Contaminants of emerging concern: a spatial analysis of antibiotic prevalence in cenotes of Yucatan Mexico

With an increase in antibiotic usage, human health and environmental concerns arise with the intrusion and unprecedented fate of antibiotics in vital drinking water. For the communities of Quintana Roo, Mexico as tourists enter cenotes (or better known as sinkholes), they become a source of organic pollutants such as antibiotics via wastewater or urine. The geology of this area is characterized by karstic terrain whose aquifers provide the main source of drinking water for the peninsula. Karst limits natural filtration and attenuation of contaminants within the aquifer making it vital to monitor antibiotic prevalence in these growing communities. Consequently, antibiotic pollution increases microbial resistance bacteria making diseases more costly and difficult to treat. The goal of this project is examine antibiotic pollution in vulnerable communities while also investigating a possible correlation between eutrophic cenotes and biodegradation of antibiotics. We will conduct a spatial analysis of water samples for antibiotic prevalence of four cenotes near Puerto Morelos combined with levels of phosphate, nitrate, sulfate, turbidity, pH and temperature. Antibiotic levels were analyzed with the USEPA method 1964 and liquid chromatography. We expect there to be lower levels of antibiotics in cenotes displaying eutrophic characteristics and higher levels in oligotrophic cenotes. Preliminary results indicates quantifiable concentrations of tetracycline and penicillin throughout all samples, an ongoing analysis will provide correlations between the antibiotic concentrations and parameters measured. The results of this study will contribute to an accumulation of data for antibiotics in the area and raise awareness of this emerging pollutant for protection of drinking water.