The presence and fate of 56 pharmaceuticals, personal care products, endocrine disruptors
and illicit drugs (PPCPs) were investigated in the South Wales region of the UK. Two
contrasting rivers: River Taff and River Ely were chosen for this investigation and
were monitored for a period of 10 months. The impact of the factors affecting the
levels of concentration of PPCPs and illicit drugs in surface water such as surrounding
area, proximity to wastewater effluent and weather conditions, mainly rainfall was
also investigated. Most PPCPs were frequently found in river water at concentrations
reaching single microgL(-1) and their levels depended mainly on the extent of water
dilution resulting from rainfall. Discharge of treated wastewater effluent into the
river course was found to be the main cause of water contamination with PPCPs. The
most frequently detected PPCPs represent the group of pharmaceuticals dispensed at
the highest levels in the Welsh community. These were antibacterial drugs (trimethoprim,
erythromycin-H(2)O and amoxicillin), anti-inflammatories/analgesics (paracetamol,
tramadol, codeine, naproxen, ibuprofen and diclofenac) and antiepileptic drugs (carbamazepine
and gabapentin). Only four PPCPs out of 56 (simvastatin, pravastatin, digoxin and
digoxigenin) were not quantified over the course of the study. Several PPCPs were
found to be both ubiquitous and persistent in the aqueous environment (e.g. erythromycin-H(2)O,
codeine, carbamazepine, gabapentin and valsartan). The calculated average daily loads
of PPCPs indicated that in total almost 6 kg of studied PPCPs are discharged daily
into the studied rivers. The illicit drugs studied were found in rivers at low levels
of ng L(-1). Average daily loads of amphetamine, cocaine and its main metabolite benzoylecgonine
were as follows: 8, 1.2 and 39 gday(-1), respectively. Their frequent occurrence in
surface water is primarily associated with their high illegal usage and is strongly
associated with the discharge of insufficiently treated wastewater effluent.