Pharmazeutische Wirkstoffe und Umweltschutz

On 26 April this year the German Environmental Advisory Council (SRU) published a statement on ‘Pharmaceuticals in the environment’ and pointed considerable need for action to understand and to reduce the risks from diffuse pharmaceutical inputs in the environment. On the one hand, it is urgently necessary to improve the database for environmental risk assessments; on the other hand measures should already be taken to minimize harmful inputs. Fortunately, the new regulations for an application for an authorization to market new pharmaceuticals require an environmental risk assessment. However, there is a lack of information on possible impacts from long time admitted medicines which may be responsible for harmful active substances detectable in the environment. To remove this data deficit, a European programme for risk evaluation of old pharmaceuticals should be established. It is necessary for an adequate risk assessment to look at all impacts of one active substance or all substances same-directed in their active potential summativ and to generate regularly consumption data in particular for the use of veterinary products. The hot spots of contamination are the introduction of large scale volumes of active pharmaceutical ingredients for human use like diclofenac and carbamazepin as well as hormones into surface waters, as well as the application of antibiotics-loaded economic fertilizers on soils. Not to be neglected is the application of antiparasitics in animals kept on pasture. With the assessment of the use of pharmaceuticals for all purposes special attention is needed on antibiotic resistance. For the mitigation of environmental exposures there are exposures measures necessary to reduce use of antibiotics in farming, for the application of new effective technologies in treatment sewage — as for example ozonation, filtration with activated carbon or membrane filtration — as well as for the labelling of environmentally harmful medicinal products.     

Bewertung der Umweltrelevanz von Arzneistoffen

Aim The aim of this work was to investigate, which human and veterinary pharmaceuticals are of high ecological relevance due to the input into the environment as well as with regard to the effects and behaviour in the environment. Furthermore, the state of knowledge concerning the ecologically relevant substances and the need of research was evaluated. Methods A two-step approach considering the criteria quantity of sold pharmaceuticals, concentrations, effects and fate in the environment was developed to identify the pharmaceuticals of potential ecological relevance. In a second step the identified individual substances and groups of substances were considered in more detail concerning metabolism, environmental behaviour and ecological effects. Results In a first step 29 out of approximate 2,700 licensed human pharmaceuticals and seven substances as well as three substance groups used in veterinary medicine were identified as potentially ecologically relevant. The detailed assessment in a second step lead to the conclusion, that of the human pharmaceuticals 9 substances as well as two substance groups concerning the environmental behaviour and seven substances concerning the effects are of high environmental relevance. Concerning the environmental behaviour six out of seven veterinary pharmaceuticals as well as three substance groups and only three substances concerning the ecological effects were classified as relevant for the environment. Discussion By means of the presented method it was possible to limit the scope of a wide spectrum of pharmaceuticals, so that a detailed assessment of only relevant active agents was possible. Nevertheless, it is a precondition that investigations concerning the occurrence, fate and effects of the individual compounds in the environment have been already carried out and published in the literature. Conclusions The method is suitable for a comprehensive assessment of the ecological relevance of pharmaceuticals, but for a lot of human and veterinary pharmaceuticals the data available in the literature are insufficient. Recommendations For a final extensive assessment of the environmental relevance for some of the human and veterinary pharmaceuticals more studies are necessary. Especially data concerning the environmental behaviour in water and soils, data from long-term-studies for the assessment of ecological effects and data concerning metabolites and mixtures of pharmaceutical compounds are lacking.     

Arzneimittelentwicklung: Die Reduzierung von Umweltbelastungen durch gezieltes Moleküldesign

Results of the study In a long-term perspective innovations which are directed towards the principles of sustainable active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) will result in substituting problematic substances with other ones which are therapeutically effective as well as degradable in an environmentally compatible way. The substitution leads to a considerable decrease in water pollution with respect to the influx of APIs. The article summarizes the standard of knowledge considering measures with which such innovations and the consequent water improvement can be achieved. Discussion With an adequate promotion of research within this field and a modified scientific education the appliance of specific molecular designs could be established in the pharmaceutical sciences and industry. Examples will show that this, as a first step, may result in effective structures (model structures, which are already comprising synthetic substances) being modified so as to achieve a good degradability. By providing a list with evaluated and successfully established practical examples the basic practicability of this approach can convincingly be demonstrated. Especially within a changed political framework it will on this basis be possible as a second step to show that the approach also works in a systematic way when it comes to a broader development of new substances. With the help of advertising efforts the swift establishment of those innovations within the pharmaceutical market can be achieved thus supporting an accelerated environmental relief. Conclusions There is an option to develop a method of resolution, which will bring forward a trans-formation within the pharmaceutical industry with respect to a sustainable development. Those new methods furthering an improved degradability of pharmaceutical substances will result in an important reduction of influx into the environment and they will at the same time be able to improve the pharmaceutically relevant properties. Recommendations and perspectives The hereby suggested strategic approach is also applicable for environmentally relevant chemicals, i.?e. not for pharmaceuticals only.     

Arzneimittel in der aquatischen Umwelt

The German Environmental Advisory Council evaluated German water protection policies in its last environmental report (2004) concluded that despite some great successes in this area there is still considerable need for action. Specifically, diffuse nutrient and chemical substances inputs remain an unsolved problem. The contamination of surface and groundwater with pharmaceuticals has been identified as an environmental risk increasing in pertinence. Pharmaceuticals and their metabolites are being detected in the whole aquatic environment, which they enter through sewage, soil contamination by agriculture, and waste storage facilities. Different pharmaceuticals have been tested for acute toxicity on various aquatic organisms, but almost nothing is known about chronic toxicity of these contaminants. This knowledge, however, is essential for estimating the ecotoxicological potential of pharmaceutical residues. In the opinion of the Environmental Council different strategies are necessary, to reduce the contamination of the environment with pharmaceuticals. Farmers should refrain from using pharmaceuticals for prophylactic purposes or from using hormonally or antibiotically active substances in livestock feed additives, so as to reduce inputs of veterinary drugs. As regards human medications, packaging should better correspond to appropriate dosage amounts, and environmentally responsible disposal measures should be followed. Still under discussion are a programme for the risk evaluation of existing pharmaceuticals and a ban on the use of sewage sludge in agriculture. In the future, improvement of sewage treatment facilities, for instances through membrane technologies, will offer further potential to reduce inputs of hazardous substances.     

Körperpflegemittel in der aquatischen Umwelt

Personal care products (PCP) are produced and used in enormous amounts world-wide. In the early 1990s, the annual production volume was more than 550.000 metric tonnes for Germany alone, where liquid bath admixtures, soaps, skin care products, shampoos and dental care products represented the main use patterns of PCPs. These preparations and their ingredients are quasi-continuously introduced into the aquatic environment during regular use, preferably via municipal wastewater treatment plants, and may reach concentrations in the ng/l or μg/l range in surface waters. Furthermore, considerable persistence and bioaccumulation potential has been shown for a number of PCPs (e.g. musk fragrances, disinfectants, antiseptics, some repellents, sunscreen agents). Except for the most important detergents and surfactants used in PCPs, the possible consequences of a chronic exposure of aquatic organisms to these compounds have not been investigated systematically to date. The information on the occurrence of PCPs in different environmental compartments is also rather fragmentary. It is the main objective of this article to provide an overview on the available literature concerning the environmental chemistry and ecotoxicology of selected PCP ingredients (e.g. fragrances, preservatives and antioxidants, disinfectants and antiseptics, repellents, sunscreen agents) The set of data on the occurrence and concentrations of PCPs in the environment and the effects in representative aquatic organisms is insufficient for the majority of the groups of substances considered and does not allow an assessment of their environmental risk. The example of musk fragrances, which represent one of the better analysed groups of PCP ingredients, shows that these compounds tend to accumulate in sediments and biota (including human beings) due to their inherent physicochemical properties, and are likely to attain considerable concentration levels. However, the knowledge about effects in aquatic organisms is rather incomplete and partially contradictory. Furthermore, detailed investigations of their potential reproductive, neuro-, immuno-and genotoxicity are lacking not only for musk fragrances, but also for the overwhelming majority of other PCP ingredients.     

Pharmaceutical compounds in aquatic environment in China: locally screening and environmental risk assessment

An environmental risk assessment was performed for pharmaceutical compounds present in the aquatic environment of China. Predicted environmental concentration (PEC) of the compounds were calculated according to European Medicines Evaluation Agency (EMEA) guidelines. Available ecotoxicological data compromised by applying a very conservative assessment factor (AF) were employed to calculate the predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC). The screening principle and the risk assessment were based on risk quotient (RQ), which derived from the PEC and related PNEC values. PEC results indicated that all the compounds except sulfadimethoxine and levocarnitine, should carry out phase II risk assessment in EMEA guideline. RQ values suggested that more than 36 pharmaceuticals may be imposed health threats to the aquatic environment; especially the antibiotic therapeutic class including amoxicillin, sulfasalazine, trimethoprim, oxytetracycline and erythromycin showed high RQ values. These substances with high RQ value (RQ≥1) were regarded as top-priority pharmaceuticals for control in the aquatic environment of China. However, the antibiotic substances which had low risk quotient (RQ <1), should be reassessed by its potentially induced resistance under low concentration in future.     

Humanpharmakawirkstoffe in der Umwelt: Einträge, Vorkommen und der Versuch einer Bestandsaufnahme

Background

The presence of a large spectrum of pharmaceutical agents has been reported for aquatic environments (surface—and groundwater) and other aquatic media (influents and effluents of sewage treatment plants) in Germany and beyond, including their occurrence in drinking water. Considering the large number of pharmaceuticals produced for human use and released into the environment, various authors (Sattelberger 1999, Hanisch et al. 2004, Castiglioni et al. 2006, IWW 2006, Stockholm County Council 2006) tried to compile ‘priority lists’ focusing on those substances with environmental relevance. The following agents are included in all lists: ciprofloxacine, clarythromycine (antibiotics), carbamazepine (anti-epileptic agent), bezafibrate (lipid reducer), clofibric acid (lipid reducer metabolite), ethinylestradiol (sex hormone) and cylophosfamide (cytostatic agent). The agents erythromycine and sulfamethoxazole (antibiotics), ibuprofen, indometacine, propyphenazone (analgesics), atenolol (beta-blocker) and ifosfamide (cytostatic agent) can be found in three of four priority lists.

Results

Pharmaceuticals mainly enter the aquatic environment via effluent water, coming from wastewater treatment plants (including hospital and household sewerage), untreated discharges (e.g, secondary transfer of active agents into ground- and surface waters via sewage sludge application in agriculture and via landfill leachate) and leakages in the municipal sewer network.

Discussion

Potential activities towards a reduced release of pharmaceuticals into the environment should consider primarily the origin of the exposure to allow a separation of drug containing flows already at the source. Following the latter it would be possible to minimize the contamination of spring-, ground- and surface waters which serve as raw water resources for drinking water supply. However, considering the actual water pollution with pharmaceuticals and other substances, ‘end-of pipe’ techniques in the sewage and drinking water treatment are absolutely essential.

Conclusions

Sustainability criteria (e.g. protection of drinking water resources, habitats and biocoenoses, recycling and economizing use of resources) and economic aspects of modern sewage disposal concepts require a useful choice and combination of technical measures as components of centralized and decentralized sewage and drinking water treatment methods. It is though not realistic to cover and eliminate all pharmaceutical agents of environmental relevance equally effective even if a catalogue of potential technical treatment methods is elaborated thoroughly. Therefore, a concentration of efforts on selected drug agents, at least following initially some of the priority lists, is recommended.

Recommendations and Perspectives

The contamination of the water cycle with pharmaceuticals is nevertheless not exclusively to be solved via the application of technical methods. The BMBF (Federal Ministry for Education and Research) funded project start (Management Strategies for Pharmaceuticals in Drinking Water, www.start-project.de) therefore tries by implementation of a transdisciplinary approach to integrate technical-, behavioral-, and agent-orientated management strategies towards a more comprehensive and sustainable problem solution.     

Pharmaceuticals,endocrine disruptors,personal care products,nanomaterials and perfluorinated pollutants: a review

The presence of emerging micropollutants such as pharmaceuticals, endocrine disruptors, personal care products, nanomaterials and perfluorinated substances in the environment remains a great threat to the health and safety of humans and aquatic species. These micropollutants enter the environment via anthropogenic activities and have been detected in surface water, groundwater and even drinking water at nanogram per litre to microgram per litre concentration. To date, limited information exists on the fate, behaviours, and pathways of these micropollutants in the environment. The potential ecotoxicological effects on the receptors due to exposure to individual or mixture of these chemicals still remain unknown. This review provides an overview on pharmaceuticals, endocrine disrupting compounds, personal care products, nanomaterials and perfluorinated pollutants, with emphasis on their occurrences, effects, environmental fates, and potential risk of exposure in water, soil or sediment. Based on the literature survey, it was found that in spite of an extensive research and different developmental efforts on the challenges of emerging micropollutants, the solution to the problem of emerging micropollutants in the environment is far from being solved. The needs for behavioural change among citizens, strong political will and policy formulation on the part of government are identified as possible panacea for combating the growing influence of these potential damaging substances. Suggestions on proactive and precautionary measures that must be taken to protect the environment as well as guarantee the health and safety of humans and aquatic species are provided. Future research should concentrate on the development of a risk based screening models and framework that can predict the sources, fate and behaviours of emerging contaminants in the environment is recommended.     

Erfahrungen des Umweltbundesamtes mit der EU-Biozid-Richtlinie

Biocides are active substances and products which are intended to destroy (…) any harmful organism by chemical or biological means. Typical applications are for instance wood preservatives, antifouling products or disinfectants. In the European Union the use of biocidal products is regulated since 1998 by the Biocidal Product Directive 98/8/EG (BPD). The BPD was transposed into German law in 2001 by the “Biozid-Gesetz”. The Federal Environment Agency is responsible for the environmental risk assessment of biocidal active substances and products under the “Biozid-Gesetz” in Germany. The European Commission has to evaluate the BPD seven years after endorsement and if necessary, has to submit a proposal for the revision of the directive. It is expected that the European Commission will publish soon a review of the enforcement of the BPD together with suggestions for the revision of the directive. In this article the German Federal Environment Agency summarises suggestions for the revision of the BPD based on its ten years experience with the directive: The scope of the BPD needs an exact clarification of borderlines in order to avoid confusion with other legislation. Food and feeding stuff together with natural products like lavender branches and cedar wood, which are used as attracting or repellent agents, have to be excluded from the scope of the BPD. Special data requirements for natural oils and pheromones should be developed to take the complex composition of these substances into account. The advantages of a centralised and decentralised authorisation procedure are discussed for biocidal products in special product types. Furthermore we stipulate that biocidal active substances which are nano particles are treated as separate active substances with own identities. Due to animal welfare reasons it should be obligatory to share data from vertebrate animal studies as it is already mandatory under the REACH regulation. The import of articles treated with biocidal active substances into the European market should only be allowed, if the active substance is approved for their biocidal use within the EU. Finally we suggest to implement an obligation to report the market shares or consumption rates of biocidal active substances and products. Together with procedural simplifications and adaptation in the scope of the directive, changes of the data requirements will be the key issues during the revision of the BPD. Most important, these changes should not reduce but ideally increase the level of protection for human health and the environment.     

基于自然环境中优选药物的毒性和生态毒理风险研究

在如今超过1 500种在用原料药中,环境中发现几率明确和对环境影响明确的原料药所占比例很小。由于很难监管所有在用原料药,众多先前的研究提议将原料药按照受关注程度排序,从而可以将研究资源集中于那些最受瞩目的药物。然而这些研究都存在局限性,本文从之前优先性方法的实践经验出发,提出了一种更为全面的原料药排序方法。该方法基于对水生生物、土壤生物、鸟类、野生哺乳动物和人类的风险,综合考虑了食物链顶端存在的生态毒理学研究终点和由这些治疗性药物作用机制带来的非顶端效果。对于在英国社区以及医院设置中使用的146种活性药物的分析可以更为详细地说明该方法的运用。根据这一方法,我们将16种化合物列为优先考虑的药物。这些药物包括了抗生素、抗抑郁药、抗炎药、抗糖尿病药、抗肥胖药、雌激素类化合物以及相关的代谢产物。我们建议这种优先性方法在将来可以更广泛地应用于世界上不同的地区。
精选自Jiahua Guo, Chris J. Sinclair, Katherine Selby, Alistair B.A. Boxall. Toxicological and ecotoxicological risk based prioritisation of pharmaceuticals in the natural environment. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry: Volume 35, Issue 7, pages 1550–1559, July 2016. DOI: 10.1002/etc.3319
详情请见http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/etc.3319/full
     

碘代X射线造影剂的环境浓度、分析方法与毒性评估研究进展

碘代X射线造影剂(ICMs)是使用最广泛的血管内药物,近年来在水生环境中频繁检出.由于其高稳定性、高极性和持久性,ICMs会在水生环境中持续存在并且难以被降解.在水生环境中会与消毒剂、天然有机物结合生成具有毒性的消毒副产物(DBPs),由于其本身毒性以及转化产物DBPs的毒性增强了环境健康风险,进而引发了人们的密切关注.本文介绍了ICMs的环境浓度、分析方法以及毒性风险.重点描述了ICMs的前处理技术、检测方法及ICMs毒性评价现状,并展望了以后ICMs毒性的研究方向.     

Chiral pharmaceuticals in the environment

Many pharmaceutical pollutants are chiral, existing in the environment as a single enantiomer or as mixtures of the two enantiomers. In spite of their similar physical and chemical properties, the different spatial configurations lead the enantiomers to have different interactions with enzymes, receptors or other chiral molecules, which can give diverse biological response. Consequently, biodegradation process and ecotoxicity tend to be enantioselective. Despite numerous ongoing research regarding analysis and monitorization of pharmaceutical ingredients in the environment, the fate and effects of single enantiomers of chiral pharmaceuticals (CP) in the environment are still largely unknown. There are only few chiral analytical methods to accurately measure the enantiomeric fraction (EF) in environmental matrices and during biodegradation processes. Furthermore, the ecotoxicity studies usually consider the enantiomeric pair as unique compound. We reviewed the current knowledge about CP in the environment, as well as the chiral analytical methods to determine the EF in environmental matrices. The degradation and removal processes of CP of important therapeutic classes, usually detected in the environment, and their toxicity to aquatic organisms were also reviewed. On the other hand, this review demonstrate that despite the great importance of the stereochemistry in pharmaceutical science, pharmacology and organic chemistry, this is normally neglected in environmental studies. Therefore, CP in the environment need much more attention from the scientific community, and more research within this subject is required.     

Synthesis of substituted diphenylamines and carbazoles: phototransformation products of diclofenac

The formation of stable and potentially hazardous compounds as a result of photochemical transformation of pharmaceutical substances in the aquatic environment implies a demand for standard compounds within environmental analysis. The major phototransformation products of diclofenac are comprised of substituted diphenylamines and carbazoles. Substituted diphenylamines were synthesized by Ullmann condensation reactions between anilines and halobenzenes. Monochlorocarbazoles were obtained from palladium-catalyzed intramolecular coupling reactions of monochlorinated diphenylamines, photocyclization of dichlorinated diphenylamines or by direct chlorination of carbazole. The availability of synthetic photoproducts of diclofenac is of critical importance for further studies on the environmental fate as well as the ecotoxicological effects of the drug in the environment.     

Abschätzung des Beitrages kommunaler Kläranlagen an Schadstoffkonzentrationen in Oberflächengewässern

A number of products, such as washing agents or pharmaceuticals, enter the hydrosphere mainly with municipal wastewater. In this case the predicted environmental concentrations (PEC) of substances are largely determined by their elimination in municipal wastewater treatment plants and by the dilution ratio of wastewater in the rivers. In this article some rough estimates of the wastewater ratio in German rivers are presented and as a starting point for a more complex model for calculating the PEC more exactly, data on the fluctuation of river flow rates are shown.     

Occurrence,transformation, bioaccumulation,risk and analysis of pharmaceutical and personal care products from wastewater: a review

Almost all aspects of society from food security to disease control and prevention have benefited from pharmaceutical and personal care products, yet these products are a major source of contamination that ends up in wastewater and ecosystems. This issue has been sharply accentuated during the coronavirus disease pandemic 2019 (COVID-19) due to the higher use of disinfectants and other products. Here we review pharmaceutical and personal care products with focus on their occurrence in the environment, detection, risk, and removal.

     

Processes of distribution of pharmaceuticals in surface freshwaters: implications for risk assessment

The global consumption and production of pharmaceuticals is increasing concomitantly with concern regarding their environmental fate and effects. Active pharmaceutical ingredients are mainly released into the aquatic environment through wastewater effluent discharge. Once in the environment, pharmaceuticals can undergo processes of natural attenuation, i.e. dilution, sorption, transformation, depending on physico-chemical properties of the compound, such as water solubility, lipophilicity, vapour pressure, and environmental conditions, such as pH, temperature and ionic strength. A major natural attenuation process is the sorption on dissolved organic matter, colloids, suspended solids and sediments, which in turn control pharmaceuticals distribution, residence time and persistence in aquatic systems. Here we review studies of sorption capacity of natural sorbents to pharmaceuticals. These report on the importance of several environmental and sorbent-specific properties, such as the composition, quality, and amount of the sorbent, and the environmental pH, which determines the speciation of both the sorbent and compound. The importance of accounting for distribution processes on freshwater sorbents for any determination of environmental concentrations of pharmaceuticals is apparent, while the reliability of surrogate standards for measuring dissolved organic matter (DOM) distribution is evaluated in the context of the need for robust environmental risk assessment protocols.     

Stoffflussanalyse von quartären Ammoniumverbindungen für die Schweiz

Background, aim, and scope Compared to other micropollutants such as pesticides or pharmaceuticals, less attention has been paid to biocides so far. A prioritisation of the biocides currently used in Switzerland in terms of pollution of waters revealed that quaternary ammonium compounds (QAC), the isothiazolinones chloromethylisothiazolinone and benzisothiazolinone as well as Irgarol exhibit the highest risk potential. The QAC benzalkoniumchloride (BAC) and didecyldimethylammoniumchloride (DDAC-C10) are used in considerable amounts and have a high biological activity. Materials and methods The emissions of selected QAC in waters and soil and the predicted environmental concentrations (PECs) were estimated by means of a substance flow analysis (SFA). The study was based on data from the Swiss products register, on literature, contacts to producers and users as well as on own assumptions. Results and discussion The consumption of BAC (four homologues) and DDAC-C10 in biocidal applications in Switzerland amounts to 90 and 30 tons annually. The most important applications are disinfectants for public health areas, food and feed areas as well as wood preservatives. The total emissions to the environment of all five substances account for approximately 11?t/a. The PECs in surface waters and sediments vary from values slightly lower than the predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) to roughly three orders of magnitude below the PNEC. However, concentrations above the PNEC are possible at certain locations, particularly downstream of wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) effluents and sewer overflows. Effects on aquatic organisms can therefore not be excluded. Three BAC homologues could not be assessed, as there were no PNEC values available. Conclusions The contribution of emissions from WWTP (punctual emissions) to the environment is only about one tenth and relatively low compared to diffuse emissions. This means that measures for the emission reduction focussing only on end-of-pipe solutions in WWTP will not reduce the emissions significantly. Moreover, for the evaluation of measures, attention has to be paid to the fact that biocides such as the selected QAC are often also applied in non-biocidal applications (e.?g. three times higher volumes in the case of BAC). Recommendations and perspectives SFA serves as a useful tool for early recognition of environmental problems caused by chemicals. This allows recommending appropriate risk reduction measures in the production, the use and the end-of-life phase. It is advisable to use the SFA already in the development stage of chemicals and later on as a quality control tool. The relevant sources of chemicals and sinks in the environment can thus be determined in complex systems, even in absence of extensive measurements or product registers with consumption figures by means of estimations and scenarios.     

Preliminary survey of pharmaceutical residues in some important Romanian rivers

A number of important rivers of Romania were investigated for pharmaceutical and antifungal residues. In a post target approach analysis, a single-stage, high-resolution mass spectrometry was successfully applied for the screening of 43 pharmaceuticals and fungicides in water, using U-HPLC-Exactive Orbitrap MS at 50,000 full width at half maximum resolution. Detection was based on accurate masses and retention times. The study confirmed the presence of pharmaceuticals and antifungals such as diclofenac, sulfamethoxazole, carbamazepine, trimethoprim, thiabendazole, and clotrimazole, in water. Diclofenac and carbamazepine were the most frequently detected (eight samples); concentrations ranged from 5 to 50 ng L^?1. Low concentrations of griseofulvin were detected in the Prut River. Further monitoring studies should be carried out in order to fill the gaps of knowledge concerning the presence of pharmaceutical residues in Romanian water environment and to improve public understanding regarding the environmental risk of pharmaceutical contamination.     

Priorisierung von bioziden Wirkstoffen aufgrund der potenziellen Gefährdung schweizerischer Oberflächengewässer

Background, Aim and Scope Active substances for use in biocidal products can potentially occur as micropollutants in natural waters. Biocides, which are used in Switzerland for non-agricultural applications, should be evaluated and prioritized with regard to their respective environmental risks. The following questions were emphasized: Which active substances are used for which purposes and in which amounts? Is there discharge to the aquatic environment? What are the environmental behaviours and ecotoxicological effects of these biocides? How can a prioritization be achieved? Which active substances should be suggested for further assessments? Methods Manufacturing firms, sales organisations, users and environmental experts were identified as key stakeholders for the issues of this project. Chemical identities, product compositions, used amounts, product types, ways and places of applications were elucidated. A database was established with information on approximately 1760 products with totally 277 active substances. A prioritization procedure was established, providing a distinction of the active substances. For priority setting, water pollution risks by biocides were evaluated based on potential environmental emissions as well as on environmental behaviour and ecotoxic effects. Results In the European Union 372 active substances were notified for biocidal products, which accounted for use of 7500 tons per year in Switzerland. More than 95?% of the total use bases on 30 active substances, of which seven are rapidly biodegradable. A group of experts determined 22 substances as candidates for an extended assessment. It became evident that many active biocidal substances are highly ecotoxic und could, therefore, cause an augmented environmental risk Discussion It could be shown which active substances are applied in Switzerland in substantial amounts. Although close to 300 active biocidal substances are used, only about 30 substances are employed in relevant amounts of more than 5000?kg per year. For 22 active substances with low biodegradability, a potential environmental risk for natural surface waters can be inferred. These active substances are used at amounts comparable to the pesticides.