Effects of Human Pharmaceuticals on Aquatic Life: Next Steps

Cunningham, Virginia; Buzby, Mary; Hutchinson, Thomas H.; Mastrocco, Frank; Parke, Neil J.; Roden, Nicholas M.

doi:10.1021/es063017b

Cited by 165 publications

(70 citation statements)

References 16 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Although the concentrations of APIs in the aqueous natural environment are generally very low [7,38], usually less than 1 mg/L, it is not known what the relative contributions might be among urine or fecal excretion, disposal, or bathing. The extent and magnitude of excretion via sweat and its significance with respect to contributing APIs to sewage are clearly largely dependent on the amount (and type) of sweat that is generated per day (which can vary widely depending on the individual, the level of activity, the level of hydration, the temperature and humidity, the level of stress, the content and distribution across the skin surface of apocrine and eccrine sweat glands, and the health and skin condition of the individual), the pH of the sweat, the plasma concentration and pK a of the API, and the bathing frequency, among other factors.…”

Section: Sweat As a Route Of Excretionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The major route by which APIs enter sewage is commonly accepted to be via urine and feces, with each contributing different relative amounts depending on the pharmacokinetics and structure of the individual API [4]. Although other contributory routes, such as personal hygiene bathing or washing and the disposal of leftover medications by consumers, have been considered minor or inconsequential [5][6][7], no empirical evidence has been published yet to support this supposition.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Environmental footprint of pharmaceuticals: The significance of factors beyond direct excretion to sewers

Daughton¹,

Ruhoy²

2009

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

200

113

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract-The combined excretion of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) via urine and feces is considered the primary route by which APIs from human pharmaceuticals enter the environment. Disposal of unwanted, leftover medications by flushing into sewers has been considered a secondary route-one that does not contribute substantially to overall environmental loadings. The present study presents the first comprehensive examination of secondary routes of API release to the environment and for direct but unintentional human exposure. These include bathing, washing, and laundering, all of which release APIs remaining on the skin from the use of high-content dermal applications or from excretion to the skin via sweating, and disposal of unused and partially used highcontent devices. Also discussed are the health hazards associated with: partially used devices, medication disposal practices of consumers, and interpersonal dermal transfer of API residues. Understanding these secondary routes is important from the perspective of pollution prevention, because actions can be designed more easily for reducing the environmental impact of APIs compared with the route of direct excretion (via urine and feces), for reducing the incidence of unintentional and purposeful poisonings of humans and pets, and for improving the quality and cost-effectiveness of health care. Overall, unintentional exposure to APIs for humans via these routes is possibly more important than exposure to trace residues recycled from the environment in drinking water or foods.

show abstract

Section: Sweat As a Route Of Excretionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental footprint of pharmaceuticals: The significance of factors beyond direct excretion to sewers

Daughton¹,

Ruhoy²

2009

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

200

113

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…DEET is included in Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) that can be considered to be emerging contaminants of environmental concern because of their continuous release into the aquatic environment, their persistence and evidences of ecotoxicological effects (Cunningham et al, 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide transformation in river water

Calza

Medana

Raso

et al. 2011

Science of The Total Environment

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…Adverse effects of pharmaceuticals to fish and aquatic life are typically detected in aquatic ecosystems (Grondel et al, 1985;Wishkovsky et al, 1987;Vos et al, 2000;Arukwe, 2001;Jobling et al, 2002Jobling et al, , 2006Cleuvers, 2003Cleuvers, , 2004; Thorpe et al, 2003;Brooks et al, 2003Brooks et al, , 2005Schwaiger et al, 2004;Triebskorn et al, 2004;Hoeger et al, 2005;Flippin et al, 2007;Oaks et al, 2004;Caminada et al, 2006;Cunningham et al, 2006;Fent et al, 2006;Filby et al, 2007;Flippin et al, 2007;Johnston et al, 2007;Kim et al, 2007;Owen et al, 2007;Runnalls et al, 2007;Shved et al, 2008;Christen et al, 2010;Corcoran et al, 2010;Nassef et al, 2010;Santos et al, 2010;Cuthbert et al, 2011). Adverse effects include for instance the production of reactive oxygen species in fish (Gonzalez et al, 1998;Laville et al, 2004;Fent et al, 2006;Mostofa et al, 2013aMostofa et al, , 2013b.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sources, factors, mechanisms and possible solutions to pollutants in marine ecosystems

Mostofa

Liu

Vione

et al. 2013

Environmental Pollution

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

. Sources, factors, mechanisms and possible solutions to pollutants in marine ecosystems. Environ. Pollut. 2013, 182, 461-478. DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2013 You may download, copy and otherwise use the AAM for non-commercial purposes provided that your license is limited by the following restrictions:(1) You may use this AAM for non-commercial purposes only under the terms of the CC-BY-NC-ND license.(2) The integrity of the work and identification of the author, copyright owner, and publisher must be preserved in any copy.(3) You must attribute this AAM in the following format: habitats during the breeding period of marine species, usually for few days; and (ii) in some specific marine locations that have high biodiversity and target and non-target ecosystem components. Possible remedial measures are assessed, but their effective coming into force strongly depends on the public awareness of existing problems and on the priority level that such problems will reach in policy making.

show abstract

Effects of Human Pharmaceuticals on Aquatic Life: Next Steps

Cited by 165 publications

References 16 publications

Environmental footprint of pharmaceuticals: The significance of factors beyond direct excretion to sewers

Environmental footprint of pharmaceuticals: The significance of factors beyond direct excretion to sewers

N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide transformation in river water

Sources, factors, mechanisms and possible solutions to pollutants in marine ecosystems

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About