Human medications are being studied for their potential to be transported via the environment.

Abstract

The occurrence of 12 selected pharmaceutical compounds and pharmaceutical compound metabolites in sewage treatment
works (STW) effluents and surface waters was investigated. The substances selected for the monitoring programme were
identified by a risk ranking procedure to identify those substances with the greatest potential to pose a risk to the aquatic
environment. STW final effluent and surface water samples were collected from Corby, Great Billing, East Hyde, Harpenden
and Ryemeads STWs. Ten of the 12 pharmaceutical compounds were detected in the STW effluent samples: propranolol
(100%, median = 76 ng/l), diclofenac (86%, median = 424 ng/l), ibuprofen (84%, median = 3086 ng/l), mefenamic acid (81%,
median = 133 ng/l), dextropropoxyphene (74%, median = 195 ng/l), trimethoprim (65%, 70 ng/l), erythromycin (44%, < 10
ng/l), acetyl-sulfamethoxazole (33%, median = < 50 ng/l), sulfamethoxazole (9%, median = < 50 ng/l), tamoxifen (4%,
median=< 10 ng/l). In the corresponding receiving streams, fewer compounds and lower concentrations were found:
propranolol (87%, median = 29 ng/l), ibuprofen (69%, median = 826 ng/l), mefenamic acid (60%, median = 62 ng/l),
dextropropoxyphene (53%, median = 58 ng/l), diclofenac (47%, median=< 20 ng/l), erythromycin (38%, median=< 10 ng/l),
trimethoprim (38%, median = < 10 ng/l), acetyl sulfamethoxazole (38%, median=< 50 ng/l). Four human pharmaceutical
compounds were detected in samples upstream of the STWs sampled: ibuprofen (57%, median = 181 ng/l), trimethoprim
(36%, median < 10 ng/l), erythromycin (17%, median=< 10 ng/l), propranolol (14%, median=< 10 ng/l), suggesting that
longer range stream transport of some compounds is possible