Pharmaceuticals in the environment--Global occurrences and perspectives
Tim aus der Beek1, Frank-Andreas Weber1, Axel Bergmann1
1IWW Water Centre, Department of Water Resources Management, Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany.
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
|December 16, 2015
Summary
Pharmaceuticals contaminate the environment globally, with 631 substances detected across 71 countries. Urban wastewater is a major source, posing a worldwide challenge requiring collaborative management strategies.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Ecotoxicology
- Chemical Analysis
Background:
- Pharmaceuticals are ubiquitous in industrialized nations' environments.
- Data on pharmaceutical environmental concentrations in developing countries is emerging but fragmented.
- A global overview of measured environmental concentrations (MECs) for pharmaceuticals is needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compile and analyze global MECs of pharmaceuticals in various environmental matrices.
- To identify regional patterns and common pharmaceuticals detected worldwide.
- To assess the extent of pharmaceutical contamination across different continents and countries.
Main Methods:
- Conducted a comprehensive literature review of 1016 original publications and 150 review articles.
- Collected MEC data for human and veterinary pharmaceuticals from surface water, groundwater, drinking water, soil, and manure.
- Performed a simplified data quality assessment due to data source heterogeneity.
Main Results:
- Pharmaceuticals or their transformation products detected in 71 countries across all continents.
- 631 different pharmaceutical substances found above detection limits, with distinct regional patterns.
- Sixteen substances were detected in all 5 United Nations regions; diclofenac found in 50 countries, sometimes exceeding safe levels.
Conclusions:
- Pharmaceuticals represent a significant global environmental contamination issue.
- Urban wastewater is the primary emission pathway, with industrial, agricultural, and other sources also contributing.
- Multistakeholder approaches are essential for preventing, reducing, and managing pharmaceutical pollution.
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