Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are a group of medications widely used by man to heal certain ailments. However, after consumption, they may be excreted in wastewaters with consequent environmental effects. NSAIDs are endocrine disruptors that can cause changes in animal physiology. The purpose of this study was to implement an analytical method that permits the determination of the presence of NSAIDs in water. Compound extraction was performed by solid-phase extraction (SPE) using an Oasis HLB cartridge. Analytes were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD). The method was applied in water from the Maipo River and from a neighboring wastewater treatment plant in the Metropolitan Region of Pajaritos, Viña, Tuberia, Unión and Gansos sampling points in Chile. This method turned out to be adequate for the determination of NSAIDs in water samples with recovery percentages above 80%. Naproxen and ibuprofen were mostly detected in the Maipo River water samples, with concentrations ranging from 0.33 to 0.83 µg L-1.
anti-inflammatory drugs; HPLC; solid-phase extraction
