Determination of selected antibiotics in the Victoria Harbour and the Pearl River, South China using high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Wei hai Xu, Gan Zhang, Shi chun Zou, Xiangdong Li, Yu chun Liu

Research output: Journal article publicationJournal articleAcademic researchpeer-review

510 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Nine selected antibiotics in the Victoria Harbour of Hong Kong and the Pearl River at Guangzhou, South China, were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. The results showed that the concentrations of antibiotics were mainly below the limit of quantification (LOQ) in the marine water of Victoria Harbour. However, except for amoxicillin, all of the antibiotics were detected in the Pearl River during high and low water seasons with the median concentrations ranging from 11 to 67 ng/L, and from 66 to 460 ng/L, respectively; and the concentrations in early spring were about 2-15 times higher than that in summer with clearer diurnal variations. It was suggested that the concentrations of antibiotics in the high water season were more affected by wastewater production cycles due to quick refreshing rate, while those in the low water season may be more sensitive to the water column dynamics controlled by tidal processes in the river.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)672-679
Number of pages8
JournalEnvironmental Pollution
Volume145
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Feb 2007

Keywords

  • Antibiotics
  • China
  • High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)
  • Hong Kong
  • Pearl River
  • Tandem mass spectrometry
  • Water

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Toxicology
  • Pollution
  • Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Determination of selected antibiotics in the Victoria Harbour and the Pearl River, South China using high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this