[Pharmwaste] PHARMACEUTICALLY ACTIVE COMPOUNDS IN ATLANTIC CANADIAN SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT EFFLUENTS AND RECEIVING WATERS, AND POTENTIAL FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS AS MEASURED BY ACUTE AND CHRONIC AQUATIC TOXICITY

DeBiasi,Deborah dldebiasi at deq.virginia.gov
Thu Nov 9 15:05:18 EST 2006


PHARMACEUTICALLY ACTIVE COMPOUNDS IN ATLANTIC CANADIAN SEWAGE
TREATMENT PLANT EFFLUENTS AND RECEIVING WATERS, AND POTENTIAL FOR
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS AS MEASURED BY ACUTE AND CHRONIC
AQUATIC TOXICITY

(Abstract below:    Full article at http://www.allenpress.com/pdf/entc_25_807_2163_2176.pdf )

GUY L. BRUN,*† MARC BERNIER,† RENE´ LOSIER,† KEN DOE,† PAULA JACKMAN,† and HING-BIU LEE‡
†Environment Canada, Science and Technology Branch, P.O. Box 23005, Moncton, New Brunswick E1A 6S8
‡Environment Canada, Science and Technology Branch, National Water Research Institute, 867 Lakeshore Road,
Burlington, Ontario L7R 4A6

(Received 14 July 2005; Accepted 30 January 2006)

Abstract — Ten acidic and two neutral pharmaceuticals were detected in the effluents of eight sewage treatment plants (STPs) from across Atlantic Canada. Concentrations varied between nondetectable and 35 mg/L. The analgesic, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ibuprofen and naproxen were predominant. Carbamazepine, a neutral compound used as an antiepileptic drug, was observed consistently at a median concentration of 79 ng/L. Acetaminophen was found in the effluents of the three largest mechanical STPs at a median concentration of 1.9 mg/L, but not in the lagoon treatment systems. The substantially longer hydraulic retention times
may have contributed to more effective removal of acetaminophen in the lagoon treatment systems. Drugs generally were not detected at significant concentrations in the larger bodies of receiving water (Saint John River, Hillsborough River, and Bedford Bay, Canada). However, drug residues in the small receiving streams were 15 to 30% of the effluent median concentrations. Six compounds (caffeine, naproxen, salicylic acid, carbamazepine, metoprolol, and sotolol) were found to persist in a small stream for a distance of at least 17 km, suggesting that small stream exposure to pharmaceutically active residues may be relatively greater
than that in large bodies of water. Bioassays assessing acute and chronic effects on four organisms were conducted on four highuse drugs: Acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen, and salicylic acid (metabolite of acetyl salicylic acid). Results indicated no negative effects except for the chronic algal (Selanastrum capricornutum) growth test on ibuprofen (no-observed-effect concentration, 10 mg/L; lowest-observed-effect concentration, 32 mg/L). Effects of these four compounds on invertebrates and plants in the receiving
environments are unlikely based on the concentrations measured.

Full article at the site above

Deborah L. DeBiasi
Email:   dldebiasi at deq.virginia.gov
WEB site address:  www.deq.virginia.gov
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
Office of Water Permit Programs
Industrial Pretreatment/Toxics Management Program
Mail:          P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, VA  23218 (NEW!)
Location:  629 E. Main Street, Richmond, VA  23219
PH:         804-698-4028
FAX:      804-698-4032



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