Les dernières décennies ont été marquées par une augmentation du nombre des cas de cancers, ce qui a subséquemment conduit à une augmentation dans la consommation des agents de chimiothérapie. La toxicité et le caractère cancérogène de ces molécules justifient l’intérêt crucial porté à leur égard. Quelques études ont fait l’objet de détection et de quantification des agents de chimiothérapie dans des matrices environnementales. Dans ce projet, une méthode utilisant la chromatographie liquide couplée à la spectrométrie de masse en tandem (LC-MS/MS) précédée d’une extraction sur phase solide (SPE) automatisée ou en ligne a été développée pour la détection et la quantification d’un groupe de six agents de chimiothérapie. Parmi ceux-ci figurent les plus utilisés au Québec (gemcitabine, méthotrexate, cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, irinotécan, épirubicine) et présentant des propriétés physico-chimiques et des structures chimiques différentes. La méthode développée a été validée dans une matrice réelle représentant l’affluent d’une station d’épuration dans la région de Montréal. Deux des six composés cytotoxiques étudiés en l’occurrence (cyclophosphamide et méthotrexate) ont été détectés dans huit échantillons sur les neuf qui ont été recensés, essentiellement au niveau de l’affluent et l’effluent de quelques stations d’épuration de la région de Montréal. Les résultats des analyses effectuées sur les échantillons réels ont montré qu’il n’y avait pas de différence significative dans la concentration entre l’affluent et l’effluent, et donc que les systèmes d’épuration semblent inefficaces pour la dégradation de ces molécules. / The last few decades have been marked by an increase in the number of cancer cases, which subsequently led to an increase in the consumption of chemotherapeutic agents. The toxicity and the carcinogenicity of these molecules justify the increased interest. Few studies have been conducted to detect and quantify chemotherapeutic agents in environmental matrices. In this project, a method using liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) preceded by an online solid-phase extraction (SPE) has been developed for the detection and quantification of a group of six chemotherapeutic agents, which are among the most commonly used in Quebec (gemcitabine, methotrexate, cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, irinotecan, epirubicin) and having different physico-chemical properties and different chemical structures. The developed method was validated in a real water matrix representing the influent of a sewage treatment plant in the Montreal area. Two of the six studied cytotoxic agents (cyclophosphamide and methotrexate) were detected in eight samples of the nine taken mainly at the influent and effluent of some treatment plants in the Montreal area. The results of the analysis of real samples showed that there was no significant difference in concentration between the influent and effluent. This also demonstrates the inadequacy of the current wastewater treatment approaches to remove those compounds.

Les dernières décennies ont été marquées par une augmentation du nombre des cas de cancers, ce qui a subséquemment conduit à une augmentation dans la consommation des agents de chimiothérapie. La toxicité et le caractère cancérogène de ces molécules justifient l’intérêt crucial porté à leur égard. Quelques études ont fait l’objet de détection et de quantification des agents de chimiothérapie dans des matrices environnementales. Dans ce projet, une méthode utilisant la chromatographie liquide couplée à la spectrométrie de masse en tandem (LC-MS/MS) précédée d’une extraction sur phase solide (SPE) automatisée ou en ligne a été développée pour la détection et la quantification d’un groupe de six agents de chimiothérapie. Parmi ceux-ci figurent les plus utilisés au Québec (gemcitabine, méthotrexate, cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, irinotécan, épirubicine) et présentant des propriétés physico-chimiques et des structures chimiques différentes. La méthode développée a été validée dans une matrice réelle représentant l’affluent d’une station d’épuration dans la région de Montréal. Deux des six composés cytotoxiques étudiés en l’occurrence (cyclophosphamide et méthotrexate) ont été détectés dans huit échantillons sur les neuf qui ont été recensés, essentiellement au niveau de l’affluent et l’effluent de quelques stations d’épuration de la région de Montréal. Les résultats des analyses effectuées sur les échantillons réels ont montré qu’il n’y avait pas de différence significative dans la concentration entre l’affluent et l’effluent, et donc que les systèmes d’épuration semblent inefficaces pour la dégradation de ces molécules. / The last few decades have been marked by an increase in the number of cancer cases, which subsequently led to an increase in the consumption of chemotherapeutic agents. The toxicity and the carcinogenicity of these molecules justify the increased interest. Few studies have been conducted to detect and quantify chemotherapeutic agents in environmental matrices. In this project, a method using liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) preceded by an online solid-phase extraction (SPE) has been developed for the detection and quantification of a group of six chemotherapeutic agents, which are among the most commonly used in Quebec (gemcitabine, methotrexate, cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, irinotecan, epirubicin) and having different physico-chemical properties and different chemical structures. The developed method was validated in a real water matrix representing the influent of a sewage treatment plant in the Montreal area. Two of the six studied cytotoxic agents (cyclophosphamide and methotrexate) were detected in eight samples of the nine taken mainly at the influent and effluent of some treatment plants in the Montreal area. The results of the analysis of real samples showed that there was no significant difference in concentration between the influent and effluent. This also demonstrates the inadequacy of the current wastewater treatment approaches to remove those compounds.

The point and nonpoint source pollution released in rivers are the main responsible for the deterioration of the surface water quality. This study aimed to evaluate the water quality of the Vacacai – Vacacai Mirim watershed, in sub-basins located in the city of Santa Maria – RS. In the Vacacai Mirim River, the quality of the water and surface runoff were evaluated through the monitoring of five precipitation events in Joao Goulart sub-basin. The surface runoff negatively influenced the water quality of this water body. The EMC for the analysed parameters, as well as for the transported pollutants masses varied considerably among events. The average EMC for the BOD variable (51.3 mg∙L-1) stands out. The limit established for this variable for class 2 of CONAMA Resolution 357/2005 is only 5 mg∙L-1. Furthermore, the variability of the nonpoint source pollution in Vacacai Mirim River was evaluated in five sub-basins: João Goulart, Rancho do Amaral, Alto da Colina, Menino Deus II, and Menino Deus IV through cluster and principal components analysis using data from current and previous monitoring performed in this watershed. The five sub-basins were grouped according to the water quality and predominant land use and occupation. The BOD variable was essential in the water quality characterization of all sub-basins, and for the majority of them the total coliforms, E. coli, total solids, nitrogen and phosphorus variables were also essentials. In the Vacacai and Vacacai Mirim Rivers the presence of pharmaceutical and hormonal residues was studied in two urban sub-basins with large percentage of impermeable area. In Cancela-Tamandai sub-basin, the hormone etisterone and ibuprofen and paracetamol drugs were detected. The equivalent of 30 tablets of ibuprofen and 15 of paracetamol were released in this water body, on average per day. In the João Goulart sub-basin only the drugs ibuprofen and paracetamol were detected, hence the equivalent daily average load released in this water body is 52 tablets of ibuprofen and 14.5 of paracetamol. The hormones 17β-estradiol, estriol, estrone and megestrol acetate were not detected in the studied watersheds. Therefore, there is the necessity of investments to ensure the improvement of the sewage networks and treatment of domestic effluents, as well as the solid waste collection services. Together these sources contribute to the poor water quality confirmed in this study. / As fontes de poluição pontuais e difusas lançadas nos rios são as principais responsáveis pela degradação da qualidade da água superficial. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a qualidade da água da bacia hidrográfica Vacacaí – Vacacaí Mirim, em sub-bacias localizadas no município de Santa Maria, RS. No rio Vacacaí Mirim, foi avaliada a qualidade da água e do escoamento superficial através do monitoramento de cinco eventos de precipitação na sub-bacia denominada João Goulart. O escoamento superficial impactou negativamente a qualidade da água desse corpo hídrico. As concentrações médias dos parâmetros analisados variaram consideravelmente entre os eventos, assim como as massas poluentes transportadas no curso hídrico. Destaca-se a concentração média do evento para a variável DBO, que foi 51,3 mg∙L-1, sendo que o limite estabelecido para a classe 2 da Resolução CONAMA 357/2005 é de apenas 5 mg∙L-1. Ainda no rio Vacacaí Mirim, foi avaliada a variabilidade da poluição difusa em cinco sub-bacias: João Goulart, Rancho do Amaral, Alto da Colina, Menino Deus II e Menino Deus IV por meio das análises estatísticas de agrupamento e componentes principais utilizando dados de monitoramento atual e realizados anteriormente nesta bacia. As cinco sub-bacias foram agrupadas conforme a qualidade da água e o uso e ocupação do solo predominante. A variável DBO foi importante na caracterização da qualidade da água de todas as sub-bacias, e para a maioria delas, as variáveis CT, E.coli, ST, nitrogênio e fósforo também foram importantes, pois são variáveis que descrevem a qualidade da água com elevada significância. Nos rios Vacacaí e Vacacaí Mirim foi investigada a presença de resíduos farmacêuticos e hormonais em duas sub-bacias urbanas e com grande porcentagem de área impermeável. Na sub-bacia Cancela-Tamandaí foram detectados o hormônio etisterona e os fármacos ibuprofeno e paracetamol. A partir das concentrações analisadas, estima-se que foi lançado nesse corpo hídrico, em média por dia, o equivalente a 30 comprimidos de ibuprofeno e 15 de paracetamol. Na sub-bacia João Goulart foram detectados apenas os fármacos ibuprofeno e paracetamol, sendo lançada a carga média diária equivalente a 52 comprimidos de ibuprofeno e 14,5 comprimidos de paracetamol nesse curso hídrico. Os hormônios 17 β-estradiol, estriol, estrona e acetato de megestrol nunca foram detectados nas bacias estudadas. Diante do exposto, verifica-se a necessidade de investimentos na melhoria de redes de coletas e tratamentos de efluentes domésticos, assim como os serviços de coleta de resíduos sólidos. Juntamente, essas fontes contribuem para má qualidade da água verificada nesse estudo.