Occurrence of Trace-Level Antibiotics in the Msunduzi River: An Investigation into South African Environmental Pollution

The presence of antibiotics in the environmental matrix has raised concerns regarding their risk to the aquatic ecosystem and human health. Surface water, such as rivers, plays a pivotal role in the dispersion and transport of antibiotic residues. The effective monitoring of these contaminants requires investigating their sources and distribution. While numerous studies have been conducted globally to comprehend the emergence, prevalence, and management of these substances, the investigation of therapeutic antibiotics in Africa remains notably underrepresented. Consequently, data regarding these emerging contaminants in the African aquatic environments are scarce, warranting further exploration. This study aims to investigate the occurrence of four specific therapeutic antibiotics—tetracycline, sulfathiazole, penicillin g, and erythromycin—across different seasons in the Msunduzi River, Eastern South Africa. Three sampling campaigns were conducted during spring, autumn, and winter to assess the presence of these antibiotics in the river. Analyte extraction from water samples was achieved through solid-phase extraction, and quantification was performed using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. The findings reveal notable concentrations of these antibiotics in the river at locations closest to a wastewater treatment discharge point. Among the antibiotics studied, tetracycline (158.42–1290.43 ng/L) and sulfathiazole (112.68–1151.25 ng/L) were the most frequently detected compounds across the majority of the sampling sites and tributaries of the river. Erythromycin was less frequently detected in the surface water and wastewater effluent but was found to be a risk to algal species within the river. While wastewater effluents represent a significant source of antibiotic contamination in the river, tributaries from industrial areas and informal settlements were identified as continuous sources of antibiotic pollution. Thus, it is imperative to implement appropriate monitoring protocols to mitigate antibiotic pollution in the aquatic environment.