Residues of selected antibiotics in water and mud from shrimp ponds in mangrove areas in Viet Nam

In recent years, antibiotics have been used widely in intensive shrimp culture and this may lead to their contamination of the environment. Surveys on residues of trimethoprim (TMP), sulfamethoxazole (SMX), norfloxacin (NFXC) and oxolinic acid (OXLA) in water and mud in shrimp ponds in mangrove areas were conducted in the north as well as in south of Viet Nam in July and August, 2002. The results show that these antibiotics are found in all samples in both shrimp ponds and surrounding canals. The highest concentrations of TMP, SMX, NFXC and OXLA are 1.04, 2.39, 6.06, and 2.50 ppm in water samples; and 734.61, 820.49, 2615.96, 426.31 ppm (based on wet mud weight), respectively. The comparison of antibiotics residues between study sites and types of shrimp ponds will be discussed in this paper. The results also suggest that antibiotics residues may cause harmful effect on ecosystems in the study sites.