Selected Pharmaceuticals in Different Aquatic Compartments: Part II—Toxicity and Environmental Risk Assessment
Potential risks associated with releases of human pharmaceuticals into the environment have become an increasingly important issue in environmental health. This concern has been driven by the widespread detection of pharmaceuticals in all aquatic compartments. Therefore, 22 pharmaceuticals, 6 metabo...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-04-01
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| Series: | Molecules |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/25/8/1796 |
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| author | André Pereira Liliana Silva Célia Laranjeiro Celeste Lino Angelina Pena |
| author_facet | André Pereira Liliana Silva Célia Laranjeiro Celeste Lino Angelina Pena |
| author_sort | André Pereira |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Potential risks associated with releases of human pharmaceuticals into the environment have become an increasingly important issue in environmental health. This concern has been driven by the widespread detection of pharmaceuticals in all aquatic compartments. Therefore, 22 pharmaceuticals, 6 metabolites and transformation products, belonging to 7 therapeutic groups, were selected to perform a review on their toxicity and environmental risk assessment (ERA) in different aquatic compartments, important issues to tackle the water framework directive (WFD). The toxicity data collected reported, with the exception of anxiolytics, at least one toxicity value for concentrations below 1 µg L<sup>−1</sup>. The results obtained for the ERA revealed risk quotients (RQs) higher than 1 in all the aquatic bodies and for the three trophic levels, algae, invertebrates and fish, posing ecotoxicological pressure in all of these compartments. The therapeutic groups with higher RQs were hormones, antiepileptics, anti-inflammatories and antibiotics. Unsurprisingly, RQs values were highest in wastewaters, however, less contaminated water bodies such as groundwaters still presented maximum values up to 91,150 regarding 17α-ethinylestradiol in fish. Overall, these results present an important input for setting prioritizing measures and sustainable strategies, minimizing their impact in the aquatic environment. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:28:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b41b8fbb27f4483291851cc78f1a9b71 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1420-3049 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:28:26Z |
| publishDate | 2020-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Molecules |
| spelling | doaj.art-b41b8fbb27f4483291851cc78f1a9b712023-11-19T21:36:40ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492020-04-01258179610.3390/molecules25081796Selected Pharmaceuticals in Different Aquatic Compartments: Part II—Toxicity and Environmental Risk AssessmentAndré Pereira0Liliana Silva1Célia Laranjeiro2Celeste Lino3Angelina Pena4LAQV, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Bromatology and Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Polo III, Azinhaga de St Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, PortugalLAQV, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Bromatology and Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Polo III, Azinhaga de St Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, PortugalLAQV, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Bromatology and Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Polo III, Azinhaga de St Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, PortugalLAQV, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Bromatology and Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Polo III, Azinhaga de St Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, PortugalLAQV, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Bromatology and Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Polo III, Azinhaga de St Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, PortugalPotential risks associated with releases of human pharmaceuticals into the environment have become an increasingly important issue in environmental health. This concern has been driven by the widespread detection of pharmaceuticals in all aquatic compartments. Therefore, 22 pharmaceuticals, 6 metabolites and transformation products, belonging to 7 therapeutic groups, were selected to perform a review on their toxicity and environmental risk assessment (ERA) in different aquatic compartments, important issues to tackle the water framework directive (WFD). The toxicity data collected reported, with the exception of anxiolytics, at least one toxicity value for concentrations below 1 µg L<sup>−1</sup>. The results obtained for the ERA revealed risk quotients (RQs) higher than 1 in all the aquatic bodies and for the three trophic levels, algae, invertebrates and fish, posing ecotoxicological pressure in all of these compartments. The therapeutic groups with higher RQs were hormones, antiepileptics, anti-inflammatories and antibiotics. Unsurprisingly, RQs values were highest in wastewaters, however, less contaminated water bodies such as groundwaters still presented maximum values up to 91,150 regarding 17α-ethinylestradiol in fish. Overall, these results present an important input for setting prioritizing measures and sustainable strategies, minimizing their impact in the aquatic environment.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/25/8/1796environmental contaminantspharmaceuticalspharmaceuticals toxicityenvironmental risk assessmentaquatic compartments |
| spellingShingle | André Pereira Liliana Silva Célia Laranjeiro Celeste Lino Angelina Pena Selected Pharmaceuticals in Different Aquatic Compartments: Part II—Toxicity and Environmental Risk Assessment Molecules environmental contaminants pharmaceuticals pharmaceuticals toxicity environmental risk assessment aquatic compartments |
| title | Selected Pharmaceuticals in Different Aquatic Compartments: Part II—Toxicity and Environmental Risk Assessment |
| title_full | Selected Pharmaceuticals in Different Aquatic Compartments: Part II—Toxicity and Environmental Risk Assessment |
| title_fullStr | Selected Pharmaceuticals in Different Aquatic Compartments: Part II—Toxicity and Environmental Risk Assessment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Selected Pharmaceuticals in Different Aquatic Compartments: Part II—Toxicity and Environmental Risk Assessment |
| title_short | Selected Pharmaceuticals in Different Aquatic Compartments: Part II—Toxicity and Environmental Risk Assessment |
| title_sort | selected pharmaceuticals in different aquatic compartments part ii toxicity and environmental risk assessment |
| topic | environmental contaminants pharmaceuticals pharmaceuticals toxicity environmental risk assessment aquatic compartments |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/25/8/1796 |
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