Occurrence, Existence and Detection of Antibiotics in Finished and Raw Drinking Water Treatment Plants in Baghdad City – Iraq

Persistence of antibiotics in the aquatic environment has raised concerns regarding their potential
influence on potable water quality and human health. This study analyzes the presence of antibiotics
in potable water from two treatment plants in Baghdad City. The collected samples were separated
using a solid-phase extraction method with hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) cartridge before being
analyzed. The detected antibiotics in the raw and finished drinking water were analyzed and assessed
using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), with Fluorometric detector and UV-detector.
The results confirmed that different antibiotics, including fluoroquinolones and B-lactams were
detected in the raw and finished water. The most frequently detected antibiotics were ciprofloxacin
with highest concentration of 1.270 μg L-1 in the raw water of AL-Wihda plant, whereas, the highest
concentration of levofloxacin was 0.177 μg L-1, while, amoxicillin did not detect in this plant. In
contrast, ciprofloxacine was found in both raw water and finished water of AL-Rasheed plant and
recorded highest concentration of 1.344 and 1.312 μg L-1 respectively. Moreover, the residual amount
of Levofloxacin in the raw water was up to 0.414 μg L-1, whereas, amoxicillin showed to be the most
detectable drugs in the raw water of AL-Rasheed plant, with a concentration of 1.50 μg L-1. The
results of this study revealed the existence of antibiotic drugs in raw and finished water, and should be
included in the Iraqi standard for drinking water quality assessment.