Identification of pharmaceuticals in landfill leachates – screening test
author:
RAFAŁ NOWAK, MARIA WŁODARCZYK-MAKUŁA
ORCID ID:
0000-0002-3543-7363, 0000-0002-3978-2420
No:
11/2025 Instal pp.51-55
DOI:
10.36119/15.2025.11.8
Currently, a number of researchers are involved in identifying sources of pharmaceutical contamination in the aquatic
environment and assessing the level of contamination of water bodies. The update of the Wastewater Directive on
wastewater treatment includes, among other things, the monitoring of concentrations of selected pharmaceuticals.
However, the scope of analysis is limited to the determination of 12 compounds, but other active compounds from this
group of micropollutants are also identified in wastewater. The aim of this study was to identify pharmaceuticals in
landfill leachate collected from an example landfill site. Qualitative-quantitative determination was carried out using
liquid chromatography with an MS/MS detector. The qualitative analysis identified the presence of 88 compounds
belonging to different groups of active compounds: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, anticonvulsants,
benzodiazepine derivatives, antibiotics, opioid analgesics, antiparasitics, cytostatics, β-blockers, androgenic
hormones, iodine contrast agents and others. Quantitative analysis of individual compounds showed varying
concentrations: from less than the limit of quantification to 25 µg/dm3.
Keywords:
About Authors:
dr inż. Rafał Nowak https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3543-7363 rafal.nowak@pcz.pl,
prof. dr hab. inż. Maria Włodarczyk-Makuła https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3978-2420 m.wlodarczyk-makula@pcz.pl ‒ Politechnika
Częstochowska, Wydział Infrastruktury i Środowiska, Katedra Sieci i Instalacji Sanitarnych.
