Water Environment Research 2012-11-01

Fate of florfenicol in a simulated aquatic ecosystem and effects on sediment microflora.

Yongxue Sun, Zhenqing Dai, Wenguang Xiong, Xuelian Luo, Mengjia Zou

Index: Water Environ. Res. 84(11) , 2054-9, (2012)

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Abstract

Four controlled microcosms were prepared, one of which served as control, whereas the other three received treatments of 10, 50, and 150 mg/L of florfenicol, an antibacterial drug developed initially for aquaculture applications. Water and sediment samples were collected according to a pre-set time schedule to determine its fate in the aquatic environment. The results demonstrated that florfenicol amine was not detectable in any treatment groups. The half-life of florfenicol in pond water was 30.76, 52.92, and 51.48 hours for the 10, 50, and 150 mg/L treatment groups, respectively; the corresponding half-lives in sediment were 25.42, 38.40, and 53.59 days. Further, the 50 and 150 mg/L florfenicol treatment groups inhibited alkaline protease activity; however, all treatment groups inhibited sediment microflora structural diversity.