Characteristics of Occurrence of Pharmaceuticals in the Nakdong River

Abstract

This study was suggested as fundamental data to control medical materials remained in Nakdong range gauge. The level of Iopromide detected in Nakdong mainstream was 0.0015~0.37 µg/L, Mefenamic acid 0.0087~0.056 µg/L, Diclofenac N.D.~0.01 µg/L, Atenolol N.D.~0.024 µg/L, Propranolol N.D.~0.0038 µg/L, Lincomycin 0.0005~0.038 µg/L, and Trimethoprim N.D.~0.0083 µg/L. At sewage disposal plant in the region, most of them were detected high levels of density. Especially, the level of Iopromide was found the highest up to 5.38 µg/L. At livestock wasted water disposal plant, the level of lincomycin was detected the highest figure of 477 µg/L. As a result, medical materials from Nakdong River mainstream got increasing the concentration due to inflow from sewage disposal plant in Gumi and River Geumho in Daegu, which affects residential and industrial areas significantly. There- fore, to control medical materials remained in Nakdong River efficiently, Geumho River and sewage disposal plants shall be conti- nuously monitored and managed, which is recommendable.