or 1μg/L or 1 pinch of salt in 10 tons of potato chips 1ppb = g/L or 1μg/kg or 1μg/L or 1 pinch of salt in 10 tons of potato chips <100ng/L (<0.1μg/L) = concentration many PhACs (or whatever you want to call them!) occur =< g/L or <1 pinch of salt in 100 tons of potato chips <100ng/L (<0.1μg/L) = concentration many PhACs (or whatever you want to call them!) occur =< g/L or <1 pinch of salt in 100 tons of potato chips

Methods Development Methods Development analytical determination in environmental samples is difficult and involves multiple tasks Sample collection - possible contamination Sample collection - possible contamination Separation & Extraction Separation & Extraction Concentration Concentration Detection & Quantification Detection & Quantification Many methods for doing all these things – methods development is time consuming & expensive – usually for one compound at a time Many methods for doing all these things – methods development is time consuming & expensive – usually for one compound at a time

Analytical Methods GC/MS – Gas Chromatography/ Mass Spectrometry GC/MS – Gas Chromatography/ Mass Spectrometry HPLC/MS – High Performance Liquid Chromatography/ Mass Spec. HPLC/MS – High Performance Liquid Chromatography/ Mass Spec. LC/MS – Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spec. LC/MS – Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spec. Combinations of these things in sequence Combinations of these things in sequence Different compounds require different analytical methods Different compounds require different analytical methods QA/QC – Quality Assurance/Quality Control is very difficult QA/QC – Quality Assurance/Quality Control is very difficult

Obstacles to Analysis Test for each compound separately Test for each compound separately Very low detection levels may require putting analytical equipment in sequence Very low detection levels may require putting analytical equipment in sequence Few labs are capable Few labs are capable Cost prohibitive Cost prohibitive

Pretreatment Removal, reduction, or alteration of pollutants in industrial wastewater prior to discharge or introduction into a domestic wastewater treatment facility Removal, reduction, or alteration of pollutants in industrial wastewater prior to discharge or introduction into a domestic wastewater treatment facility

Standard Pretreatment Primary – filtration for particulates Primary – filtration for particulates Secondary – oxidation introducing bacteria (can also be aerobic) Secondary – oxidation introducing bacteria (can also be aerobic) Tertiary - chlorination Tertiary - chlorination

Advanced Treatment Technologies Coagulation/Flocculation Coagulation/Flocculation – –>50% removal of PAHs – –<40% removal of organic chemicals pesticides, steroids, inorganics, industrial chemicals Softening Softening – –70-90% removal of pesticides – –<20-40% removal of industrial chemicals and steroids Chlorine Chlorine – –70-90% removal of pesticides and other organics – –<20% removal of inorganics, industrial chemicals Ultraviolet Ultraviolet – –>90% removal of pesticides, industrial chemicals, and steroids – –<20% removal of inorganics

New Technology Activated Carbon – good at removing 17a- ethynylestradiol (EE2) but expensive Activated Carbon – good at removing 17a- ethynylestradiol (EE2) but expensive MnO 2 – Manganese oxide – also good for EE2, increases degradation rate for others MnO 2 – Manganese oxide – also good for EE2, increases degradation rate for others Membrane Filtration - semi-permeable polymeric membrane - $$$$ Membrane Filtration - semi-permeable polymeric membrane - $$$$ Membrane Bioreactors – adds bio-substrate – pesticides, herbicides, EDCs - $$$$, lots of maintenance Membrane Bioreactors – adds bio-substrate – pesticides, herbicides, EDCs - $$$$, lots of maintenance Fenton process, Advanced Electrochemical Oxidation Process, Phytoremediation – now you’re getting really esoteric Fenton process, Advanced Electrochemical Oxidation Process, Phytoremediation – now you’re getting really esoteric

AFTER Pretreatment Aerated, Partial Mix Lagoons Aerated, Partial Mix Lagoons Anaerobic Lagoons Anaerobic Lagoons Ammonia Stripping Ammonia Stripping Ballasted Flocculation Ballasted Flocculation Chemical Precipitation Chemical Precipitation Dechlorination Dechlorination Granular Activated Carbon Absorption Granular Activated Carbon Absorption Oxidation Ditches Oxidation Ditches Trickling Filter Nitrification Trickling Filter Nitrification Trickling Filters Trickling Filters Etc! Etc!

The best way to treat them? KEEP THEM OUT OF THE WATER IN THE FIRST PLACE!

Anhydrous morphine

methadone More anhydrous morphine

hydrocodone

Laurie Tenace Florida DEP