Occurrence and fate of chiral and achiral drugs in estuarine water - a case study of the Clyde Estuary, Scotland

There is currently a lack of enantiospecific studies on chiral drugs in estuarine environments. In this study, the occurrence and fate of 20 prescription and illicit drugs, metabolites and associated contaminants were investigated in the Clyde Estuary, Scotland, over a 6 month period. More than half of the drugs were detected in at least 50% of water samples collected (n = 30), with considerable enantiomer enrichment observed for some of the compounds. Enantiomeric fraction (EF) values of the chiral drugs investigated in this study ranged from <0.03 for amphetamine to 0.70 for bisoprolol. Microcosm studies revealed enantioselective degradation of fluoxetine and citalopram for the first-time in estuarine waters (over 14 days at 8.0 degrees C in water of 27.8 practical salinity units). Interestingly, fish collected from the inner estuary (Platichthys flesus - European flounder) contained drug enantiomers in muscle and liver tissues. This included propranolol, fluoxetine, citalopram, and venlafaxine. Considerable enantiospecific differences were observed between the two fish tissues, and between fish tissues and water samples. For example, citalopram EF values in muscle and liver were 0.29 +/- 0.03 and 0.18 +/- 0.01, respectively. In water samples EF values were in the range 0.36-0.49. This suggests enantioselective metabolism of citalopram by P. flesus. The enantioselectivity of drugs observed within the Clyde Estuary highlights the need for enantiospecific effect-driven studies on marine organisms to better understand their impact in estuarine environments, contributing to the likely cumulative impacts of the range of contaminants to which marine coastal wildlife is exposed.

Automated summary

This study investigated the occurrence and fate of chiral drugs in the Clyde Estuary in Scotland and found considerable enantiomer enrichment for some compounds. Enantioselective degradation of certain drugs in estuarine waters and the presence of drug enantiomers in fish tissues were observed. The results highlight the need for enantiospecific effect-driven studies on marine organisms to better understand their impact in estuarine environments.