The fate of dissolved sulfamethoxazole during spring-thaw snowmelt in a field with a history of manure application

Abstract

The fate of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) in Prairie agroecosystems during snowmelt is not well understood. This study aims to provide the first estimates of concentrations and loads of SMX in snowmelt in a field with a history of manure application. The mean concentration of SMX throughout the snowmelt period was 0.0345 ± 0.066 µg/L. The SMX cumulative load was 3.81 ± 3.4 µg/L with a range of 1.03–12.8 µg/L. Both the concentration and load were not influenced by the method of manure application (i.e., surface applied versus sub-surface applied).