Occurrence of Selected Antibiotic Residues in Water Samples from Lagos Lagoon, Victoria Island, Lagos

Abstract

Background: Pharmaceuticals are one of the many emerging environmental contaminants whose presence in water have been largely neglected especially in many African countries where they are continually discharged into the environment from industries, hospitals, homes and animal farms. There environmental impacts have been well reported.

Objective: This research is aimed at detecting the presence of some selected pharmaceuticals (Metronidazole, Trimethoprim, Sulphamethoxazole, Ampicillin and Cloxacillin) in water samples collected from the Lagos Lagoon, Victoria Island Axis - Lagos.

Methodology: Water samples were collected using coherent protocols and procedures designed to obtain representative sample. The collected water samples were analysed using a combined technique involving Solid Phase Extraction technique and High Performance Liquid Chromatography.

Result : Metronidazole , Trimethoprimand Sulphamethoxazole were detected but only Trimethoprim (70.60 ng/ml) and  Sulphamethoxazole (1599.306 ng/ml) were quantifiable. Ampicillin and Cloxacillin were not detected at all. Antibiotics presence in small concentrations has since been related to development of resistance by microorganisms in antibiotic therapy. Some antibiotics in water have been reported to have endocrine disruptive properties. Environmental risk assessment of antibiotic on human health is scarce.

Conclusion: The results confirmed antibiotics as one of the contaminants in Lagos lagoon, hence, legislation that will prevent  indiscriminate discharge of pharmaceuticallycontaining waste into water bodies is strongly recommended as this will help to preserve aquatic life and ecosystem at large.

Keywords: Pharmaceuticals ·Water ·Antibiotics · Resistance · Environmental · SPE · HPLC