Occurrence and distribution of carbamazepine, nicotine, estrogenic compounds, and their transformation products in wastewater from various treatment plants and the aquatic environment

The concentrations and fates of carbamazepine and metabolites (CBMs), nicotine and metabolites (NCTs), estrogenic compounds and metabolites (Es) in various water samples were investigated. Different concentrations were found for water from different sources. The concentrations of these pharmaceuticals and personal care products and their metabolites in human waste treatment plant (HTP) influents (0.08–173 μg L−1) were higher than in the other influent samples and the lowest levels were observed in hospital wastewater treatment plant influents (0.03–7.33 μg L−1). The concentrations were higher in HTP effluents (0.01–11.2 μg L−1) than in the other effluent samples and lowest in sewage treatment plant effluents (0.003–1.26 μg L−1). The NCTs were the most frequently detected pharmaceuticals and personal care products (concentration range 0.05–89.6 μg L−1) in the wastewater treatment plant influents, but the CBMs were found at the highest concentrations (0.003–6.88 μg L−1). 10, 11-Dihydro-10, 11-dihydroxycarbamazepine was the most abundant of the CBMs in the wastewater treatment plants and water samples. Trans-3′-hydroxycotinine was dominant in the HTP and hospital wastewater treatment plant influents, whereas the parent NCT was dominant in the sewage treatment plant influents and in all the effluent and other water samples. Estriol was the dominant estrogenic compound in the HTP and hospital wastewater treatment plant influents. Estriol and estrone were found in many of the HTP influents, but estrone was dominant in the effluent and other water samples. The total removal efficiencies for the CBMs, NCTs, and estrogenic compounds for the treatment plants were −101% to 56%, 2.9%–99%, and >98%, respectively. [Display omitted] •Higher concentrations of PPCPs and their metabolites were observed in HTPs than other WWTPs.•The NCTs level was highest WWTPs in influents and CBMs were highest in effluents and water samples.•CBM and NCT metabolite contributions were higher than parent compounds in most of the samples.•E1 contribution was higher than other Es in effluents and water samples due to lower removal rate.