U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Open-File Report 2008–1293

Water-Quality Data for Pharmaceuticals and Other Organic 

Wastewater Contaminants in Ground Water and in Untreated 

Drinking Water Sources in the United States, 2000–01

Water-Quality Data for Pharmaceuticals 

and Other Organic Wastewater 

Contaminants in Ground Water and in 

Untreated Drinking Water Sources in the 

United States, 2000–01

By Kimberlee K. Barnes, Dana W. Kolpin, Michael J. Focazio, Edward T. Furlong, 

Michael T. Meyer, Steven D. Zaugg, Sheridan K. Haack, Larry B. Barber, and 

E. Michael Thurman

Open-File Report 2008–1293

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. Department of the Interior

DIRK KEMPTHORNE, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

Mark D. Myers, Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2008

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World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod

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natural hazards, and the environment:

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Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the 

U.S. Government.

Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to 

reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report.

Suggested citation:

Barnes, K.K., Kolpin, D.W., Focazio, M.J., Furlong, E.T., Meyer, M.T., Zaugg, S.D., Haack, S.K., Barber, L.B., and 

Thurman, E.M., 2008, Water-quality data for pharmaceuticals and other organic wastewater contaminants in ground 

water and in untreated drinking water sources in the United States, 2000–01: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File 

Report 2008–1293, 7 p. plus tables.
iii

Contents

Abstract...........................................................................................................................................................1

Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................1

Purpose and Scope ..............................................................................................................................1

Site Selection and Sampling Methods..............................................................................................2

Analytical Methods........................................................................................................................................2

Quality Assurance and Quality Control .............................................................................................4

Naturally Occurring Organic Wastewater Contaminants..............................................................4

Occurrence of Pharmaceuticals and Organic Wastewater Contaminants .........................................5

Ground-Water Reconnaissance.........................................................................................................5

Reconnaissance of Untreated Sources of Drinking Water ...........................................................5

Acknowledgments.........................................................................................................................................5

References Cited............................................................................................................................................5

Figures

1. Map showing location of surface- and ground-water sampling sites, 2000 

through 2001 ..................................................................................................................................3

Tables

[Click on table title to view in Excel format]

1. Surface- and ground-water sites analyzed in 2000 and 2001

2. Samples collected from surface- and ground-water sites analyzed for selected 

antibiotic analytes in 2000 and 2001

3. Samples collected from surface- and ground-water sites analyzed for selected 

human pharmaceutical analytes in 2000 and 2001

 4. Samples collected from surface- and ground-water sites analyzed for selected 

organic wastewater analytes in 2000 and 2001

 5. Quality-assurance samples from surface- and ground-water sites analyzed in 

2000 and 2001

 6. Naturally occurring compounds
iv

Conversion Factors

SI to Inch/Pound

Multiply By To obtain

Volume

liter (L) 33.82 ounce, fluid (fl. oz)

liter (L) 2.113 pint (pt)

liter (L) 1.057 quart (qt)

liter (L) 0.2642 gallon (gal)

liter (L) 61.02 cubic inch (in3

)

Concentrations of chemical constituents in water are given either in milligrams per liter (mg/L) 

or micrograms per liter (μg/L).

NOTE TO USGS USERS: Use of liter (L) as a special name for cubic decimeter (dm3

) is restricted 

to the measurement of liquids and gases. No prefix other than milli should be used with liter.
Water-Quality Data for Pharmaceuticals and Other 

Organic Wastewater Contaminants in Ground Water and 

in Untreated Drinking Water Sources in the United States, 

2000–01

By Kimberlee K. Barnes, Dana W. Kolpin, Michael J. Focazio, Edward T. Furlong, Michael T. Meyer, 

Steven D. Zaugg, Sheridan K. Haack, Larry B. Barber, and E. Michael Thurman

Abstract 

This report presents water-quality data from two nationwide studies on the occurrence and distribution of organic 

wastewater contaminants. These data are part of the continuing 

effort of the U.S. Geological Survey Toxic Substances Hydrology Program to collect baseline information on the environmental occurrence of pharmaceuticals and other organic 

wastewater contaminants.

In 2000, samples were collected from 47 ambient 

ground-water sites (not drinking-water wells) in 18 states and 

analyzed for 65 organic wastewater contaminants. In the summer of 2001, samples were collected from 74 sources of raw, 

untreated, drinking water in 25 states and Puerto Rico and analyzed for 100 organic wastewater contaminants. These sources 

comprise 25 ground-water and 49 surface-water sources of 

drinking water serving populations ranging from one family 

to more than 8 million people. Site selection for both studies 

focused on areas known or suspected to contain sources of 

animal and/or human wastewater. 

The five most frequently detected compounds in samples 

collected from ambient ground-water sites are N,N-diethyltoluamide (35 percent, insect repellant), bisphenol A (30 

percent, plastic- and epoxy-manufacturing ingredient), tri(2-

chloroethy) phosphate (30 percent, fire retardant), sulfamethoxazole (23 percent, veterinary and human antibiotic), and 

4-octylphenol monoethoxylate (19 percent, detergent metabolite). The five most frequently detected organic wastewater 

contaminants in samples of untreated drinking water from 

surface-water sources are cholesterol (59 percent, natural sterol), metolachlor (53 percent, herbicide), cotinine (51 percent, 

nicotine metabolite), β-sitosterol (37 percent, natural plant sterol), and 1,7-dimethylxanthine (27 percent, caffeine metabolite). The five most frequently detected organic wastewater 

contaminants in samples of untreated drinking water from 

ground-water sources are tetrachloroethylene (24 percent, solvent), carbamazepine (20 percent, pharmaceutical), bisphenol 

A (20 percent, plastic- and epoxy-manufacturing ingredient), 

1,7-dimethylxanthine (16 percent, caffeine metabolite), and 

tri(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (12 percent, fire retardant). 

Introduction

Tens of thousands of manufactured and natural organic 

compounds, such as pharmaceuticals, plastic- and epoxy-manufacturing ingredients, surfactants, flame retardants, steroids, 

and other trace organic compounds currently (2008) in use 

have the potential to enter water resources through a variety of 

pathways (Heberer, 2002a). Many of these compounds are now 

widely recognized as environmental contaminants (Hignite and 

Azarnoff, 1977; Daughton and Ternes, 1999; Halling-Sorensen

and others, 2002) and their occurrence has been documented in 

ground- and surface-water resources around the world including those used for public-drinking water (Ternes, 1998; Stumpf 

and others, 1999; Heberer and others, 2001; Kolpin and others, 

2002; Heberer, 2002b; Metcalf and others, 2003; Ashton and 

others, 2004; Hohenblum and others, 2004; Wiegel and others, 2004; Moldovan, 2006; Kim and others, 2007). Although 

wastewater treatment plant effluents are only one potential 

source, human and animal wastewater effluents are among the 

most important associated source pathways for most of these 

compounds into the aquatic environment (Ternes, 1998; Paxeus, 

2004; Clara and others, 2005; Glassmeyer and others, 2005; 

Lindqvist and others, 2005; Miao and others, 2005; Reiner 

and others, 2007). For simplicity, the collective term “organic 

wastewater contaminants” (OWCs) is used for trace organic 

compounds targeted in this study or any study cited here.

Purpose and Scope

The purpose of this report is to present the results of datacollection activities for two national-scale studies. The first, 
2 Water-Quality Data for Pharmaceuticals in Ground Water and in Untreated Drinking Water Sources in the U.S., 2000–01

a national ground-water reconnaissance, sampled 47 ambient 

ground-water sites (not drinking-water wells) in 18 states in 

2000 (fig. 1 and table 1). The samples collected were analyzed 

for 65 OWCs. The second study collected samples from 25 

ground- and 49 surface-water sites representing raw, untreated 

drinking water sources in the summer of 2001 in 25 states 

and Puerto Rico (fig. 1 and table 1). Both studies were part of 

the continued effort of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 

Toxics Substances Hydrology Program (http://toxics.usgs.gov/

regional/emc/) to collect data on a national scale in the United 

States. The interpretive summaries and more details of these 

studies are published in Barnes and others (2008) and Focazio 

and others (2008).

•	 Table 1. Surface- and ground-water sites analyzed in 

2000 and 2001 (Excel format).

Site Selection and Sampling Methods

Information on the occurrence of OWCs in ambient 

ground water and raw, untreated ground and surface water 

used as sources of drinking water is sparse; therefore, both 

studies sampled sites in areas thought to be susceptible to 

contamination from either animal or human wastewaters. A 

network of 47 ambient ground-water sites consisting of 42 

wells, 3 springs, and 2 sumps (fig. 1 and table 1) was sampled 

in 2000; the sites are located down gradient from landfills, 

unsewered residential developments, or animal feedlots. These 

sites were not necessarily used as sources of drinking water, 

but provide a variety of geohydrologic environments with 

potential sources of OWCs. 

Samples of raw, untreated ground and surface water 

were collected in the summer of 2001 from areas known or 

suspected to have at least some wastewater effluent sources in 

upstream or upgradient areas serving a range of populations 

(fig. 1 and table 1).

All water samples were collected by USGS personnel 

using consistent, standard, field protocols and procedures 

designed to obtain a sample representative of the untreated (or 

raw) ground- or surface-water source (U.S. Geological Survey, 

2006). A composite water sample was collected at each site 

and split into appropriate containers for shipment. For those 

bottles requiring filtration, water was passed through a 0.7 

micrometer pore-size, baked, glass-fiber filter in the field, 

where possible, or in the laboratory. Water samples for each 

chemical analysis were stored in pre-cleaned, amber, glass 

bottles. Following collection, samples were chilled immediately for shipment to the appropriate laboratory. To minimize 

contamination, use of personal care items (perfumes, colognes, 

insect repellants), caffeinated products, and tobacco were discouraged during sample collection and processing, and water 

samples were not stored in proximity to any of these products 

(U.S. Geological Survey, 2003). 

Analytical Methods

Several analytical methods were used to determine the 

extent of occurrence of OWCs in ground- and surface-water 

samples for both studies. The ground-water reconnaissance 

used three analytical methods (Brown and others, 1999; Cahill 

and others, 2004; Meyer and others, 2007) to determine the 

occurrence of 65 OWCs in ground water. The source-water 

reconnaissance used three analytical methods (Cahill and others, 2004; Zaugg and others, 2006; Meyer and others, 2007) to 

determine the occurrence of 100 OWCs in untreated sources 

of public-drinking water. Nineteen antibiotic compounds 

(ground-water reconnaissance) and 22 antibiotic compounds 

(source-water reconnaissance) were extracted and analyzed by 

tandem solid-phase extraction (SPE) and single quadrapole, 

liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) with 

electro-spray ionization set in positive mode and selected-ion 

monitoring (SIM) (Meyer and others, 2007; hereafter referred 

to as ANT LC/MS, table 2). In both studies, 16 human prescription and non-prescription drugs and their select metabolites were extracted by SPE and analyzed by high-performance 

liquid chromatography (HPLC) using a polar reverse-phase 

octylsilane (C8) HPLC column (Cahill and others, 2004; hereafter referred to as PHARM LC/MS, table 3). For the groundwater reconnaissance study, 30 OWC-related compounds were 

extracted using continuous liquid-liquid extraction (CLLE) 

and analyzed by capillary-column gas chromatography/mass 

spectrometry (GC/MS) with SIM (Brown and others, 1999; 

hereafter referred to as CLLE SIM GC/MS, table 4). Fiftynine compounds in the source-water reconnaissance study 

were extracted from whole-water samples using CLLE and 

analyzed by capillary-column GC/MS (Zaugg and others, 

2006; hereafter referred to as CLLE GC/MS). Five compounds 

(caffeine, codeine, cotinine, sulfamethoxazole, and trimethoprim) were analyzed by more than one method in the groundwater reconnaissance study. Also, five compounds (caffeine, 

cotinine, azithromycin, sulfamethoxazole, and trimethoprim) 

were analyzed by more than one analytical method in the 

source-water reconnaissance study. 

Tables are available in Excel format:

•	 Table 2. Samples collected from surface- and groundwater sites analyzed for selected antibiotic analytes in 

2000 and 2001.

•	 Table 3. Samples collected from surface- and groundwater sites analyzed for selected human pharmaceutical analytes in 2000 and 2001.

•	 Table 4. Samples collected from surface- and groundwater sites analyzed for selected organic wastewater 

analytes in 2000 and 2001.

All analytical methods have been continuously evaluated, 

developed, and revised during recent years as new laboratory 

and field data have become available throughout the USGS 

and as research objectives have evolved. These evaluations 
Introduction 

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EXPLANATION

Ground-water sampling site,Focazio and others, 2008Surface-water sampling site,Focazio and others, 2008Ground-water sampling site,Barnes and others, 2008

Figure 1. Location of surface- and ground-water sampling sites, 2000 through 2001.
4 Water-Quality Data for Pharmaceuticals in Ground Water and in Untreated Drinking Water Sources in the U.S., 2000–01

include new information, insights, and focused studies on 

matrix interferences, laboratory and field contamination, and 

interlaboratory comparisons. A limited number of method 

performance and reporting level changes resulted from these 

evaluations. To provide consistent and up-to-date analysis 

across methods and compounds, all environmental data are 

reported using the most recent evaluations and determinations 

regarding these methods and reporting criteria. For example, 

the selected-ion monitoring mode GC/MS method with CLLE 

previously used by the ground-water study (Barnes and others, 

2008) was changed to a full-scan monitoring mode at the time 

of the source-water reconnaissance. This simple but important change to the method decreased detection sensitivity, but 

enabled detection of a broader suite of compounds, an important tradeoff for reconnaissance and occurrence research. 

Results from compounds measured by more than one 

analytical method were compared and evaluated to determine the most reliable method on a compound-by-compound 

specific basis. This evaluation yielded “primacy” methods for 

each specific compound. For example, cotinine and caffeine 

are measured by the PHARM LC/MS and the CLLE GC/

MS method; however, the detection levels are lower with the 

PHARM LC/MS method, and therefore, it is used to report 

environmental data. Detailed descriptions of the methods and 

method performance characteristics are provided elsewhere 

(Brown and others, 1999; Cahill and others, 2004; Zaugg and 

others, 2006; Meyer and others, 2007; Barnes and others, 

2008; and Focazio and others, 2008).

Quality Assurance and Quality Control

U.S. Geological Survey personnel collect and analyze 

field and laboratory field blank data for all methods continuously as part of ongoing research and evaluation. These data, 

along with other criteria including new information, insights, 

and focused studies on matrix interferences, laboratory and 

field contamination, and interlaboratory comparisons, are 

considered in setting or adjusting the method reporting levels 

(RL) for each compound and making general decisions on 

how to report data. All RLs and related reporting decisions are 

based on quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) from each 

project and all other preceding USGS projects where possible. 

Field blanks, consisting of laboratory-grade, organic-free 

water, through all the steps of sampling, processing, handling, 

and equipment as the regular samples, were submitted for 13 

of 121 sites (table 5). For further details, see the interpretive 

reports for the ground-water reconnaissance study (Barnes 

and others, 2008) and the study of untreated drinking water 

sources (Focazio and others, 2008).

•	 Table 5. Quality-assurance samples from surface- and 

ground-water sites analyzed in 2000 and 2001 (Excel 

format).

Naturally Occurring Organic Wastewater 

Contaminants

The compounds analyzed in the companion studies 

(Focazio and others, 2008; Barnes and others, 2008), were 

targeted because they are believed to indicate human- and 

animal-waste sources to the environment, although many also 

occur naturally. These sources include private, municipal, and 

animal agricultural solid and liquid wastes and are assumed 

to enter the environment through various direct (point source) 

and indirect (non-point source) pathways. Many of these 

compounds can be transported to surface and ground water 

through natural watershed and aquifer processes; therefore, the 

occurrence of these naturally occurring compounds alone may 

not indicate a human- or animal-waste source. Conversely, 

some of the compounds are incorporated in various commercial products and by-products, and may be biosynthesized in 

large-scale commercial applications and subsequently may 

become concentrated in human- and animal-waste-source 

pathways to the environment. 

Seventeen of the 65 compounds targeted by Barnes 

and others (2008) and 31 of the 100 compounds targeted by 

Focazio and others (2008) are known or suspected to have at 

least some natural sources (table 6). Details of the potential 

natural sources are beyond the scope of this report, but may 

come from microorganisms, plant or animal sources, and may 

include by-products of combustion or other natural processes 

(table 6). The sources listed here are not intended to be an 

exhaustive list of all possible sources of each compound; it is 

possible there are some natural sources for other compounds 

analyzed in the companion reports (Barnes and others, 2008; 

Focazio and others, 2008) that are not listed here. 

•	 Table 6. Naturally occurring compounds (Excel 

format).

The compounds targeted are a range of organic compounds with various potential known or suspected ecological 

and/or human-health effects. The companion reports (Barnes 

and others, 2008; Focazio and others, 2008) include citations 

for selected health-related information, water-quality standard, or other relevant factors for each target compound and 

include the predominant use categories and discussions of 

potential source pathways to the environment where possible. 

Summarizing statistics in the companion reports aggregate 

all synthetic and naturally occurring compounds regardless 

of potential pathways to water resources. Additional analysis 

is required to identify naturally occurring compounds with 

concentrations that might indicate a human- or animal-wastesource pathway.
References Cited 5

Occurrence of Pharmaceuticals and 

Organic Wastewater Contaminants

Several studies document the occurrence of a variety of 

manmade and natural organic compounds such as pharmaceuticals, steroids, surfactants, flame retardants, fragrances, and 

other compounds often associated with wastewaters and livestock agricultural facilities in water resources (Ternes, 1998; 

Stumpf and others, 1999; Heberer and others, 2001; Kolpin 

and others, 2002; Metcalf and others, 2003, Hohenblum and 

others, 2004, Moldovan, 2006; Kim and others, 2007). Results 

from ground-water samples collected in 2000 and ground- and 

surface-water samples representing untreated drinking water 

sources collected in the summer of 2001 are given in tables 2 

to 5. 

Ground-Water Reconnaissance

At least one OWC was detected in 81 percent of the 

ground-water sites sampled in 2000. More than one-half of the 

OWCs (35 out of 65) were detected at least once during this 

study. The overall frequency of detection was likely affected 

by the study design. Measured concentrations generally were 

low, with 124 of 137 (87 percent) detections being less than 

1 microgram per liter (μg/L). The most frequently detected 

compounds are N,N-diethyltoluamide (35 percent, insect 

repellant), bisphenol A (30 percent, plastic- and epoxy-manufacturing ingredient), tri(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (30 percent, 

fire retardant), sulfamethoxazole (23 percent, veterinary and 

human antibiotic), and 4-octylphenol monoethoxylate (19 

percent, detergent metabolite). Mixtures were prevalent with 

more than one compound being detected at 25 of 47 sites and 

10 or more compounds detected at 3 sites. The maximum 

number of compounds detected at any particular site was 14 

with a median of 2. The interpretive summary of this study is 

available in Barnes and others (2008).

Reconnaissance of Untreated Sources of 

Drinking Water 

Sixty-three of the 100 targeted compounds were detected 

in at least one water sample. In spite of the low detection 

levels, 60 percent of the 36 pharmaceutical analytes (including 

33 prescription drugs and antibiotics) were not detected in any 

water sample. The five most frequently detected targeted compounds in surface water were cholesterol (59 percent, natural 

sterol), metolachlor (53 percent, herbicide), cotinine (51 

percent, nicotine metabolite), β-sitosterol (37 percent, natural 

plant sterol), and 1,7-dimethylxanthine (27 percent, caffeine 

metabolite). The five most frequently detected compounds in 

ground water were tetrachloroethylene (24 percent, solvent), 

carbamazepine (20 percent, pharmaceutical), bisphenol A 

(20 percent, plastic- and epoxy-manufacturing ingredient), 

1,7-dimethylxanthine (16 percent, caffeine metabolite), and 

tri (2-chloroethyl) phosphate (12 percent, fire retardant). The 

median number of compounds detected at a site was four, 

indicating that the targeted compounds generally occur in 

mixtures (commonly near detection levels) in the environment 

and likely originate from a variety of animal and human uses 

and waste sources. The interpretive summary of this study is 

available in Focazio and others (2008).

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the many USGS scientists 

and field technicians providing assistance in site selection, 

collection, and processing of surface-water and ground-water 

samples and on-going collection and analysis of QA/QC data. 

We also thank the many public water purveyors and the American Water Works Association for providing assistance and 

permission to collect source-water samples at selected intake 

locations. Finally, the authors thank the U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency, Office of Ground Water and Drinking 

Water, for their support of the source-water reconnaissance. 

This project was conducted by the USGS Toxic Substances 

Hydrology Program. The use of trade, firm, or brand names 

in this paper is for identification purposes only and does not 

constitute endorsement by the USGS.

References Cited

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the environmental transport of human pharmaceuticals to 

streams in the United Kingdom: Science of the Total Environment, v. 333, p. 167–184.

Barnes, K.K., Kolpin, D.W., Furlong, E.T., Zaugg, S.D., 

Meyer, M.T., and Barber, L.B., 2008, A national reconnaissance of pharmaceuticals and other organic wastewater contaminants in the United States—I) Groundwater: Science of 

the Total Environment, v. 402, no. 2–3, p. 192–200.

Brown, G.K., Zaugg, S.D., and Barber, L.B., 1999, Wastewater analysis by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, in

Morganwalp, D.W., and Buxton H.T., eds., U.S. Geological 

Survey Toxic Substances Hydrology Program—Proceedings 

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hydrologic systems and related ecosystems: U.S. Geological 

Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 99–4018B, 

p. 431–435. 
6 Water-Quality Data for Pharmaceuticals in Ground Water and in Untreated Drinking Water Sources in the U.S., 2000–01

Cahill, J.D., Furlong, E.T., Burkhardt, M.R., Kolpin, D.W., 

and Anderson, L.G., 2004, Determination of pharmaceutical 

compounds in surface- and ground-water samples by solidphase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography—electrospray ionization mass spectrometry: Journal of 

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Clara, M., Strenn, B., Gans, O., Martinez, E., Kreuzinger, N., 

and Kroiss, H., 2005, Removal of selected pharmaceuticals, 

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Meyer, M.T., Zaugg, S.D., Barber, L.B., and Thurman, 

E.M., 2008, A national reconnaissance for pharmaceuticals 

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Glassmeyer, S.T., Furlong, E.T., Kolpin, D.W., Cahill, J.D., 

Zaugg, S.D., Werner, S.L., Meyer, M.T., and Kryak, D.D., 

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F., Holten Lutzhoft, H.C., and Jorgensen, S.E., 2002, Occurrence, fate and effects of pharmaceutical substances in the 

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Life Sciences, v. 20, p. 337–341.

Hohenblum, P., Gans, O., Moche, W., Scharf, S., and Lorbeer, 

G., 2004, Monitoring of selected estrogenic hormones and 

industrial chemicals in ground waters and surface waters in 

Austria: Science of the Total Environment, v. 333, 

p. 185–193.

Kim, S.D., Cho, J., Kim, I.S., Vanderford, B.J., and Snyder, 

S.A., 2007, Occurrence and removal of pharmaceutical and 

endocrine disruptors in South Korean surface, drinking, and 

waste waters: Water Research, v. 41, p. 1,013–1,021.

Kolpin, D.W., Furlong, E.T., Meyer, M.T., Thurman, E.M., 

Zaugg, S.D., Barber, L.B., and Buxton, H.T., 2002, Pharmaceuticals, hormones, and other organic wastewater contaminants in U.S. Streams, 1999–2000—A National Reconnaissance: Environmental Science and Technology, v. 36, 

p. 1,202–1,211.

Lindqvist, N., Tuhkanen, T., and Kronberg, L., 2005, Occurrence of acidic pharmaceuticals in raw and treated sewages 

and in receiving waters: Water Research, v. 39, 

p. 2,219–2,228.

Metcalf, C.D., Miao, X.-S., Koenig, B.G., and Struger, J., 

2003, Distribution of acidic and neutral drugs in surface 

waters near sewage treatment plants in the lower Great 

Lakes, Canada: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 

v. 22, p. 2,281–2,889.

Meyer, M.T., Lee, E.A., Ferrell, G.F., Bumgarner, J.E., and 

Varns, J., 2007, Evaluation of offline tandem and online 

solid-phase extraction with liquid chromatography/mass 

spectrometry for the analysis of antibiotics in ambient water 

and comparison to an independent method: U.S. Geological 

Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2007–5021, 28 p.

Miao, X.-S., Yang, J.-J., and Metcalfe, C.D., 2005, Carbamazepine and its metabolites in wastewater and in biosolids 

in a municipal wastewater treatment plant: Environmental 

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Moldovan, Z., 2006, Occurrences of pharmaceutical and 

personal care products as micropollutants in rivers from 

Romania: Chemosphere, v. 64, p. 1,808–1,817.

Paxeus, N., 2004, Removal of selected non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), gemfibrozil, carbamazepine, 

beta-blockers, trimethoprim and triclosan in conventional 

wastewater treatment plants in five EU countries and their 

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Reiner, J.L., Berset, J.D., Kannan, K., 2007, Mass flow of 

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Publishing support provided by: 

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For more information concerning this publication, contact:

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P.O. Box 1230

Iowa City, IA 52244

(319) 337–4191

Or visit the Iowa Water Science Center Web site at:

http://ia.water.usgs.gov
Barnes and others— Water-Quality Data for Pharmaceuticals in Ground Water and in Untreated Drinking Water Sources in the U.S., 2000–01—OFR 2008–1293