Major pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in wastewater treatment plant and receiving water in Beijing, China, and associated ecological risks.

The occurrence of 15 pharmaceuticals and personal care products in the influent and effluent from the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) and its receiving water in Beijing, China were determined. Results from the present study confirmed that caffeine, N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide and chloramphenicol were removed at a high rate (>70 % efficiency). In contrast, removal efficiency of the other 12 compounds was quite poor (ranged from -40 % to 58 %). Some compounds in the receiving river were present at higher concentrations compared to those in the WWTP effluent, indicating that sources other than treated effluents are present. The risk to the aquatic environment was estimated by a ratio of measured environmental concentration and predicted no-effect concentration. For those compounds found in the effluent and surface water, mefenamic acid, trimethoprim and gemfibrozil may pose a medium risk to aquatic environment.