[Pharmwaste] USGS Release: Manufacturing Facilities Release Pharmaceuticals to the Environment (6-4-2010 90000 AM)

[DeBiasi, Deborah (DEQ)]

http://toxics.usgs.gov/highlights/PMFs.html


Editors:  This scientific paper is published in Environmental Science
and Technology. The paper, an accompanying USGS data report, and related
information are available online. 



Pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities can be a significant source of
pharmaceuticals to surface waters, according to a new study by the U.S.
Geological Survey (USGS) conducted in cooperation with the State of New
York. 

Outflow from two wastewater treatment plants in New York that receive
more than 20 percent of their wastewater from pharmaceutical facilities
had concentrations of pharmaceuticals that were 10 to 1000 times higher
than outflows from 24 plants nationwide that do not receive wastewater
from pharmaceutical manufacturers. 

"This is the first study in the U.S. to identify pharmaceutical
manufacturing facilities as a significant source of pharmaceuticals to
the environment," said Matthew C. Larsen, USGS Associate Director for
Water. "The USGS is working with water utilities to evaluate alternative
water treatment technologies with the goal of reducing the release of
pharmaceuticals and other emerging contaminants to the environment." 

Maximum concentrations in outflows from the two wastewater treatment
plants in New York were: 

3,800 parts per billion (ppb) of metaxalone (a muscle relaxant) 
1,700 ppb of oxycodone (an opioid prescribed for pain relief) 
Greater than 400 ppb of methadone (an opioid prescribed for pain relief
and drug withdrawal) 
160 ppb of butalbital (a barbiturate) 
Greater than 40 ppb of phendimetrazine (a stimulant prescribed for
obesity) and carisoprodol (a muscle relaxant) 
3.9 ppb diazepam (an anti-anxiety medication) 
While pharmaceutical concentrations were significantly lower in
receiving streams, measurable concentrations were detected as far as 20
miles downstream. 
By contrast, outflow from the wastewater treatment plants that do not
receive wastewater from pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities had
concentrations that rarely exceeded one ppb. 

"This study would not have been possible without the cooperation and
support of the New York Department of Environmental Conservation and
wastewater treatment plants in New York and nationwide," said USGS
scientist Patrick Phillips, who led the study. "We continue to work with
the NYS DEC to monitor the quality of the outflows and receiving
streams." 

For this study, USGS scientists collected outflow samples periodically
from 2004 to 2009 from three New York wastewater treatment plants, two
of which receive more than 20 percent of their wastewater from
pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities. USGS also collected samples
from 2006-2009 from 23 selected wastewater treatment plants across the
nation that do not receive wastewater from pharmaceutical manufacturing
facilities. 

All of the samples were analyzed for seven pharmaceuticals, including
opioids and muscle relaxants, representing some of the most frequently
prescribed medications in the U.S. Some pharmaceuticals studied have not
previously been included in environmental studies. 

The pharmaceuticals investigated in this study were identified using a
forensic approach that identified initially unknown chemicals present in
the wastewater treatment plant outflows at elevated levels. Although
public records were not available for all pharmaceuticals formulated at
these sites, available data indicate that these seven pharmaceuticals
are manufactured at one or both of the New York facilities involved in
the study.  Additional pharmaceuticals were identified in the outflow of
these two wastewater treatment plants, and ongoing studies are
documenting the levels at which they occur in the environment. 

This study is part of a long-term effort to determine the fate and
effects of chemicals of emerging environmental concern and to provide
water-resource managers with objective information that assists in the
development of effective water management practices. More information
can be found online. 



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Deborah L. DeBiasi 
Email:   Deborah.DeBiasi at deq.virginia.gov (NEW!)
WEB site address:  www.deq.virginia.gov 
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality 
Office of Water Permit and Compliance Assistance Programs 
Industrial Pretreatment/Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) Program 
PPCPs, EDCs, and Microconstituents
www.deq.virginia.gov/vpdes/microconstituents.html 
Mail:          P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, VA  23218 
Location:  629 E. Main Street, Richmond, VA  23219 
PH:         804-698-4028 
FAX:      804-698-4032