Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) are emerging contaminants in the environment. This study was performed using 14C-acetaminophen and 14C-carbamazepine to assess their fate and degradation pathways in soils. When incubated at room temperature, there was a gradual dissipation of both compounds. After 105 d, 1.07% of 14C-carbamazepine or 16.25% of 14C-acetaminophen in a sandy clay loam soil was mineralized to 14CO2. Enhanced mineralization was seen in sandy clay loam or silty clay soils than in a medium loam soil. Soil sterilization significantly decreased the mineralization rate of acetaminophen and carbamazepine, implying microbes played an important role in the degradation. Application of biosolids signi?cantly retarded their transformation. For instance, only 1.94% of 14C-acetaminophen was mineralized to 14CO2 in the biosolid amended soil, compared to 16.25% in the soil without amendment.

Degradation of the pharmaceuticals acetaminophen and carbamazepine in soils

244th National Meeting (2012)

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