Uptake of tetracycline and degradation products by Phragmites australis grown in stream carrying secondary effluent

• TC and degradation products were determined in P. australis.
• The decreasing uptake order of P. australis was determined as ETC > TC > EATC > ATC.
• The highest uptake of TC and degradation products in P. australis was in roots.

In this study, tetracycline (TC) and degradation products in Phragmites australis grown in Kehli stream carrying municipal wastewater treatment plant effluents were determined. P. australis plants are spread along Kehli stream. The concentrations of TC and degradation products were determined in roots, stems and leaves of the plants. Maximum TC, 4-epitetracycline (ETC), 4-epianhydrotetracycline (EATC) and anhydrotetracycline (ATC) concentrations were 31.5 ± 1.5, 46.1 ± 2.3, 27.0 ± 1.3 and 16.5 ± 0.8 ppb, respectively in roots while 8.3 ± 0.4, 9.99 ± 0.49, 6.6 ± 0.3 and 4.69 ± 0.23 ppb, respectively in stems. Maximum TC, ETC, EATC and ATC concentrations were 4.74 ± 0.23, 5.58 ± 0.28, 2.96 ± 0.15 and 3.71 ± 0.18 ppb, respectively in leaves. As a result, it was determined that P. australis plants uptake TC and degradation products. The decreasing uptake order of P. australis was determined as ETC > TC > EATC > ATC.

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