Combining chemical analysis and ecotoxicity to determine environmental exposure and to assess risk from sulfonamides

In recent years, concern regarding the environmental presence of sulfonamides (SAs) and other species of antibiotics has increased considerably due mainly to the potential spread of antimicrobial resistance in the different bacterial communities. However, many other ecotoxicological effects due to the release of these drugs in the different ecosystems may also be taking place. Analytical chemistry plays an important role in evaluating ecotoxicity through unequivocal identification and precise quantification of target compounds even when concentrations are very small. We aim to review all the studies carried out to date on potential environmental hazards posed by the SAs and to comment on the usefulness of chemical analysis in this application.