Exposure of the Main Italian River Basin to Pharmaceuticals

Table 1

Literature values (S. Castiglioni et al., 2004; R. Andreozzi et al., 2003; Banca dati Farmacoambiente; Drugbank) of the physicochemical properties and degradation behaviour of the selected pharmaceuticals.

Class of drugs	Pharmaceutical	Molecular weight (g/mol)	Log 𝐾ow	Stability in water
β-Blocker	Atenolol	266.3	0.5	Stable for 40 d (5–25°C) 𝑡5045.2 h pH 7.4 (UV ray)	Moderate stability
Anti-inflammatory	Paracetamol	151.16	0.46 (experim.)
			0.27 (predicted)
	Nimesulide	308.3	2.56
	Metoprolol	267	0.5
	Propranolol	259	3.65
Ulcer healing	Ranitidine	314.4	1.3 (experim.)	Stable 160 h pH 6.18,65°C	Prolonged stability
			0.79 (predicted)
Diuretic	Furosemide	330.7	1.4 (experim.)	Stable 90 d pH 5.2	Prolonged stability
			2.71 (predicted)	Stable 96% 240 d pH 5.2
Lipid regulator	Atorvastatin	558.6	5.7 (experim.)
			4.24 (predicted)
Antiepileptic	Carbamazepine	236	2.3 (experim.)	𝑡50 100 d	Prolonged stability
			2.10 (predicted)
Antibacterial	Metronidazole	171	−0.1 (experim.)
			−0.15 (predicted)