Detection of amoxicillin-diketopiperazine-2', 5' in wastewater samples

J Environ Sci Health A Tox Hazard Subst Environ Eng. 2009 Dec;44(14):1512-7. doi: 10.1080/10934520903263306.

Abstract

The short half-life of aminopenicillin antibiotics in the aquatic environment put to the challenge the detection of their degradation products among environmental hydro-chemists. In a quest to study the occurrence of a new emerging micro-pollutant in the aquatic environment we attempted this by analyzing samples from a wastewater treatment plant for a major degradation product of amoxicillin (i.e., amoxicillin-diketopiperazine-2', 5') using a high-performance liquid chromatography technique coupled with tandem mass spectrometry method. ADP was repeatedly detected in all wastewater and effluent samples (18) from which it was extracted. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that evidently proves the occurrence of the chemically stable form of AMX, its Diketopiperazine-2', 5', in wastewater and effluent samples. Furthermore, penicillins are known to cause most allergic drug reactions. There is a risk that residues of hypersensitivity-inducing drugs, such as penicillins and their degradation products, may elicit allergic reactions in human consumers of water and food of animal origin.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amoxicillin / analysis*
  • Amoxicillin / chemistry
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Diketopiperazines / analysis*
  • Diketopiperazines / chemistry
  • Environmental Monitoring / statistics & numerical data*
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry
  • Waste Disposal, Fluid*
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / analysis*
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / chemistry

Substances

  • Diketopiperazines
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Amoxicillin