Do pharmaceuticals reach and affect the aquatic ecosystems in Brazil? A critical review of current studies in a developing country

Abstract

Pharmaceutical residues are not completely removed in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) becoming contaminants in aquatic ecosystems. Thereby, it is important to investigate their concentrations in the environment and the possible consequences of their occurrence, including for human health. Here, we briefly reviewed the paths of pharmaceuticals to reach the environment, their behavior and fate in the environment, and the possible consequences of their occurrence. Moreover, we synthetized all the studies about the detection of pharmaceuticals in Brazilian water bodies and the available ecotoxicological knowledge on their effects. In this study, when we compare the data found on these compounds worldwide, we observed that Brazilian surface waters present considerable concentrations of 17α-ethinylestradiol, 17β-estradiol, and caffeine. In general, concentrations found in aquatic systems worldwide seems to be low; however, ecotoxicological tests showed that even these low concentrations can cause sublethal effects in biota. The knowledge about the effects of continuous exposure and mixtures is sparse. In summary, new research is urgently required about the effects of these compounds in biota-including long-term exposition and mixture tests-and on specific technologies to remove these compounds in water bodies and WWTPs, besides the introduction of new policies for pharmaceutical use.

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products as emerging micropollutants in Brazilian surface waters: a preliminary snapshot on environmental contamination and risks

“…In general, the levels of pharmaceuticals and personal hygiene products in Brazilian surface waters are higher than those found in other countries, as already reported in recent literature reviews 1,63 . Higher median concentrations are noticed for acetylsalicylic acid, followed by ibuprofen and 17α-ethinylestradiol.…”

“…Quadra et al 63 evidenced that Brazilian surface waters present higher concentrations of 17α-ethinylestradiol, 17β-estradiol, and caffeine in comparison with other locations. In the present study, it should be noted that most of the results involving the occurrence of hormones were obtained by Machado et al 53 and Montagner et al 36 in the Upper Iguaçu River Basin (Paraná) and in the region of Campinas (São Paulo), respectively.…”

Development and Validation of Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry Methods for Determination of Beta-Lactams, Macrolides, Fluoroquinolones, Sulfonamides and Tetracyclines in Surface and Drinking Water from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

“…A recent review described that among 22 pharmaceuticals detected in SW around the world, about 13 are common in Brazil and other countries, being the most commonly detected antibiotics. 9 Studies conducted by Locatelli et al 10 The non-detection of TCs in water samples may be due to their strong adsorption on organic matter and, although TCs are very soluble in water and are weakly adsorbed by biomass, mechanisms like metal complexation likely played a significant role in the sorption of TCs into solids. 11,14 Similarly, FQs were not found in water, possibly because these molecules are strongly adsorbed by sediment, especially when the concentration of Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ is high.…”

“…The studies have been most accomplished in the southern and southeast of Brazil, and for this reason research in other geographical areas is necessary in order to obtain a complete panorama of the country. [9][10][11][12][13][14] The watershed of Guandu River has a fundamental role for Rio de Janeiro metropolitan region where approximately 12.2 million inhabitants live. This watershed is very important because it is the only option for subsistence and development of the Metropolitan Region of the State of Rio de Janeiro.…”

Efeitos do diclofenaco e cafeína nos ajustes fisiológicos reprodutivos de machos de Astyanax altiparanae (lambari-do-rabo-amarelo) (Teleostei: Characiformes: Characidae)

“…2016) e estudos têm sido feitos em diferentes países a fim de investigar os efeitos destes compostos, em países desenvolvidos (FENT et al, 2006) e mais recentemente em países em desenvolvimento como o Brasil (GUILOSKI et al, 2015;MONTAGNER et al, 2018;QUADRA et al, 2017).…”