Antibiotics in Leachates from Landfills in Northern Zhejiang Province, China.

ABSTRACT

The concentrations and distributions of five sulfonamide, three tetracycline, and two macrolide antibiotics in leachates from three landfill sites in northern Zhejiang Province, China, were determined by solid-phase extraction and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. Most of the antibiotics were detected in the leachate samples. The concentrations and distributions of the antibiotics in leachates of different ages were very different. The total sulfonamide, tetracycline, and macrolide concentrations in the leachates ranged from not detected to 1.57 × 103, not detected to 5.19 × 103, and 7.30 to 5.42 × 102 ng/L, respectively. The total concentrations of detectable antibiotics were higher in fresh leachates than aged and middle-aged leachates. Higher TC-group concentrations were found in the leachates than have been found in previously published studies of landfill leachates in China. The results improve our understanding of and ability to manage antibiotic residues in landfills.