Detection of Human Pharmaceuticals in Surface Water of a Middle Tennessee Urbanizing Watershed.

Recent studies have reported pharmaceutical drugs including steroids, prescription drugs such as antibiotics, anti-depressants, anti-inflammatory drugs, hormones and over the counter (OTC) drugs in aquatic environment. We conducted a study to detect the incidence of pharmaceuticals in Stones River (East fork), Rutherford County. Stones River watershed drains a large portion of Rutherford County including Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Grab water samples were collected from Stones River for three seasons (summer 2014, fall 2014, and winter 2015). Water quality data was also collected in-situ using multi-parameter sondes. The water samples were analyzed for the presence of pharmaceutical compounds using GC-MS. The pharmaceuticals detected included those used for treatment of chronic alcoholism, antibiotic drug and anti-inflammatory conditions. While the scope of the study did not include actual concentration of the pharmaceuticals, they were in the parts per billion ranges.