[Pharmwaste] Concentrations of prioritized pharmaceuticals in effluents from 50 large wastewater treatment plants in the US and implications for risk estimation

[Buxbaum, Diane]

I am ccing some nongovernmental environmental activists on this email  Wow, how depressing.  Were most or all of these plants secondary plants? Were any tertiary?  Are there any ideas of nonprohibitive methods for reducing or eliminating the discharge of these pharmaceuticals into the receiving bodies?  Would,  in areas where there is the land, exposure to sunlight and ponds allow for the breakdown of these drugs (and how dangerous might those products be)?  Probably not possible in most urban areas and even where possible very costly.

Diane D. Buxbaum, MPH
Environmental Scientist
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Region 2
Division of Enforcement and Compliance Assistance
290 Broadway (21 East)
New York, NY 10007
buxbaum.diane at epa.gov
Phone 212-637-3919
Fax 212-637-4086

From: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us [mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of DeBiasi, Deborah (DEQ)
Sent: Tuesday, December 03, 2013 3:21 PM
To: pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
Subject: [Pharmwaste] Concentrations of prioritized pharmaceuticals in effluents from 50 large wastewater treatment plants in the US and implications for risk estimation


Concentrations of prioritized pharmaceuticals in effluents from 50 large wastewater treatment plants in the US and implications for risk estimation
Mitchell S. Kostich*, Angela L. Batt, James M. Lazorchak
Ecological Exposure Research Division, National Exposure Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 26 W. Martin Luther King Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA



ABSTRACT
We measured concentrations of 56 active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in effluent samples from 50 large wastewater treatment plants across the US. Hydrochlorothiazide was found in every sample. Metoprolol, atenolol, and carbamazepine were found in over 90% of the samples. Valsartan had the highest concentration (5300 ng/L), and also had the highest average concentration (1600 ng/L) across all 50 samples. Estimates of potential risks to healthy human adults were greatest for six anti-hypertensive APIs (lisinopril, hydrochlorothiazide, valsartan, atenolol, enalaprilat, and metoprolol), but nevertheless suggest risks of exposure to individual APIs as well as their mixtures are generally very low. Estimates of potential risks to aquatic life were also low for most APIs, but suggest more detailed study of potential ecological impacts from four analytes (sertraline, propranolol, desmethylsertraline, and valsartan).

Published by Elsevier Ltd.




Deborah L. DeBiasi
Email:   Deborah.DeBiasi at deq.virginia.gov<mailto:Deborah.DeBiasi at deq.virginia.gov>
WEB site address:  www.deq.virginia.gov<http://www.deq.virginia.gov/>
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
Office of Water Permits
Industrial Pretreatment/Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) Program
PPCPs, EDCs, and Microconstituents
http://www.deq.virginia.gov/Programs/Water/PermittingCompliance/PollutionDischargeElimination/Microconstituents.aspx
Mail:          P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, VA  23218
Location:  629 E. Main Street, Richmond, VA  23219
PH:         804-698-4028      FAX:      804-698-4032

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