Environmental loadings of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients from manufacturing facilities in Canada

Global occurrence, distribution, and ecological risk assessment of psychopharmaceuticals and illicit drugs in surface water environment: A meta-analysis

Psychopharmaceuticals and illicit drugs (PIDs) in aquatic environments can negatively impact ecosystem and human health. However, data on the sources, distribution, drivers, and risks of PIDs in global surface waters are limited. We compiled a dataset of 331 records spanning 23 PIDs in surface waters and sediments across 100 countries by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis of 108 studies published between 2005 and 2022. Most PIDs were sewage-derived, as wastewater treatment rarely achieved complete removal. The highest total PID levels were in Ethiopia, Australia, and Armenia, with many highly contaminated samples from low- and middle-income countries with minimal prior monitoring. Socioeconomic factors (population, GDP) and environmental variables (water stress) influenced the distribution of PIDs. 3,4-Methylenedioxy amphetamine hydrochloride (MDA), Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and 11- Δ9‑hydroxy-tetrahydrocannabinol (THCOH) posed the greatest ecological risks, especially in Oceania and North America. PIDs in surface waters present risks to aquatic organisms. Our findings elucidate the current status and future directions of PID research in surface waters and provide a scientific foundation for evaluating ecological risks and informing pollution control policies.

Accumulation of antibiotics in the environment: Have appropriate measures been taken to protect Canadian human and ecological health?

In Canada, every day, contaminants of emerging concern (CEC) are discharged from waste treatment facilities into freshwaters. CECs such as pharmaceutical active compounds (PhACs), personal care products (PCPs), per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and microplastics are legally discharged from sewage treatment plants (STPs), water reclamation plants (WRPs), hospital wastewater treatment plants (HWWTPs), or other forms of wastewater treatment facilities (WWTFs). In 2006, the Government of Canada established the Chemicals Management Plan (CMP) to classify chemicals based on a risk-priority assessment, which ranked many CECs such as PhACs as being of low urgency, therefore permitting these substances to continue being released into the environment at unmonitored rates. The problem with ranking PhACs as a low priority is that CMP's risk management assessment overlooks the long-term environmental and synergistic effects of PhAC accumulation, such as the long-term risk of antibiotic CEC accumulation in the spread of antibiotic resistance genes. The goal of this review is to specifically investigate antibiotic CEC accumulation and associated environmental risks to human and environmental health, as well as to determine whether appropriate legislative strategies are in place within Canada's governance framework. In this research, secondary data on antibiotic CEC levels in Canadian and international wastewaters, their potential to promote antibiotic-resistant residues, associated environmental short- and long-term risks, and synergistic effects were all considered. Unlike similar past reviews, this review employed an interdisciplinary approach to propose new strategies from the perspectives of science, engineering, and law.

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs in the Aquatic Environment and Bivalves: The State of the Art

In recent years, contaminants of emerging concern have been reported in several environmental matrices due to advances in analytical methodologies. These anthropogenic micropollutants are detected at residual levels, representing an ecotoxicological threat to aquatic ecosystems. In particular, the pharmacotherapeutic group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) is one of the most prescribed and used, as well as one of the most frequently detected in the aquatic environment. Bivalves have several benefits as a foodstuff, and also as an environment bioindicator species. Therefore, they are regarded as an ideal tool to assess this issue from both ecotoxicological and food safety perspectives. Thus, the control of these residues in bivalves is extremely important to safeguard environmental health, also ensuring food safety and public health. This paper aims to review NSAIDs in bivalves, observing their consumption, physicochemical characteristics, and mechanisms of action; their environmental occurrence in the aquatic environment and aquatic biota; and their effects on the ecosystem and the existent legal framework. A review of the analytical methodologies for the determination of NSAIDs in bivalves is also presented.

Comprehensive analysis of a widely pharmaceutical, furosemide, and its degradation products in aquatic systems: Occurrence, fate, and ecotoxicity

Many pharmaceutical compounds end up in the environment due to incomplete removal by wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Some compounds are sometimes present in significant concentrations and therefore represent a risk to the aquatic environment. Furosemide is one of the most widely used drugs in the world. Considered as an essential drug by the World Health Organization, this powerful loop diuretic is used extensively to treat hypertension, heart and kidney failure and many other purposes. However, this important consumption also results in a significant release of furosemide in wastewater and in the receiving environment where concentrations of a few hundred ng/L to several thousand have been found in the literature, making furosemide a compound of great concern. Also, during its transport in wastewater systems and WWTPs, furosemide can be degraded by various processes resulting in the production of more than 74 by-products. Furosemide may therefore present a significant risk to ecosystem health due not only to its direct cytotoxic, genotoxic and hepatotoxic effects in animals, but also indirectly through its transformation products, which are poorly characterized. Many articles classify furosemide as a priority pollutant according to its occurrence in the environment, its persistence, its elimination by WWTPs, its toxicity and ecotoxicity. Here, we present a state-of-the-art review of this emerging pollutant of interest, tracking it, from its consumption to its fate in the aquatic environment. Discussion points include the occurrence of furosemide in various matrices, the efficiency of many processes for the degradation of furosemide, the subsequent production of degradation products following these treatments, as well as their toxicity.

The inherent nature of N/P heteroatoms in Sargassum fusiforme seaweed biochar enhanced the nonradical activation of peroxymonosulfate for acetaminophen degradation in aquatic environments

This study investigated the catalytic activity of biochar materials derived from algal biomass Sargassum fusiforme (S. fusiforme) for groundwater remediation. A facile single-step pyrolysis process was used to prepare S. fusiforme biochar (SFBCX), where x denotes pyrolysis temperatures (600 °C-900 °C). The surface characterization revealed that SFBC800 possesses intrinsic N and P heteroatoms. The optimum experimental condition for acetaminophen (AAP) degradation (>98.70%) was achieved in 60 min using 1.0 mM peroxymonosulfate (PMS), 100 mg L-1 SFBC800, and pH 5.8 (unadjusted). Moreover, the degradation rate constant (k) was evaluated by the pseudo-first-order kinetic model. The maximum degradation (>98.70%) of AAP was achieved within 60 min of oxidation. Subsequently, the k value was calculated to be 6.7 × 10-2 min-1. The scavenger tests showed that radical and nonradical processes are involved in the SFBC800/PMS system. Moreover, the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the SFBC800/PMS system was confirmed using electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. Intriguingly, both radical (O2•-, •OH, and SO4•-) and nonradical (1O2) ROS were formed in the SFBC800/PMS system. In addition, electrochemical studies were conducted to verify the electron transfer process of the nonradical mechanism in the SFBC800/PMS system. The scavenger and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy showed that singlet oxygen (1O2) is the predominant component in AAP degradation. Under optimal condition, the SFBC800/PMS system reached ∼81% mineralization of AAP within 5 min and continued to ∼85% achieved over 60 min of oxidation. Coexisting ions and different aqueous matrices were investigated to examine the feasibility of the catalyst system, and the SFBC800/PMS system was found to be effective in the remediation of AAP-contaminated groundwater, river water, and effluent water obtained from wastewater treatment plants. Moreover, the SFBC800-activated PMS system demonstrated reusability. Our findings indicate that the SFBC800 catalyst has excellent catalytic activity for AAP degradation in aquatic environments.

Sub-chronic exposure to paroxetine disrupts ecologically relevant behaviours in fish

The functional conservation of important selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) targets in non-target organisms raises concerns about their potential adverse effects on the ecosystems. Although the environmental levels of SSRIs like paroxetine (PAR) have risen, the knowledge regarding the effects of long-term exposure to PAR is limited. This study investigated the impact of sub-chronic exposure (21 days) to two sub-lethal concentrations of PAR (40 and 400 μg/L) on the behaviour of adult zebrafish in different scenarios: basal activity (under dark and light conditions), stress response (evoked by sudden light transitions) and stress response recovery. A new framework was employed for the integrative study of fish's swimming performance based on their innate ability to respond to light shifts. Several swimming-associated parameters (e.g., total swimming distance, time of inactivity, swimming angles) and thigmotaxis were monitored for an integrated analysis in each scenario. Data revealed reduced swimming activity, impaired behavioural response to stress and alterations in stress recovery of PAR-exposed fish. An anxiolytic effect was particularly noticeable in fish basal swimming activity in the dark at 400 μg/L and in the behavioural response to stress (from dark to light) and stress recovery (from light to dark) for organisms exposed to 40 μg/L. The detected PAR-induced behavioural modifications suggest a disruption of brain glucocorticoid signalling that may have implications at the individual level (e.g., changing behavioural responses to predators), with potential repercussions on the population and community levels. Therefore, the applied protocol proved sensitive in detecting behavioural changes induced by PAR.

Advanced oxidation and biological integrated processes for pharmaceutical wastewater treatment: A review

The stress of pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) discharging to water bodies and the environment due to increased industrialization has reduced the availability of clean water. This poses a potential health hazard to animals and human life because water contamination is a great issue to the climate, plants, humans, and aquatic habitats. Pharmaceutical compounds are quantified in concentrations ranging from ng/Lto μg/L in aquatic environments worldwide. According to (Alsubih et al., 2022), the concentrations of carbamazepine, sulfamethoxazole, Lutvastatin, ciprofloxacin, and lorazepam were 616-906 ng/L, 16,532-21635 ng/L, 694-2068 ng/L, 734-1178 ng/L, and 2742-3775 ng/L respectively. Protecting and preserving our environment must be well-driven by all sectors to sustain development. Various methods have been utilized to eliminate the emerging pollutants, such as adsorption and biological and advanced oxidation processes. These methods have their benefits and drawbacks in the removal of pharmaceuticals. Successful wastewater treatment can save the water bodies; integrating green initiatives into the main purposes of actor firms, combined with continually periodic awareness of the current and potential implications of environmental/water pollution, will play a major role in water conservation. This article reviews key publications on the adsorption, biological, and advanced oxidation processes used to remove pharmaceutical products from the aquatic environment. It also sheds light on the pharmaceutical adsorption capability of adsorption, biological and advanced oxidation methods, and their efficacy in pharmaceutical concentration removal. A research gap has been identified for researchers to explore in order to eliminate the problem associated with pharmaceutical wastes. Therefore, future study should focus on combining advanced oxidation and adsorption processes for an excellent way to eliminate pharmaceutical products, even at low concentrations. Biological processes should focus on ideal circumstances and microbial processes that enable the simultaneous removal of pharmaceutical compounds and the effects of diverse environments on removal efficiency.

Seasonal distribution of caffeine in the Bohai Sea, Yellow Sea, and estuaries of Yantai City, China

We employed a validated method to assess the seasonal variation and distribution of caffeine in the Bohai and Yellow Seas, as well as in Yantai urban estuaries and offshore region in northern China. Caffeine concentrations were highest during the summer in the Yellow Sea (1436.4 ng/L) and lowest in the Yantai urban offshore region during the spring and autumn and in the Yantai urban estuarine area and Bohai Sea during the winter (0.1 ng/L). There was significant variation in maximum caffeine levels among seasons across all regions examined, reaching a difference of 5980.5 times at the same sampling site between summer and winter. The caffeine concentration in the Yantai offshore region was significantly higher than in the Bohai and Yellow Seas. This study is the first investigation of seasonal fluctuations in the pollution levels of neurotoxic substances in the northern seas of China.

Hydroxylated transformation products of pharmaceutical active compounds: Generation from processes used in wastewater treatment plants and its environmental monitoring

Pharmaceutical active compounds (PhACs) are organic pollutants detected in wastewater and aquatic environments worldwide in concentrations ranging from ng L-1 to μg L-1. Wastewater effluents containing PhACs residues is discharged in municipal sewage and, subsequently collected in municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) where are not entirely removed. Thus, PhACs and its transformation products (TPs) are discharged into water bodies. In the current work, the transformation of PhACs under treatments used in municipal WWTPs such as biological, photolysis, chlorination, and ozonation processes was reviewed. Data set of the major transformation pathways were obtained of studies that performed the PhACs removal and TPs monitoring during batch-scale experiments using gas and liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (GC/LC-MS/MS). Several transformation pathways as dealkylation, hydroxylation, oxidation, acetylation, aromatic ring opening, chlorination, dehalogenation, photo-substitution, and ozone attack reactions were identified during the transformation of PhACs. Especially, hydroxylation reaction was identified as transformation pathway in all the processes. During the elucidation of hydroxylated TPs several isobaric compounds as monohydroxylated and dihydroxylated were identified. However, hydroxylated TPs monitoring in wastewater and aquatic environments is a topic scarcely studied due to that has no environmental significance, lack of available analytic standars of hydroxylated TPs and lack of analytic methods for their identification. Thus, screening strategy for environmental monitoring of hydroxylated TPs was proposed through target and suspect screening using GC/LC-MS/MS systems. In the next years, more studies on the hydroxylated TPs monitoring are necessary for its detection in WWTPs effluents as well as studies on their environmental effects in aquatic environments.

Prenatal caffeine exposure induces autism-like behaviors in offspring under a high-fat diet via the gut microbiota-IL-17A-brain axis

Prenatal caffeine exposure (PCE) is a significant contributor to intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) in offspring, which has been linked to an increased susceptibility to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) later in life. Additionally, a high-fat diet (HFD) has been shown to exacerbate ASD-like behaviors, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we first noted in the rat model of IUGR induced by PCE that male PCE offspring exhibited typical ASD-like behaviors post-birth, in contrast to their female counterparts. The female PCE offspring demonstrated only reduced abilities in free exploration and spatial memory. Importantly, both male and female PCE offspring displayed ASD-like behaviors when exposed to HFD. We further observed that PCE + HFD offspring exhibited damaged intestinal mucus barriers and disturbed gut microbiota, resulting in an increased abundance of Escherichia coli (E. coli). The induced differentiation of colonic Th17 cells by E. coli led to an increased secretion of IL-17A, which entered the hippocampus through peripheral circulation and caused synaptic damage in hippocampal neurons, ultimately resulting in ASD development. Our strain transplantation experiment suggested that E. coli-mediated increase of IL-17A may be the core mechanism of ASD with a fetal origin. In conclusion, PCE and HFD are potential risk factors for ASD, and E. coli-mediated IL-17A may play a crucial role in fetal-originated ASD through the gut-brain axis.

The Impacts of the Multispecies Approach to Caffeine on Marine Invertebrates

Caffeine is one of the most consumed substances by humans through foodstuffs (coffee, tea, drugs, etc.). Its human consumption releases a high quantity of caffeine into the hydrological network. Thus, caffeine is now considered an emergent pollutant sometimes found at high concentrations in oceans and seas. Surprisingly, little research has been conducted on the molecular responses induced by caffeine in marine organisms. We studied, in laboratory conditions, six phylogenetically distant species that perform distinct ecological functions (Actinia equina and Aulactinia verrucosa (cnidarians, predator), Littorina littorea (gastropod, grazer), Magallana gigas (bivalve, filter-feeder), and Carcinus maenas and Pachygrapsus marmoratus (crabs, predator and scavenger)) subjected to caffeine exposure. The antioxidant responses (catalase, CAT; glutathione peroxidase, GPx; superoxide dismutase, SOD), lipid peroxidation (MDA), and the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity were estimated when the organisms were exposed to environmental caffeine concentrations (5 μg/L (low), 10 μg/L (high)) over 14 days. Differential levels of responses and caffeine effects were noted in the marine invertebrates, probably in relation to their capacity to metabolization the pollutant. Surprisingly, the filter feeder (M. gigas, oyster) did not show enzymatic responses or lipid peroxidation for the two caffeine concentrations tested. The marine gastropod (grazer) appeared to be more impacted by caffeine, with an increase in activities for all antioxidative enzymes (CAT, GPx, SOD). In parallel, the two cnidarians and two crabs were less affected by the caffeine contaminations. However, caffeine was revealed as a neurotoxic agent to all species studied, inducing high inhibition of AChE activity. This study provides new insights into the sublethal impacts of caffeine at environmentally relevant concentrations in marine invertebrates.

Are early and young life stages of fish affected by paroxetine? A case study with Danio rerio

Paroxetine (PAR) is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant increasingly detected in surface waters worldwide. Its environmental presence raises concerns about the potential detrimental effects on non-target organisms. Thus, this study aimed to increase knowledge on PAR's potential environmental impacts, assessing the effects of commercial formulation (PAR-c) and active ingredient (PAR-a) on fish. Therefore, the short-term exposure effects of PAR-c and PAR-a were assessed on zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos/larvae to determine the most toxic formulation [through median lethal (LC50) and effective concentrations (EC50)]. PAR-c and PAR-a induced morphological abnormalities (scoliosis) in a dose-dependent manner from 96 hours post-fertilization onwards, suggesting the involvement of a fully functional biotransformation system. As PAR-c exhibited higher toxicity, it was selected to be tested in the subsequent stage (juvenile stage), which was more sensitive (lower LC50). PAR-c significantly decreased fish swimming activity and disrupted fish stress response. Overall, the results highlight the ability of PAR-c to adversely affect fish swimming performance, an effect that persisted even after exposure ceases (21-day depuration), suggesting that PAR-c may impair individual fitness.

Pharmaceuticals in hospital wastewaters: an analysis of the UBA's pharmaceutical database

The presence of pharmaceuticals in hospital wastewaters (HWW) has been a focus of interest for researchers in the last decades. Certain therapeutic classes, such as X-ray contrast media, broad-spectrum antimicrobials and cytotoxics among others, are mainly used in hospitals-health care facilities. This study is focused on available studies monitoring the presence of pharmaceuticals in HWW around the world. To that end, the last available version (v3. 2021) of the "Pharmaceuticals in the Environment" database published by the Federal German Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt) has been used. Almost half of all studies included (107) have been conducted in Europe. Pharmaceuticals have been monitored in HWW in 38 different countries across all five continents. The country with the greatest number of studies is Brazil (11), followed by Spain (8), China (7), and France (6). Our analysis revealed that 271 different pharmaceuticals have been detected at least once in HWW. The five drugs with more studies showing a positive detection are ciprofloxacin (38), sulfamethoxazole (36), diclofenac (34), ibuprofen (29), and trimethoprim (27). A total of 47 out of 271 drugs are considered in the NIOSH "Hazardous drug" list. However, monitoring data for some widely used drugs in hospital settings such as muscle relaxants, anesthetics, and antidotes is lacking. In conclusion, this study provides the first large-scale metadata analysis for the pharmaceuticals in HWW worldwide.

Sub-MIC antibiotics influence the microbiome, resistome and structure of riverine biofilm communities

The effects of sub-minimum inhibitory concentrations (sub-MICs) of antibiotics on aquatic environments is not yet fully understood. Here, we explore these effects by employing a replicated microcosm system fed with river water where biofilm communities were continuously exposed over an eight-week period to sub-MIC exposure (1/10, 1/50, and 1/100 MIC) to a mix of common antibiotics (ciprofloxacin, streptomycin, and oxytetracycline). Biofilms were examined using a structure-function approach entailing microscopy and metagenomic techniques, revealing details on the microbiome, resistome, virulome, and functional prediction. A comparison of three commonly used microbiome and resistome databases was also performed. Differences in biofilm architecture were observed between sub-MIC antibiotic treatments, with an overall reduction of extracellular polymeric substances and autotroph (algal and cyanobacteria) and protozoan biomass, particularly at the 1/10 sub-MIC condition. While metagenomic analyses demonstrated that microbial diversity was lowest at the sub-MIC 1/10 antibiotic treatment, resistome diversity was highest at sub-MIC 1/50. This study also notes the importance of benchmarking analysis tools and careful selection of reference databases, given the disparity in detected antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) identity and abundance across methods. Ultimately, the most detected ARGs in sub-MICs exposed biofilms were those that conferred resistance to aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, β-lactams, sulfonamides, and trimethoprim. Co-occurrence of microbiome and resistome features consistently showed a relationship between Proteobacteria genera and aminoglycoside ARGs. Our results support the hypothesis that constant exposure to sub-MICs antibiotics facilitate the transmission and promote prevalence of antibiotic resistance in riverine biofilms communities, and additionally shift overall microbial community metabolic function.

Fiberglass cloth coated by coffee ground waste-derived carbon quantum dots/titanium dioxide composite for removal of caffeine and other pharmaceuticals from water

Coffee ground waste from the coffee beverage preparation is mainly discarded and consequently ends up in landfill, which cause the contamination of caffeine in various environmental compartments. This study focuses on the upcycling of coffee-ground waste to carbon quantum dots (CQDs) for use as a modifying material to improve the visible light activity of titanium dioxide (TiO₂). The CQD solution was synthesized by hydrothermal method, which has an average size of 2.80 ± 0.63 nm. The CQDs/TiO₂ photocatalysts were prepared by combining CQD solutions at various amounts with sol-gel TiO₂ and then coated on the fiberglass cloths (FGCs). The photocatalytic application mainly focuses on the removal of caffeine from the water. The photocatalytic experiment was preliminary run in a simple batch reactor under visible light. The 5CQDs/TiO₂ coated FGC (5 mL of CQD solution/g of Ti-based on sol-gel) showed the best performance, and it was selected for the removal of caffeine and other pharmaceuticals (i.e., carbamazepine and ibuprofen) in the recirculating reactor. The removals of caffeine, carbamazepine, and ibuprofen after irradiation for 9 h were 82%, 88%, and 84%, respectively. The residual concentrations were significantly lower than the reported toxicity levels based on specific species. The changes in total organic carbon were observed, indicating the mineralization of pharmaceuticals in water. The 5CQDs/TiO₂ coated FGC showed good flexible performance. No obvious loss of activity was observed for five runs. The actual wastewater from the coffee pot cleaning process was also tested. The removal was 80% for caffeine and 86% for color in the unit of the American Dye Manufacturers Institute (ADMI).

Photodegradation fate of different dissociation species of antidepressant paroxetine and the effects of metal ion Mg2+: Theoretical basis for direct and indirect photolysis

Paroxetine (abbreviated as PXT) has been widely used as one of the standard antidepressants for the treatment of depression. PXT has been detected in the aqueous environment. However, the photodegradation mechanism of PXT remains unclear. The present study aimed to use density functional theory and time-dependent density functional theory to study the photodegradation process of two dissociated forms of PXT in water. The main mechanisms include direct and indirect photodegradation via reaction with ·OH and ¹O₂ and photodegradation mediated by the metal ion Mg²⁺. Based on the calculations, PXT and PXT-Mg²⁺ complexes in water are photodegraded mainly indirectly and directly. It was found that PXT and PXT-Mg²⁺ complexes were photodegraded by H-abstraction, OH-addition and F-substitution. The main reaction of PXT indirect photolysis is OH-addition reaction, while the main reaction of PXT⁰-Mg²⁺ complex is H-abstraction. All the reaction pathways of H-abstraction, OH-addition and F-substitution are exothermic. PXT⁰ reacts more readily with ·OH or ¹O₂ in water than PXT⁺. However, the higher activation energy of PXT with ¹O₂ indicates that the ¹O₂ reaction plays a minor role in the photodegradation pathway. The direct photolysis process of PXT includes ether bond cleavage, defluorination, and dioxolane ring-opening reaction. In the PXT-Mg²⁺ complex, the direct photolysis process occurs via a dioxolane ring opening. Additionally, Mg²⁺ in water has a dual effect on the direct and indirect photolysis of PXT. In other words, Mg²⁺ can inhibit or promote their photolytic reactions. Overall, PXT in natural water mainly undergo direct and indirect photolysis reactions with ·OH. The main products include direct photodegradation products, hydroxyl addition products and F-substitution products. These findings provide critical information for predicting the environmental behavior and transformation of antidepressants.

Paroxetine induced larva zebrafish cardiotoxicity through inflammation response

Paroxetine (PRX) is a common antidepressant drug which widely existence in natural environment. Numerous studies in the past few decades have focused on the beneficial effects of PRX on depression, however, the toxic properties and the potential mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, zebrafish embryos were exposed to 1.0, 5.0, 10 and 20 mg/L of PRX from 4 to 120-hour-post-fertilization (hpf), and it showed that PRX exposure caused adverse effects in zebrafish embryos, including decreased body length, blood flow velocity, cardiac frequency, cardiac output and increased burst activity and atria area. Meanwhile, the Tg (myl7: EGFP) and Tg (lyz: DsRed) transgenic zebrafish were used to detect the cardiotoxicity and inflammation response of PRX. Moreover, the heart development associated genes (vmhc, amhc, hand2, nkx2.5, ta, tbx6, tbx16 and tbx20) and inflammatory genes (IL-10, IL-1β, IL-8 and TNF-α) were up-regulated after PRX challenge. In addition, Aspirin was used to alleviate the PRX-induced heart development disorder. In conclusion, our study verified the PRX induced inflammatory related cardiotoxicity in larva zebrafish. Meanwhile, the current study shown the toxic effects of PRX in aquatic organism, and provide for the environmental safety of PRX.

A review of hybrid enzymatic-chemical treatment for wastewater containing antiepileptic drugs

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological diseases worldwide and requires treatment with antiepileptic drugs for many years or for life. This fact leads to the need for constant production and use of these compounds, placing them among the four pharmaceutical classes most found in wastewater. Even at low concentrations, antiepileptics pose risks to human and environmental health and are considered organic contaminants of emerging concern. Conventional treatments have shown low removal of these drugs, requiring advanced and innovative approaches. In this context, this review covers the results and perspectives on (1) consumption and occurrence of antiepileptics in water, (2) toxicological effects in aquatic ecosystems, (3) enzymatic and advanced oxidation processes for degrading antiepileptics drugs from a molecular point of view (biochemical and chemical phenomena), (4) improvements in treatment efficiency by hybridization, and (5) technical aspects of the enzymatic-AOP reactors.

Enhanced hydrolytic removal of tylosin in wastewater using polymer-based solid acid catalysts converted from polystyrene

Antibiotic production wastewater usually contains high concentrations of antibiotic residues, which can cause instability and deterioration of biological wastewater treatment units and also domestication and proliferation of antibiotic-resistance bacteria. An effective pretreatment on antibiotics production wastewater is expected to selectively reduce the concentration of antibiotics and decrease the toxicity, rather than mitigate organic and other contaminants before further treatments. In this work, two polymer-based solid acids, PS-S and CPS-S bearing high concentrations of -SOH₃ groups (up to 4.57 mmol/g), were prepared and successfully used for hydrolytic mitigation of 100 mg/L tylosin within 20 min. The co-existence of high concentrations of COD and humic substances did not affect the mitigation of tylosin obviously, while more than 500 mg/L of nitrogenous compounds suppressed the hydrolytic efficiency. Recycle and reuse experiments showed that the solid acids performed well in five cycles after regeneration. Three transformation products (P1, P2 and P3) were identified using UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS. Sugar moieties including mycarse, mycaminose, and mycinose detached and released simultaneously or in order from the 16-member lactone ring through desugarization, which led to a dramatic decrease in antibacterial activity as revealed by cytotoxicity evaluations using S. aureus. Ecotoxicity estimation indicated the acute toxicities of the hydrolyzed products to model species (e.g., fish, daphnid and green algae) were classified as "not harmful". This work suggested an effective and selective method to pretreat tylosin-contained production wastewater by using polymer-based solid acids. These results will shed light on effective elimination of antibiotics pollution from pharmaceutical industries through strengthening the pretreatments.

A Tiered Ecological Risk Assessment of Caffeine by Using Species Sensitivity Distribution Method in the Nansi Lake Basin

Caffeine has been reported toxic to aquatic organisms, and it frequently occurs at relatively high concentrations in most of surface waters. However, it is difficult to control caffeine pollution because of the lack of Water Quality Criteria (WQC). In this study, species sensitivity distribution method and Log-normal model were applied to derive caffeine WQC as 83.7 ng/L. Meanwhile, concentrations of caffeine in the Nansi Lake basin were detected in 29 sampling sites, with the mean of 99.3 ng/L. The levels of caffeine in tributaries were higher than those in the lakes. In addition, a tied ecological risk assessment method was applied to assess the adverse effect of caffeine on aquatic system. The joint probability curve indicated that ecological risk might exist 3.1% of surface water in the study area, while 5% threshold (HC₅) was set up to protect aquatic species. Generally, caffeine posted a low risk to aquatic organisms in the Nansi Lake basin.

Ex-situ magnetic activated carbon for the adsorption of three pharmaceuticals with distinct physicochemical properties from real wastewater

Pharmaceuticals are able to evade conventional wastewater treatments and therefore, are recurrently found in the environment with proven potential to cause harm to human and wildlife. Adsorption onto activated carbon (AC) is a promising complement. However, AC production from non-renewable resources and its difficult after-use recuperation are prohibitive. Hence, a waste-based magnetic activated carbon (MAC) was produced from paper mill sludge, via an ex-situ synthesis, for the adsorptive removal of carbamazepine (CBZ), sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and ibuprofen (IBU) from ultrapure water and wastewater. The MAC was obtained through the promotion of electrostatic interactions between magnetic and activated carbon particles in a water suspension at controlled pH between the points of zero charge of both surfaces. The optimized condition (MACX3) presented remarkable properties regarding specific surface area (S_BET=795 m² g^-1) and saturation magnetization (M_S=19 emu g^-1). Kinetic and equilibrium adsorption studies were performed under batch conditions. Adsorption equilibrium was reached in up to 30 min for all pharmaceuticals in both matrices, proving the low dependence on the adsorbate and the broad applicability of MACX3 in pharmaceutical adsorption. Regarding equilibrium experiments, high Langmuir maximum adsorption capacities (q_m) were achieved in ultrapure water (up to 711 ± 40 µmol g^-1). Equilibrium studies in wastewater revealed a decay in q_m when compared to ultrapure water: 28% for CBZ (468 ± 20 µmol g^-1 (111 ± 5 mg g^-1)), 78% for SMX (145 ± 10 µmol g^-1 (37 ± 3 mg g^-1)) and 62% for IBU (273 ± 8 µmol g^-1 (56 ± 2 mg g^-1)), attributed to the wastewater pH, which dictates the speciation of the pharmaceuticals and controls electrostatic interactions between pharmaceuticals and MAC, and to competition effects by organic matter. It was demonstrated the promising applicability of a waste-based ex-situ MAC, rapidly retrievable from water, as an alternative tertiary wastewater treatment for pharmaceuticals removal.

Long and Short Duration Exposures to the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) Fluoxetine, Paroxetine and Sertraline at Environmentally Relevant Concentrations Lead to Adverse Effects on Zebrafish Behaviour and Reproduction

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are currently the most prescribed class of psychotropic medications. Their increased global manufacture and use have become growing concerns for aquatic toxicologists and environmental biologists, who assess both the direct and indirect effects of substances on the environment and on human health. In order to assess the potential impact of environmentally relevant levels of SSRIs on fish development, behaviour and reproduction, we exposed juvenile and adult zebrafish to a select group of SSRIs using two separate exposure paradigms. In the first paradigm, juvenile zebrafish were exposed to Fluoxetine (Prozac), Paroxetine (Paxil), Sertraline (Zoloft) or a mixture of the three beginning at environmentally relevant levels (10 µg/L) for 135 days (long-term exposure) beginning at 5 days post fertilization (dpf). In the second paradigm, adult zebrafish were exposed to matching concentrations of the same SSRIs for 35 days (short-term exposure). The long-term exposure paradigm proved to have little to no overt effect on growth or development at sub-lethal concentrations (10 and 100 µg/L). However, both the stress/anxiety response (novel tank tests) and reproduction (fecundity and fertility) were dramatically reduced. Importantly, the short-term exposure of reproductively mature fish led to similar adverse effects on both the stress response and reproduction. Following both the short and long duration exposure paradigms, a 2-week washout period led to a small reduction in the adverse effects. These findings highlight the potential for SSRIs to negatively impact population dynamics in zebrafish and may be of particular value should they be found in other fish species in the environment.

Enhanced decomposition of caffeine by water plasma combined with mist generator: Effect of operational parameter and decomposition pathway

Water plasma coupled with mist generator was introduced to perform the decomposition of caffeine (CAF) wastewater. The mist-shaped water molecule was directly used for plasma-forming gas with no additional gas. The influence of arc current on the decomposition of CAF was elucidated in detail. With the increase of input power from 0.8 to 1.1 kW according to arc current, the removal efficiency of total organic carbon (TOC) and CAF increased, reaching 91.1 and 99.8% at 9.5 A, respectively. H₂, CO, CO₂, and N₂ were major effluent gaseous species, of which the H₂ generation was more than 40% for all conditions. The concentration of nitrate in the effluent liquids was the highest at 9.5 A due to a higher oxidation environment. The H, O, and OH as reactive species formed via the dissociation of water molecules were demonstrated, and the plasma temperatures were at over 5000 K. The detailed decomposition pathway was deduced based on eleven intermediate products identified in this process. Electron impact and hydroxyl radical were found to take leading roles in the decomposition of CAF.

Paracetamol degradation pathways in soil after biochar addition

Little is known about the effect of biochar on the degradation of paracetamol in soil, considering the ubiquity of this pollutant in the environment. Given the importance of the electrochemical properties of biochar for contaminant remediation, we investigated the influence of raw and designer redox-active biochars on paracetamol degradation in soil. Metabolite quantification indicated that a minimum of 53% of the spiked paracetamol was transformed in biochar-amended soil, resulting in the accumulation of different degradation products. The identification of these products allowed us to chart paracetamol degradation pathways in soil with and without biochar amendment. Some of the major degradation routes were observed to proceed via catechol and phenol, despite being previously described as having only a minor role in paracetamol metabolism. Additionally, a new transformation route from paracetamol to NAPQI was discovered in anaerobic soil originating from direct redox reactions on the surface of the designer biochars. These results may contribute to change our understanding of the environmental fate of paracetamol in soil and the role of biochar in its biodegradation.

Occurrence and Fate of Triclosan and Triclocarban in Selected Wastewater Systems across Durban Metropolis, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Triclosan (TCS) and triclocarban (TCC) are antimicrobial agents that have been used in personal care and consumer products in the past decades. In this study, influent, effluent, and sludge samples collected in selected wastewater treatment plants across the Durban metropolis were qualitatively and quantitatively investigated. It was revealed that the concentration of TCS ranged from 1.906 to 73.462 µg/L, from 1.732 to 6.980 µg/L, and from 0.138 to 2.455 µg/kg in influent, effluent, and sludge samples, respectively. The concentrations of TCC were found to be between 0.320 and 45.261 µg/L, <LOQ−1.103 µg/L, and from 0.107 to 8.827 µg/kg in the influent, effluent, and sludge samples, respectively. Higher concentrations of TCS as compared with TCC were observed in the aqueous samples. However, the concentrations of TCC in the sludge samples were significantly higher than the level of TCS. More water solubility of TCS could be responsible for the observed trend in the influent and effluent samples, while the trend observed in the sludge could be due to the more hydrophobicity character of TCC. The results of this study indicated that substantial amounts of TCS and TCC are been removed during the treatment process which could be a major reason for the decline in the levels recorded in the effluent samples, therefore, reducing the amount of the TCS and TCC that would eventually end up in the surface rivers. Qualitative analyses of the samples indicated the presence of caffeine, tert-butylhydroquinone, chloroxylenol, phenol, 4-(1,1,3,3-tetramethyl butyl), and dimethyl-bisphenol A. Further investigative ecological risk assessment studies are crucial due to the potential threat the contaminants may pose to aquatic lives and humans.

Large-scale assessment of organic contaminant emissions from chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing into Swiss surface waters

This study presents a nation-wide assessment of the influence of chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing (CPM) wastewaters on synthetic organic contaminant (SOC) emissions to Swiss surface waters. Geographic Information System (GIS) based analysis of the presence of CPM in wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) catchments revealed wide distribution of this industrial sector across Switzerland, suggesting that one-third of the 718 Swiss WWTPs may be influenced by CPM wastewaters. To reflect the diversity of this type of wastewaters, we investigated the effluents of 11 WWTPs of diverse sizes and technologies, which treated 0-100% wastewater from a variety of CPM activities. In an extensive sampling campaign, we collected temporally high resolved (i.e., daily) samples for 2-3 months to capture the dynamics of CPM discharges. The > 850 samples were then measured with liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). Non-target characterization of the LC-HRMS time series datasets revealed that CPM wastewaters left a highly variable and site-specific signature in the effluents of the WWTPs. Particularly, compared to WWTPs with purely domestic input, a larger variety of substances (up to 15 times more compounds) with higher maximum concentrations (1-2 orders of magnitude) and more uncommon substances were found in CPM-influenced effluents. Moreover, in the latter, highly fluctuating discharges often contributed to a substantial fraction of the overall emissions. The largely varying characteristics of CPM discharges between different facilities were primarily related to the type of activities at the industries (i.e., production versus processing of chemicals) as well as to the pre-treatment and storage of CPM wastewaters. Eventually, for one WWTP, LC-HRMS time series were correlated with ecotoxicity time series obtained from bioassays and major toxic components could be identified. Overall, in view of their potential relevance to water quality, a strong focus on SOC discharges from CPM is essential, including the design of situation-specific monitoring, as well as risk assessment and mitigation strategies that consider the variability of industrial emissions.

Occurrence, detection and ecotoxicity studies of selected pharmaceuticals in aqueous ecosystems- a systematic appraisal

Pharmaceutical compounds (PCs) have globally emerged as a significant group of environmental contaminants due to the constant detection of their residues in the environment. The main scope of this review is to fill the void of information on the knowledge on the African occurrence of selected PCs in environmental matrices in comparison with those outside Africa and their respective toxic actions on both aquatic and non-aquatic biota through ecotoxicity bioassays. To achieve this objective, the study focused on commonly used and detected pharmaceutical drugs (residues). Based on the conducted literature survey, Africa has the highest levels of ciprofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole, lamivudine, acetaminophen, and diclofenac while Europe has the lowest of all these PC residues in her physical environments. For ecotoxicity bioassays, the few data available are mostly on individual groups of pharmaceuticals whereas there is sparsely available data on their combined forms.

Ciprofloxacin and acetaminophen sorption onto banana peel biochars: Environmental and process parameter influences

Environmental (pH, temperature ionic strength, cations, anions) and process (pyrolysis temperature, particle size, adsorbent dosage, initial concentration) parameters were evaluated for ciprofloxacin and acetaminophen sorption onto a series of sustainable banana peel biochars. Ciprofloxacin and acetaminophen were chosen as model pharmaceuticals for removal owing to their worldwide presence in aquatic systems. After pyrolytic preparation from 450 to 750 °C, the biochars were qualitatively and quantitatively characterized by physicochemical, morphological, mineralogical and elemental analyses. Batch sorption studies were employed to evaluate the pH effects from 2 to 10, biochar pyrolysis temperatures (450, 550, 650, and 750 °C), particle sizes (30-50, 50-100, 100-150 BSS mesh), adsorbent dosages (0.5, 1.0, 2.0 g/L), adsorbate concentrations (0.5-200 ppm) and uptake temperatures (10, 25, 40 °C) on sorption efficiency. Maximum pharmaceutical sorption is achieved by the biochar prepared at 750 °C. Sorption rate increased with decrease in biochar particle size from 30 to 50 to 100-150 BSS mesh. Relationships between biochar properties and their sorptive potential showed positive correlations with surface area, total pore volume, %C, %ash and C/N molar ratios. Sorption data was modelled using different isotherm models and both kinetic and thermodynamic equations. Maximum Langmuir capacities of ciprofloxacin and acetaminophen on BPBC750 were 23.3 and 40.8 mg/g at 10 °C; 21.0 and 49.93 mg/g at 25 °C and 20.42 and 57.3 mg/g at 45 °C, respectively. Langmuir isotherm fittings and thermodynamic parameters confirmed the exothermic sorption (for ciprofloxacin) and endothermic sorption (for acetaminophen). The role of ionic strength, cations and anions on pharmaceuticals sorption were evaluated. H-bonding, π-π-interactions and pore diffusion were major contributors to pharmaceutical sorption.

Superior Technique for the Production of Agarose Dressing Containing Sericin and Its Wound Healing Property

Finding a simple and eco-friendly production technique that matches to the natural agent and results in a truly valuable natural scaffold production is still limited amongst the intensively competitive natural scaffold development. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop natural scaffolds that were environmentally friendly, low cost, and easily produced, using natural agents and a physical crosslinking technique. These scaffolds were prepared from agarose and sericin using the freeze-drying method (D) or freeze-thawing together with the freeze-drying method (TD). Moreover, plasticizers were added into the scaffold to improve their properties. Their physical, mechanical, and biological properties were investigated. The results showed that scaffolds that were prepared using the TD method had stronger bonding between sericin and other compounds, leading to a low swelling ratio and low protein release of the scaffolds. This property may be applied in the development of further material as a controlled drug release scaffold. Adding plasticizers, especially glycerin, into the scaffolds significantly increased elongation properties, leading to an increase in elasticity of the scaffold. Moreover, all scaffolds could activate cell migration, which had an advantage on wound healing acceleration. Accordingly, this study was successful in developing natural scaffolds using natural agents and simple and green crosslinking methods.

Pharmaceuticals in source waters of 95 First Nations in Canada

OBJECTIVES

Pharmaceuticals are emerging contaminants in the environment. Little has been published about the presence of pharmaceuticals in waterbodies nearby or on reserve land of First Nations in Canada. The objectives of this study were to (1) quantify the level of pharmaceuticals in First Nations' surface waters, (2) calculate the human health risks of the mixtures found, and (3) measure the exposure to pharmaceuticals in First Nations' drinking water where source water was highly contaminated.

METHODS

This participatory study measured the levels of 43 pharmaceuticals from surface water samples taken at three water sampling sites chosen by the 95 participating First Nations. The sites were in proximity to recreational areas, fishing areas, drinking water sources, and/or wastewater outflows. When elevated levels of pharmaceutical mixtures were found in samples, drinking water samples were obtained and analyzed for potential pharmaceuticals. Human health risks were calculated by an established protocol.

RESULTS

In total, 432 samples were collected at 302 water sampling sites (285 surface water, 11 drinking water, and 6 wastewater sites). Quantifiable levels of 35 pharmaceuticals were found in 79 of the 95 (83%) participating First Nations at 193 of the 285 surface water sites (68%). Overall, the levels found were comparable to or lower than those found in other studies in Canada and worldwide.

CONCLUSION

In almost all participating First Nations, there is no human health risk from consuming surface water for drinking. However, surface water in the vicinity of major urban centres should not be used as secondary untreated water sources due to the elevated human health risk associated with exposure to the mixtures of multiple pharmaceuticals detected.

Quantification of Active Ingredient Losses from Formulating Pharmaceutical Industries and Contribution to Wastewater Treatment Plant Emissions

In this work, emissions of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) from formulating pharmaceutical industries (FPIs) were investigated for the first time based on detailed production information and compared to overall API emissions in wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents. At two municipal WWTPs, both receiving wastewater from several FPIs, two months' daily effluent samples were collected and measured using liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). Thirty-three APIs formulated during the sampling period as well as >120 organic contaminants commonly present in WWTP effluents were quantified. On the basis of their time patterns and manufacturing data, industrial contributions were found for 22 of 26 APIs (85%) detected in the samples and processed by the FPIs. API emissions from FPIs led to daily concentration increases of up to 300-fold, despite pretreatment of the industrial wastewater. However, emissions from FPIs seemed to depend on the type of formulating activity, with granulation and mixing being most prone to API losses. Losses from FPIs were responsible for the highest concentrations and for up to 60% of the daily total API emissions measured. Furthermore, screening for suspects in LC-HRMS data resulted in the detection of unexpected emissions from FPIs, demonstrating the value of these data to comprehensively assess industrial API losses. Overall, this study showed that FPIs were relevant contributors of APIs emitted in the WWTP effluents, although only a minor fraction (<1%) of the total processed API quantity was lost to the wastewater, and despite the small percentage (<5%) of FPI wastewater compared to the total wastewater flow.

Quantification of selected pharmaceutical compounds in water using liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS)

The detection and quantitation of pharmaceutical compounds (PCs) in different environmental matrices is still a challenge, due to their extremely low (ng-μg) concentrations and the lack of rapid and sensitive analytical techniques. A number of techniques, such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), chromatography, electrophoresis, and electrochemical methods have been explored. These methods are limited by their poor sensitivity. In this study, a hyphenated liquid chromatography-mass spectrometric (LC-MS) method was developed, validated, and tested for the detection and quantification of seven active pharmaceutical compounds, with solid-phase extraction for analytes recovery and separation of interference from the aqueous matrix. The sensitivity achieved for the method allowed for LODs (μg/L) of 0.0439, 0.0684, 0.1219, 0.0710, 0.1129, 0.0447, 0.0837 and LOQs (μg/L) of 0.1462, 0.2281, 0.4065, 0.2367, 0.3763, 0.1492, 0.2792, for lamivudine, acetaminophen, vancomycin, ciprofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole, diclofenac, and ivermectin, respectively, within a linear range of 0.01-0.1 μg/mL. Other ICH validation parameters are also discussed. The different PCs were positive in 61 % of the tested surface waters, with diclofenac present only in two of the sampling points. The concentrations at which they occurred were variable and ranged between ND and 398.98 μg/L.

Occurrences of benzalkonium chloride in streams near a pharmaceutical manufacturing complex in Korea and associated ecological risk

Benzalkonium chloride (BKC) is a commonly used preservative in personal care products and pharmaceutical preparations. However, its ecological risks are not well understood because of lack of monitoring data and ecotoxicological information. In the present study, occurrence of BKC was investigated in the waters near a pharmaceutical manufacturing complex of South Korea and its acute and chronic ecotoxicities were evaluated using Daphnia magna and Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes). Associated ecological risks were estimated by calculating hazard quotients (HQs). In addition, endocrine disruption potency of BKC was compared with those of other frequently used preservatives using human adrenal (H295R) and rat pituitary (GH3) cells. High concentration of BKC was detected at locations near the pharmaceutical manufacturing plants, i.e., 35.8 μg/L for dodecyl benzyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (BKC-C₁₂), and 21.6 μg/L tetradecyl benzyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (BKC-C₁₄). In Daphnia, 48 h immobilization EC₅₀ and 21 d reproduction NOEC were determined at 41.1 μg/L and ≥10.8 μg/L, respectively. For O. latipes, 96 h LC₅₀ was determined at 246 μg/L while the growth inhibition NOEC was ≥113.4 μg/L following early life stage exposure. BKC significantly up-regulated vitellogenin gene of juvenile fish, indicating its endocrine disrupting potential in fish. Exposure to BKC increased steroid hormone level in H295R cells, and induced cytotoxicity in GH3 cells. HQ values of BKC were determined at greater than one in the ambient water near pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities. Considering high ecological risk and endocrine disrupting potential, long-term consequences of BKC contamination in aquatic ecosystem need to be examined.

Occurrence of caffeine in the freshwater environment: Implications for ecopharmacovigilance

Owing to the substantial consumption of caffeinated food, beverages, and medicines worldwide, caffeine is considered the most representative pharmaceutically active compound (PhAC) pollutant based on its high abundance in the environment and its suitability as an indicator of the anthropogenic inputs of PhACs in water bodies. This review presents a worldwide analysis of 132 reports of caffeine residues in freshwater environments. The results indicated that more than 70% of the studies reported were from Asia and Europe, which have densely populated and industrially developed areas. However, caffeine pollution was also found to affect areas isolated from human influence, such as Antarctica. In addition, the maximum concentrations of caffeine in raw wastewater, treated wastewater, river, drinking water, groundwater, lake, catchment, reservoir, and rainwater samples were reported to be 3.60 mg/L, 55.5, 19.3, 3.39, 0.683, 174, 44.6, 4.87, and 5.40 μg/L, respectively. The seasonal variation in caffeine residues in the freshwater environment has been demonstrated. In addition, despite the fact that there was a small proportion of wastewater treatment plants in which the elimination rates of caffeine were below 60%, wastewater treatment is generally believed to have a high caffeine removal efficiency. From a pharmacy perspective, we proposed to adopt effective measures to minimize the environmental risks posed by PhACs, represented by caffeine, through a new concept known as ecopharmacovigilance (EPV). Some measures of EPV aimed at caffeine pollution have been advised, as follows: improving knowledge and perceptions about caffeine pollution among the public; listing caffeine as a high-priority PhAC pollutant, which should be targeted in EPV practices; promoting green design and production, rational consumption, and environmentally preferred disposal of caffeinated medicines, foods, and beverages; implementing intensive EPV measures in high-risk areas and during high-risk seasons; and integrating EPV into wastewater treatment programs.

Impacts of multi-year field exposure of agricultural soil to macrolide antibiotics on the abundance of antibiotic resistance genes and selected mobile genetic elements

Exposure of environmental bacteria to antibiotics may be increasing the global resistome. Antibiotic residues are entrained into agricultural soil through the application of animal and human wastes, and irrigation with reclaimed water. The impact of a mixture of three macrolide antibiotics on the abundance of selected genes associated with antibiotic resistance and genetic mobility were determined in a long-term field experiment undertaken in London, Canada. Replicated plots received annual applications of a mixture of erythromycin, clarithromycin and azithromycin every spring since 2010. Each antibiotic was added directly to the soil at a concentration of either 0.1 or 10 mg kg soil^-1 and all plots were cropped to soybeans. By means of qPCR, no gene targets were enriched in soil exposed to the 0.1 mg kg soil^-1 dose compared to untreated control. In contrast, the relative abundance of several gene targets including int1, sul2 and mphE increased significantly with the annual exposure to the 10 mg kg soil^-1 dose. By means of high-throughput qPCR, numerous gene targets associated with resistance to aminoglycosides, sulfonamides, trimethoprim, streptomycin, quaternary ammonium chemicals as well as mobile genetic elements (tnpA, IS26 and IS6100) were detected in soil exposed to 10 mg kg soil^-1, but not the lower dose. Overall, exposure of soil to macrolide antibiotics increased the relative abundance of numerous gene targets associated with resistance to macrolides and other antibiotics, and mobile genetic elements. This occurred at an exposure dose that is unrealistically high, but did not occur at the lower more realistic exposure dose.

Assessing Emissions from Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Based on Temporal High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry Data

This study presents a nontarget approach to detect discharges from pharmaceutical production in municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents and to estimate their relevance on the total emissions. Daily composite samples were collected for 3 months at two WWTPs in Switzerland, measured using liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry, and time series were generated for all features detected. The extent of intensity variation in the time series was used to differentiate relatively constant domestic inputs from highly fluctuating industrial emissions. We show that an intensity variation threshold of 10 correctly classifies compounds of known origin and reveals clear differences between the two WWTPs. At the WWTP receiving wastewater from a pharmaceutical manufacturing site, (i) 10 times as many potential industrial emissions were detected as compared to the WWTP receiving purely domestic wastewater; (ii) for 11 pharmaceuticals peak concentrations, >10 μg/L and up to 214 μg/L were quantified, which are clearly above typical municipal wastewater concentrations; and (iii) a pharmaceutical not authorized in Switzerland was identified. Signatures of potential industrial emissions were even traceable at the downstream Rhine monitoring station at a >4000-fold dilution. Several of them occurred repeatedly, suggesting that they were linked to regular production, not to accidents. Our results demonstrate that small wastewater volumes from a single industry not only left a clear signature in the effluents of the respective WWTP but also influenced the water quality of one of Europe's most important river systems. Overall, these findings indicate that pharmaceutical production is a relevant emission source even in highly developed countries with a strong focus on water quality, such as Switzerland.

Risks of caffeine residues in the environment: Necessity for a targeted ecopharmacovigilance program

Due to the huge consumption of caffeinated food, beverages and medicines around the world, caffeine has been considered as a most representative pharmaceutically active compound (PhAC) pollutant based on its high abundance in environment and its indicator property for anthropogenic inputs of PhACs to water bodies. This review analyzed the existing literature about the bioaccumulation and environmental risks of caffeine residues in non-target organisms. There are 6 studies which were published in the last 5 years have reported the distribution of caffeine in tissues of aquatic organisms including fishes, clams, macroalgae and other aquatic plants, suggesting bioaccumulation of caffeine in organisms. The maximum detected levels of caffeine residues in tissues ranged from 1.55 to 344.9 ng/g. Importantly, definitive evidences have been provided that environmentally relevant caffeine concentrations exert adverse impacts on aquatic species and terrestrial insects, which included lethality, decreasing general stress, inducing oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation, affecting energy reserves and metabolic activity, neurotoxic effects, affecting reproduction and development, etc. In view of the severity and potential adverse impacts of caffeine pollution in the environment, we proposed that caffeine should be considered as a high-priority environmentally hazardous PhAC pollutant, and it is necessary to implement an ecopharmacovigilance (EPV) program targeting caffeine to minimize its environmental load from a pharmacy perspective.

Antibiotics in wastewater from multiple sources and surface water of the Yangtze River in Chongqing in China

Antibiotic contamination attracts growing concerns because of their deleterious effects on the ecosystem and human health. In this study, 43 antibiotics in wastewater from a variety of sources and water of the Yangtze River in Chongqing City in western China were measured. Thirty compounds were detected, and their concentrations were highest in leachates from the municipal solid waste treatment facilities (landfills and incineration plants) with total concentrations of 3584-57,106 ng/L. The total concentrations in influents of municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) were comparable (401-7994 ng/L versus 640-8945 ng/L). The concentrations in raw sewage from swine farms (with a total of 10,219-39,195 ng/L) and poultry farms (1419-36,027 ng/L) were noticeably higher than those from other farms (54.0-5516 ng/L). Fluoroquinolones were the dominant antibiotics contributing over 50% in all the sources, and sulfonamides and imidazole fungicides contributed 3.2-34%, whereas tetracyclines and macrolides had minor contributions. The overall antibiotic removal rates were highest in solid waste treatment facilities (88% on average), comparable between municipal and industrial WWTPs (61%), and lowest in animal farms (39%). The mass loads to the investigated municipal WWTPs via influent wastewater ranged from 7.80 to 1531 kg/year (53.2-2482 μg/day per capital). The influent mass loads to the industrial WWTPs and farms were 3.7-50 kg/year and 0.9-5437 g/year, respectively. We estimated that the mass inventories of antibiotics from these sources to the environment via effluent discharges were approximately 2044 kg for municipal WWTPs, 61 kg for industrial WWTPs, and 34 kg for animal farms in the whole city. Antibiotic concentrations in the Yangtze River water were substantially low (< 492 ng/L, with a mean of 57.8 ng/L) suggesting dissipation during the movement.

The final discharge: Quantifying contaminants in embalming process effluents discharged to sewers in ontario, Canada

The process of embalming human remains as part of the funeral home industry, entails replacing blood with embalming fluid. Typically the unused/excess fluids are disposed of directly to the sewershed or septic system. The presence of select contaminants in sewer discharges from 8 funeral homes (facilities) in York Region, Ontario during active embalming processes was studied. A wide range of contaminants including embalming fluids (formaldehyde and triclosan); metals, conventional parameters, persistent organic pollutants (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, pesticides, and polychlorinated byphenyls), nonyl phenols and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) were measured in the final embalming effluent and compared to regulatory sewer limits where available. Two main constituents of embalming fluids-formaldehyde and triclosan-were detected at maximum concentrations of 561,000 μg/L and 505 μg/L respectively. Other persistent organic pollutants detected in embalming effluent included banned pesticides lindane (83 ng/L) and metabolites of DDT (DDE; 2,300 ng/L). Elevated APIs found in over-the-counter drugs and products were also frequently detected at elevated concentrations (oxybenzone, hydrocortisone, lidocaine, naproxen, ibuprofen, ciprofloxacin and DEET). Most contaminants did not exceed regulatory sewer limits where available, however others including biochemical oxygen demand (cBOD₅) and conventional parameters were consistently above regulatory limits. Large amounts of formaldehyde and triclosan may pose a risk to receiving sewersheds and receiving sewage treatment plants due to their antimicrobial activities.

Science-based Targets for Antibiotics in Receiving Waters from Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Operations

In 2016, the United Nations declared the need for urgent action to combat the global threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In support of this effort, the pharmaceutical industry has committed to measures aimed at improving the stewardship of antibiotics both within and outside the clinic. Notably, a group of companies collaborated to specifically address concerns related to antibiotic residues being discharged from manufacturing sites. In addition to developing a framework of minimum environmental expectations for antibiotic manufacturers, science-based receiving water targets were established for antibiotics discharged from manufacturing operations. This paper summarizes the holistic approach taken to derive these targets and includes previously unpublished, company-generated, environmental toxicity data.