Background Pollution prevention and control of surface water is the focus of joint prevention and control work in the Yangtze River Delta Demonstration zone. As an important part of the zone, Qingpu District of Shanghai is rich in water resources. However, there are many livestock, poultry, and aquaculture, which may result in potential pollution risks of pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs).

Objective To investigate the pollution levels and distribution characteristics of typical PPCPs in the surface water of Qingpu District of Shanghai, and to conduct a preliminary environmental risk assessment for the chemicals with relatively high concentrations.

Methods Surface water samples at 15 pre-determined sites in Qingpu District of Shanghai were collected according to the Technical specifications for surface water environmental quality monitoring (HJ 91.2-2022), focusing on sewage treatment plants and animal husbandry and aquaculture farms with potential PPCP discharge. A total of 47 PPCPs were determined by automated solid phase extraction coupled with ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography tandem triple quadrupole mass spectrometry in the collected surface water samples. The regional distribution characteristics of different PPCPs were analyzed. Risk quotient was applied to access the preliminary environmental risk of 17 key PPCPs with relatively high concentrations.

Results The results showed that 36 PPCPs were positive with a maximum concentration range of 0.53–1720.00 ng·L⁻¹ and a detection rate range of 6.67%–100.00%. The dominant detected PPCPs were neurostimulants (caffeine), sulfonamides, quinolones, and cardiovascular drugs. Caffeine was determined in a concentration range of 77.10–1720.00 ng·L⁻¹, accounting for 65.28% of the total detected PPCPs. Sulfonamides accounted for 10.38% and the typical sulfonamides were sulfadiazine and sulfamethoxazole with the highest detected concentrations of 349.00 ng·L⁻¹ and 23.40 ng·L⁻¹, respectively. In contrast, quinolones and cardiovascular drugs had relatively low proportions (7.08% and 6.59%, respectively). According to the spatial distribution analysis of PPCPs in the surface water of Qingpu District, it exhibited a trend of high pollution level in the northeast and southern regions and a low pollution level in the central region, except for a few sites. Although the caffeine concentration in surface water was high, its ecotoxicity effect was low without obvious environmental risk. However, sulfadiazine and sarafloxacin had a potential high risk (risk quotient: 1.10–2.59). The environmental risks of sarafloxacin might be overestimated for its limited ecotoxicity data. Potential moderate risks (risk quotient: 0.103–0.980) were identified for sertraline, carbamazepine, fluoxetine, and ciprofloxacin, etc. Medium or high environmental risk was found in 2–5 kinds of PPCPs in each sampling site.

Conclusion Pollution of PPCPs to certain extent in the surface water of Qingpu District of Shanghai is determined. Identified potential environmental risks are posed by sulfonamides, quinolones, and neuropathic drugs. It is suggested to strengthen the supervision of sulfanilamides and quinolones, and formulate policies of the use and emission management of key neuropathic drugs.