Hypertension and Cholesterol Medications Present in Water Released into the St. Lawrence River

A study conducted by Universite de Montreal (Montreal, Canada) researchers on downstream and upstream water from the Montreal wastewater treatment plant has revealed the presence of chemotherapy products and certain hypertension and cholesterol medications. Professor Sebastien Sauve's team validated a rapid detection method (On-line SPE-LC-MS-MS) for pharmaceutical compounds under study in the raw and treated wastewater of the Montreal wastewater treatment plant.

Bezafibrate (cholesterol reducing medication), enalapril (hypertension medication), methotrexate, and cyclophosphamide (two products used in the treatment of certain cancers) have all been detected in wastewater entering the Montreal treatment station. However, only bezafibrate and enalapril have been detected in the treated water leaving the wastewater treatment plant and in the surface water of the St. Lawrence River, where the treated wastewater is released.