11.2 Pharmaceuticals and personal care products in the environment

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products are sneaking into our environment, causing unexpected problems. From antibiotics to sunscreen, these everyday items contain chemicals that can mess with hormones, create superbugs, and build up in animals.

Wastewater treatment plants struggle to remove these contaminants completely. Some chemicals stick around for a long time, accumulating in the environment. This persistence raises concerns about long-term impacts on ecosystems and human health.

Sources and Types of Contaminants

Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products

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  Pharmaceutical and Personal Hygiene Products (PPcPs): A Threat Little Studied in Colombian Waters View original

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  Removal of Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products PPCPs from Wastewater View original

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  Pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) as endocrine disrupting contaminants (EDCs) in ... View original

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  Pharmaceutical and Personal Hygiene Products (PPcPs): A Threat Little Studied in Colombian Waters View original

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  Removal of Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products PPCPs from Wastewater View original

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• Pharmaceuticals include prescription and over-the-counter drugs used to treat various medical conditions (antibiotics, hormones, painkillers)
• Personal care products encompass a wide range of items used for personal hygiene and cosmetic purposes (shampoos, lotions, fragrances, sunscreens)
• Both pharmaceuticals and personal care products contain bioactive compounds that are designed to elicit specific biological responses in humans or animals
• These bioactive compounds can enter the environment through various pathways, such as excretion, improper disposal, or manufacturing processes

Metabolites and Transformation Products

• Metabolites are compounds produced by the body during the metabolism of pharmaceuticals and personal care products
• Transformation products are formed when pharmaceuticals and personal care products undergo chemical changes in the environment due to processes like photodegradation or biodegradation
• Metabolites and transformation products can have different properties and environmental impacts compared to the parent compounds
• These compounds contribute to the complex mixture of contaminants present in the environment and may have unknown effects on ecosystems and human health

Environmental Impacts

Endocrine Disruption and Reproductive Effects

• Many pharmaceuticals and personal care products contain compounds that can interfere with the endocrine system, which regulates hormones in organisms
• Endocrine disrupting chemicals can mimic, block, or alter the production and function of natural hormones
• Exposure to endocrine disruptors has been linked to reproductive disorders, developmental abnormalities, and population declines in wildlife (feminization of fish, eggshell thinning in birds)
• Concerns have been raised about the potential impacts of endocrine disrupting chemicals on human health, particularly during critical developmental stages

Antibiotic Resistance and Ecosystem Health

• The widespread use and release of antibiotics into the environment can contribute to the development and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria
• Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria evolve mechanisms to survive exposure to antibiotics, rendering these drugs less effective in treating infections
• The presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the environment poses risks to human health and can make treating infections more challenging
• Antibiotics and antibiotic-resistant bacteria can also disrupt the balance of microbial communities in ecosystems, potentially altering nutrient cycling and ecological processes

Bioconcentration and Biomagnification

• Bioconcentration refers to the accumulation of contaminants in an organism's tissues at levels higher than the surrounding environment
• Some pharmaceuticals and personal care products, particularly those that are lipophilic (fat-soluble), can bioconcentrate in the fatty tissues of organisms
• Biomagnification occurs when contaminants are transferred and concentrated through the food chain, with higher trophic levels (predators) accumulating greater amounts than lower trophic levels (prey)
• The bioconcentration and biomagnification of pharmaceuticals and personal care products can lead to elevated exposure levels in organisms, potentially causing adverse effects on their health and survival

Wastewater Treatment and Persistence

Wastewater Treatment Processes and Removal Efficiency

• Wastewater treatment plants are designed to remove contaminants from sewage before releasing treated water into the environment
• Conventional wastewater treatment processes, such as activated sludge and biological nutrient removal, can partially remove some pharmaceuticals and personal care products
• However, many of these contaminants are not completely eliminated during treatment and can still be detected in treated wastewater effluent
• Advanced treatment technologies, such as membrane filtration, activated carbon adsorption, and advanced oxidation processes, can improve the removal efficiency of pharmaceuticals and personal care products, but they are not widely implemented due to cost and energy requirements

Persistence and Environmental Fate

• The persistence of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in the environment depends on their chemical properties and the environmental conditions they encounter
• Some compounds can be readily biodegraded by microorganisms, while others are more resistant to degradation and can persist for longer periods
• The environmental fate of these contaminants is influenced by factors such as sunlight exposure (photodegradation), temperature, pH, and the presence of other chemicals
• Persistent pharmaceuticals and personal care products can accumulate in the environment over time, leading to chronic exposure for organisms and potential long-term ecological impacts
• Understanding the persistence and environmental fate of these contaminants is crucial for assessing their risks and developing strategies to mitigate their presence in the environment