Analysis of multiclass antibiotic residues in urban wastewater in Tunisia

Abstract The present work describes the occurrence of antibiotic residues in urban wastewaters discharged into southern Sfax wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). Thirteen out of the fifty-six antimicrobial compounds analyzed were detected in the wastewater samples with concentration ranging from 23.30 (for cefalexin) to 690.50 ng/L (for spiramycin) in WWTP influent and from 7.50 (for cefalexin) to 370.04 ng/L (for spiramycin) in WWTP effluent. The highest removal efficiency was observed for trimethoprim (88%), while the lowest one was observed for sulfapyridine (33%).The potential impact of the regenerated waters in the environment and pubic health is also discussed.