{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,19]],"date-time":"2026-10-19T11:41:36Z","timestamp":1792410096585,"version":"4.4.0"},"reference-count":42,"publisher":"Oxford University Press (OUP)","issue":"11","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,17]],"date-time":"2025-07-17T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1752710400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/pages\/standard-publication-reuse-rights"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100021778","name":"Agencia Nacional de Promoci\u00f3n de la Investigaci\u00f3n, el Desarrollo Tecnol\u00f3gico y la Innovaci\u00f3n","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["PICT2018-A-2737"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["PICT2018-A-2737"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100021778","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,1]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>Human active pharmaceutical ingredients (HAPIs) are micropollutants of emerging concern for aquatic ecosystems. Adequate access to health systems combined with poor sewerage connectivity and inadequate wastewater treatment plants has placed developing countries among the most vulnerable scenarios regarding HAPI water pollution. However, field data to better understand this phenomenon is still insufficient for large metropolises of South America. This study aimed to evaluate, in two contrasting seasons of the year, the occurrence of 16 highly prescribed HAPIs in 26 sites distributed along urban gradients of seven watersheds of the Rio de la Plata estuary southern plain within the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Region. Owing to their average annual concentrations and frequencies, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, carbamazepine, atenolol, enalapril, metformin, and sildenafil were the dominant HAPIs. Total HAPI concentrations and numbers significantly increased as the watercourses ran into more intensely populated areas. Sampling sites within urban conglomerates receiving wastewater treatent plant\u00a0discharge displayed higher HAPI concentrations and numbers, demonstrating the inefficacy of current plants in eliminating these substances. Sampling sites within urban conglomerates without official discharge also showed high HAPI concentrations and numbers, indicating \u201cstraight-piping\u201d and septic tank leaks as significant pollution sources. Detecting some HAPIs in rural sites would indicate that other minor sources (e.g., veterinary uses or atmospheric deposition) are also contributing. Shifts in HAPI frequencies and concentrations around the overall medians were a better indicator of seasonal variations than the absolute values affected by hydrological conditions. This study enhances understanding of the relationship between urbanization and HAPI surface water pollution in a major metropolitan area of South America, offering valuable data for future HAPI aquatic ecological risk assessments in the region.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1093\/etojnl\/vgaf181","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,18]],"date-time":"2025-07-18T03:43:53Z","timestamp":1752810233000},"page":"3131-3139","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Human pharmaceutical surface water pollution across urban gradients in the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Region, Argentina"],"prefix":"10.1093","volume":"44","author":[{"given":"Daniela E","family":"Perez","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Centro de Investigaciones del Medioambiente, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cient\u00edficas y T\u00e9cnicas (CONICET) - Universidad Nacional de La Plata , La Plata, Buenos Aires,","place":["Argentina"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7021-8943","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Macarena","family":"Rojo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centro de Investigaciones del Medioambiente, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cient\u00edficas y T\u00e9cnicas (CONICET) - Universidad Nacional de La Plata , La Plata, Buenos Aires,","place":["Argentina"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Diego S","family":"Cristos","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Instituto de Tecnolog\u00eda en Alimentos, Centro de Investigaci\u00f3n de Agroindustria, Instituto Nacional de Tecnolog\u00eda Agropecuaria , Hurlingham, Buenos Aires,","place":["Argentina"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3152-9340","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Pedro","family":"Carriquiriborde","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centro de Investigaciones del Medioambiente, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cient\u00edficas y T\u00e9cnicas (CONICET) - Universidad Nacional de La Plata , La Plata, Buenos Aires,","place":["Argentina"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"286","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,17]]},"reference":[{"key":"2025103101524430100_vgaf181-B1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.3389\/fenvs.2024.1443935","article-title":"Pharmaceutical consumption in human and veterinary medicine in Germany: Potential environmental challenges","volume":"12","author":"Abdallah","year":"2024","journal-title":"Frontiers in Environmental Science"},{"key":"2025103101524430100_vgaf181-B21204740","year":"2018"},{"key":"2025103101524430100_vgaf181-B2","volume-title":"Agentes Contaminantes Vigentes en la Cuenca Matanza Riachuelo (2017-2023)","author":"ACUMAR","year":"2025"},{"key":"2025103101524430100_vgaf181-B3","volume-title":"Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater (23rd ed)","author":"APHA-AWWA-WEF","year":"2017"},{"key":"2025103101524430100_vgaf181-B4","volume-title":"Saneamiento","author":"AySA","year":"2023"},{"key":"2025103101524430100_vgaf181-B5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2422","DOI":"10.1002\/etc.5973","article-title":"Pharmaceutical pollution of the English national parks","volume":"43","author":"Boxall","year":"2024","journal-title":"Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry"},{"key":"2025103101524430100_vgaf181-B6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1221","DOI":"10.1289\/ehp.1104477","article-title":"Pharmaceuticals and personal care products in the environment: What are the big questions?","volume":"120","author":"Boxall","year":"2012","journal-title":"Environmental Health Perspectives"},{"key":"2025103101524430100_vgaf181-B7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"cox079","DOI":"10.1093\/conphys\/cox079","article-title":"Urbanization, environment and pharmaceuticals: Advancing comparative physiology, pharmacology and toxicology","volume":"6","author":"Brooks","year":"2018","journal-title":"Conservation Physiology"},{"key":"2025103101524430100_vgaf181-B8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"152160","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2021.152160","article-title":"Pharmaceuticals in water and sediment of small streams under the pressure of urbanization: Concentrations, interactions, and risks","volume":"808","author":"Csaba-Kondor","year":"2022","journal-title":"Science of the Total Environment"},{"key":"2025103101524430100_vgaf181-B9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"139374","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2020.139374","article-title":"Pharmaceuticals and personal care products in a Brazilian wetland of international importance: Occurrence and environmental risk assessment","volume":"734","author":"de Jesus Silva Chaves","year":"2020","journal-title":"Science of the Total Environment"},{"key":"2025103101524430100_vgaf181-B10","first-page":"407","volume-title":"Lineamientos Estrat\u00e9gicos para la Regi\u00f3n Metropolitana de Buenos Aires","author":"DPOUyT","year":"2007"},{"key":"2025103101524430100_vgaf181-B11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"976","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2013.07.126","article-title":"Comparison of contaminants of emerging concern removal, discharge, and water quality hazards among centralized and on-site wastewater treatment system effluents receiving common wastewater influent","volume":"466-467","author":"Du","year":"2014","journal-title":"Science of the Total Environment"},{"key":"2025103101524430100_vgaf181-B12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"397","DOI":"10.1007\/s00128-012-0919-x","article-title":"Human pharmaceuticals in wastewaters from urbanized areas of Argentina","volume":"90","author":"Elorriaga","year":"2013","journal-title":"Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology"},{"key":"2025103101524430100_vgaf181-B13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"330","DOI":"10.1504\/IJENVH.2013.056974","article-title":"Screening of pharmaceuticals in surface water bodies of the Pampas region of Argentina","volume":"6","author":"Elorriaga","year":"2013","journal-title":"International Journal of Environment and Health"},{"key":"2025103101524430100_vgaf181-B14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"169","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2018.02.320","article-title":"Occurrence of pesticide residues in fish from South American rainfed agroecosystems","volume":"631-632","author":"Ernst","year":"2018","journal-title":"Science of the Total Environment"},{"key":"2025103101524430100_vgaf181-B15","first-page":"102","volume-title":"Applying the degree of urbanisation-A methodological manual to define cities, towns and rural areas for international comparisons","year":"2021"},{"key":"2025103101524430100_vgaf181-B16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1488","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2017.06.201","article-title":"Pharmaceuticals and other anthropogenic chemicals in atmospheric particulates and precipitation","volume":"612","author":"Ferrey","year":"2018","journal-title":"Science of the Total Environment"},{"key":"2025103101524430100_vgaf181-B17","first-page":"25","article-title":"Graphical methods in nonparametric statistics: A review and annotated bibliography","volume":"51","author":"Fisher","year":"1983","journal-title":"International Statistical Review \/ Revue Internationale de Statistique"},{"key":"2025103101524430100_vgaf181-B18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"329","DOI":"10.2166\/wh.2019.092","article-title":"Presence of emerging contaminants in urban water bodies in southern Brazil","volume":"17","author":"Ghesti Pivetta","year":"2019","journal-title":"Journal of Water and Health"},{"key":"2025103101524430100_vgaf181-B19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1157","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2018.01.123","article-title":"Trace organic contaminant (TOrC) mixtures in Minnesota littoral zones: Effects of on-site wastewater treatment system (OWTS) proximity and biological impact","volume":"626","author":"Guyader","year":"2018","journal-title":"Science of the Total Environment"},{"key":"2025103101524430100_vgaf181-B20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.4324\/9781410612687","volume-title":"The essence of multivariate thinking: Basic themes and methods","author":"Harlow","year":"2005"},{"key":"2025103101524430100_vgaf181-B21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","author":"Helsel","year":"2002","DOI":"10.3133\/tm4A3"},{"key":"2025103101524430100_vgaf181-B22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"448","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2018.03.392","article-title":"Urbanization gradient of selected pharmaceuticals in surface water at a watershed scale","volume":"634","author":"Hong","year":"2018","journal-title":"Science of the Total Environment"},{"key":"2025103101524430100_vgaf181-B23","first-page":"56","volume-title":"Censo Nacional de Poblaci\u00f3n, Hogares y Viviendas 2022, Regi\u00f3n Metropolitana Buenos Aires. Ciudad Aut\u00f3noma de Buenos Aires y 39 partidos de la provincia de Buenos Aires","year":"2024"},{"key":"2025103101524430100_vgaf181-B24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"111434","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ecolind.2023.111434","article-title":"Seasonal dynamics and key drivers of pharmaceutical pollution in a peri-urban watershed","volume":"158","author":"Ke","year":"2024","journal-title":"Ecological Indicators"},{"key":"2025103101524430100_vgaf181-B25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1098\/rstb.2013.0586","article-title":"Potential ecological footprints of active pharmaceutical ingredients: An examination of risk factors in low-, middle- and high-income countries","volume":"369","author":"Kookana","year":"2014","journal-title":"Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences"},{"key":"2025103101524430100_vgaf181-B26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"154303","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2022.154303","article-title":"Occurrence and accumulation of pharmaceutical products in water and biota of urban lowland rivers","volume":"828","author":"Mastr\u00e1ngelo","year":"2022","journal-title":"Science of the Total Environment"},{"key":"2025103101524430100_vgaf181-B27","volume-title":"Atlas Cuencas Hidrol\u00f3gicas y Ambientales de la Provincia de Buenos Aires","author":"MIySPBA","year":"2020"},{"key":"2025103101524430100_vgaf181-B28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3510","DOI":"10.1021\/acs.chemrev.8b00299","article-title":"Pharmaceuticals of emerging concern in aquatic systems: Chemistry, occurrence, effects, and removal methods","volume":"119","author":"Patel","year":"2019","journal-title":"Chemical Reviews"},{"key":"2025103101524430100_vgaf181-B29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4607","DOI":"10.1007\/s11356-017-0767-7","article-title":"Spatio-temporal evaluation of emerging contaminants and their partitioning along a Brazilian watershed","volume":"25","author":"Ribeiro de Sousa","year":"2018","journal-title":"Environmental Science and Pollution Research"},{"key":"2025103101524430100_vgaf181-B30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"129012","DOI":"10.1016\/j.chemosphere.2020.129012","article-title":"Accumulation of human pharmaceuticals and activity of biotransformation enzymes in fish from two areas of the lower Rio de la Plata Basin","volume":"266","author":"Rojo","year":"2021","journal-title":"Chemosphere"},{"key":"2025103101524430100_vgaf181-B31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"7304","DOI":"10.1021\/acs.est.6b04778","article-title":"Review of organic wastewater compound concentrations and removal in onsite wastewater treatment systems","volume":"51","author":"Schaider","year":"2017","journal-title":"Environmental Science & Technology"},{"key":"2025103101524430100_vgaf181-B32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"354","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2018.09.029","article-title":"Spatial and temporal influence of onsite wastewater treatment systems, centralized effluent discharge, and tides on aquatic hazards of nutrients, indicator bacteria, and pharmaceuticals in a coastal bayou","volume":"650","author":"Scott","year":"2019","journal-title":"Science of the Total Environment"},{"key":"2025103101524430100_vgaf181-B33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"491","DOI":"10.1002\/mas.20298","article-title":"An overview of matrix effects in liquid chromatography\u2013mass spectrometry","volume":"30","author":"Trufelli","year":"2011","journal-title":"Mass Spectrometry Reviews"},{"key":"2025103101524430100_vgaf181-B34","author":"U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA)","year":"2007"},{"key":"2025103101524430100_vgaf181-B35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"389","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2013.10.124","article-title":"Occurrence and bioaccumulation of pharmaceuticals in a fish species inhabiting the Suqu\u00eda River basin (C\u00f3rdoba, Argentina)","volume":"472","author":"Vald\u00e9s","year":"2014","journal-title":"Science of the Total Environment"},{"key":"2025103101524430100_vgaf181-B36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"139837","DOI":"10.1016\/j.chemosphere.2023.139837","article-title":"Contaminants of emerging concern fate and fluvial biofilm status as pollution markers in an urban river","volume":"340","author":"Vald\u00e9s","year":"2023","journal-title":"Chemosphere"},{"key":"2025103101524430100_vgaf181-B37","author":"Waters-Corporation","year":"2021"},{"key":"2025103101524430100_vgaf181-B38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"60","DOI":"10.1177\/014107689909200204","article-title":"Seasonal variations in sexual activity and their implications for sexual health promotion","volume":"92","author":"Wellings","year":"1999","journal-title":"Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine"},{"key":"2025103101524430100_vgaf181-B39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1073\/pnas.2113947119","article-title":"Pharmaceutical pollution of the world\u2019s rivers","volume":"119","author":"Wilkinson","year":"2022","journal-title":"Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America"},{"key":"2025103101524430100_vgaf181-B40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"124988","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envpol.2024.124988","article-title":"Septic tanks as a pathway for emerging contaminants to the aquatic environment\u2013Need for alternative rural wastewater treatment?","volume":"362","author":"Wilschnack","year":"2024","journal-title":"Environmental Pollution"},{"key":"2025103101524430100_vgaf181-B41","volume-title":"Biostatistical analysis","author":"Zar","year":"2010","edition":"5th ed.)"}],"container-title":["Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/etc\/advance-article-pdf\/doi\/10.1093\/etojnl\/vgaf181\/63791463\/vgaf181.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"am","intended-application":"syndication"},{"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/etc\/article-pdf\/44\/11\/3131\/63791463\/vgaf181.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"syndication"},{"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/etc\/article-pdf\/44\/11\/3131\/63791463\/vgaf181.pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,31]],"date-time":"2025-10-31T05:52:55Z","timestamp":1761889975000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/etc\/article\/44\/11\/3131\/8205749"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,17]]},"references-count":42,"journal-issue":{"issue":"11","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,17]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,1]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/etojnl\/vgaf181","relation":{},"ISSN":["0730-7268","1552-8618"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0730-7268","type":"print"},{"value":"1552-8618","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published-other":{"date-parts":[[2025,11]]},"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,17]]}}}