Pharmaceuticals and personal care products in the seawater around a typical subtropical tourist city of China and associated ecological risk

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in the sea area surrounding a densely populated tourist city in southeastern China were investigated. In total, 32 PPCP pollutants classified into 23 categories were detected. Different spatial distribution patterns of PPCPs indicated possible contamination from runoff and multiple local sources. The labile-to-conservative ratios of PPCPs showed the influence of untreated domestic sewage. In addition, increased concentrations of ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, and erythromycin around aquaculture farms imply that aquaculture cannot be neglected as a source. The concentrations of oxytetracycline, ranitidine, ciprofloxacin, miconazole, and sulfamethizole were higher in the wet season than those in the dry season, and the difference in pharmaceutical consumption was suspected to be the main driving factor of this seasonal variation. The risk quotients calculated with the maximum concentrations of miconazole, triclosan, dehydronifedipine, and triclocarban exceeded 0.1, indicating potential moderate or high risks. Antibacterial agents in daily chemicals and azole broad-spectrum antifungals were associated with the highest risks in this study; this might be another significant pollution characteristic in the sea area around this subtropical tourist city.

Automated summary

The study revealed the presence of 32 PPCP pollutants in the sea area surrounding a densely populated tourist city in southeastern China, with possible contamination from runoff, local sources, and aquaculture farms. Seasonal variations and differences in pharmaceutical consumption were found to affect the concentrations of PPCPs in the sea area. Furthermore, antibacterial agents in daily chemicals and azole broad-spectrum antifungals were identified as potential high-risk factors in this subtropical tourist city's sea area.