Survey of Antifungal in Surface- and Groundwater: A Portuguese Environmental Case Study

Cristina De Mello-Sampayo (), Paula Viana, Ana Lopes, Rita Carvalho da Silva, Rosário de Jesus, Georgina Sarmento, Anabela Almeida and Leonor Meisel ()
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Cristina De Mello-Sampayo: Laboratory of Neuroinflammation, Signaling and Neuroregeneration, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
Paula Viana: Portuguese Environmental Agency (APA), Rua da Murgueira, 9, Zambujal, Alfragide, 2610-124 Amadora, Portugal
Ana Lopes: Portuguese Environmental Agency (APA), Rua da Murgueira, 9, Zambujal, Alfragide, 2610-124 Amadora, Portugal
Rita Carvalho da Silva: Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
Rosário de Jesus: Portuguese Environmental Agency (APA), Rua da Murgueira, 9, Zambujal, Alfragide, 2610-124 Amadora, Portugal
Georgina Sarmento: Analysis Laboratory, Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
Anabela Almeida: Vasco da Gama Research Centre (CIVG), Departamento de Ciências Veterinárias, Escola Universitária Vasco da Gama (EUVG), Campus Universitário de Lordemão, Av. José R. Sousa Fernandes 197, 3020-210 Coimbra, Portugal
Leonor Meisel: Laboratory of Systems Integration Pharmacology, Clinical and Regulatory Science, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1600-277 Lisbon, Portugal

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 2, 1-17

Abstract: Antifungals support modern medical and agricultural practices, and extensive screening environmental data are missing. This work aims to survey antifungals for medical and agricultural purposes in surface- and groundwater in Portugal. A passive sampling technique and a high-resolution chromatographic system were used. Antifungals applied in medical practice were not detected as only antifungals for agricultural purposes (fungicides). Thirty-nine different fungicide molecules were found; its detection frequency in surface- and groundwater was dominated by rabenzazole (61%, 92%) and ethoxyquin (54%, 77%); among the five fungicides with similar surface- and groundwater catching rates, ferimzone was the most polluting (54%, 54%); oxadixyl (61%), kresoxim-methyl (61%) and fenamidone (46%) were primarily designated surface water contaminants; for azoles, the occurrence in surface water ranged from a residual (10%) to a moderate detection rate for two compounds (31%—propiconazole and tebuconazole). Surprisingly, only 51% of detected fungicides are authorised. The frequently detected fungicides that are either not authorised (ethoxyquin and its impurity, furmecyclox, oxadixyl), without data in the EU (rabenzazole, ferimzone), or authorised at the national level (fenamidone), should be included in environmental monitoring programmes and followed as emerging (micro)contaminants. Policy makers should gather their efforts to allow the implementation of proper risk management and effective contamination control strategies to achieve Sustainable Development Goals.

Keywords: antifungals; fungicides; surface-groundwater; dodemorph; ethoxyquin; fenamidone; ferimzone; furmecylox; kresoxim-methyl; oxadixyl; rabenzazole (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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