Quantitative Analysis Of Anti-Biotics Drug Residues In The Dal Lake, Srinagar, India

Abstract

This study investigates the occurrence of pharmaceutical residues in Dal Lake, a freshwater lake in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, India, focusing on three targeted compounds: Ofloxacin, Erythromycin, and Amoxicillin. A total of 8 water samples were collected from eight sampling sites along the littoral zone of the lake on a single occasion between 11:00 am and 4:30 pm. The concentrations of Ofloxacin, and Erythromycin were determined through Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) Analysis revealed the presence of two out of the three targeted pharmaceuticals. Ofloxacin was the most prevalent, with concentrations ranging from 82.28 µg/L to 133.98 µg/L (mean: 99.49 µg/L, SD: 17.90 µg/L), exhibiting significant variability across sampling sites. Erythromycin was also detected, albeit at lower concentrations, ranging from 1.55 µg/L to 2.00 µg/L (mean: 1.74 µg/L, SD: 0.17 µg/L), showing minimal variability. Amoxicillin was consistently below the quantifiable limit at all sites, suggesting its absence or presence at extremely low concentrations in the lake which could be ascribed to its natural degradation. These findings highlight the concerning levels of certain pharmaceutical residues in Dal Lake, particularly Ofloxacin, and underscore the need for further research on their environmental impact and potential mitigation strategies.