Medical residue in water: what are the impacts and solutions?
How do medicines end up in our water and can we stop it? Euronews
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Tackling the Environmental Impact of Pharmaceuticals: A Report on Sustainable Solutions
Introduction
Taking a painkiller to cure a headache might seem quite harmless. But many of the medicines we take can have far-reaching impacts on the environment, wildlife, and potentially our own health.
The Problem: Pharmaceutical Residues in Water
From the moment they are manufactured, pharmaceutical drugs can pollute our aquatic ecosystems and even our tap water. Currently, residue levels in the water are low, but the problem is bound to get bigger as our use of medicine rises inexorably.
One of the main sources of this pollution in urban water systems is us… or more precisely, what comes out of us. “I think that people are not aware that the pharmaceuticals they eat, they leave the body and they go out with the wastewater and it’s not cleaned,” says Elin Engdahl, senior policy officer for chemicals at the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation.
Pharmaceuticals are made to resist. First, in their packaging, to ensure that when they get to us, they are just as effective. Then, they also need to resist in our body, so they don’t disintegrate straight after being swallowed and have time to act. “That means they will reach the environment as a fairly persistent substance,” explains Stefan Berggren, the director of the Swedish Knowledge Centre for Pharmaceuticals in the Environment.
Depending on the medication, between 30% to 90% of the active compounds in the pharmaceuticals we swallow are not fully absorbed by our body and end up in nature. The situation is even worse for topical treatments, such as painkiller creams that we put on our skin. “It basically rinses off and only 5% to 6% get into your body,” explains Berggren.
Medicines flushed down the drain or the toilet also enter the water intact, contributing to that pollution. At a wider level, the water generated by hospitals and pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities also contains various pharmaceutical compounds. These drug residues are then carried through our water systems to wastewater treatment plants. However, the complex chemical composition of some medicines makes them difficult to eliminate through conventional treatment processes, such as activated sludge. As of today, most wastewater treatment plants lack the capability to remove pharmaceutical residues entirely.
Impact on Ecosystems and Human Health
While levels of these drug residues are generally low when they come out of treatment plants, they can still be toxic to aquatic life and potentially to humans. Studies around the world have shown pharmaceutical residues can disrupt the normal functioning of organisms, impair growth and development, and interfere with reproduction and behavior.
Some pharmaceuticals, such as hormones and antidepressants, can have particularly profound effects on aquatic organisms. This can lead to population decline and disrupt the natural balance of ecosystems. Oral contraceptives, for instance, have caused the feminization of fish and amphibians, which is when males grow female egg cells and reproductive ducts in their testes. This “intersex” mutation can compromise their reproductive capacity which can have consequences for population levels.
It’s not only ecosystems that are impacted. “We also have these pharmaceuticals in our drinking water, especially if we take the water from surface water,” explains Engdahl. A study from 2016 detected more than 100 different pharmaceutical substances in the aquatic environments of several European countries. In Germany and Spain, more than 30 different pharmaceuticals were detected in tap water. While the direct health effects on humans are not yet fully understood and more research is needed, prolonged exposure to even low levels of pharmaceuticals through drinking water consumption raises concerns. Engdahl warns that children could be most at risk.
Contributing to Antibiotic Resistance
When antibiotics, along with other medicines administered to animals, end up in manure or are released through runoff from agricultural fields, there is a risk that they will seep into the ground and contaminate the water. Once in the water, bacteria with prolonged exposure to antibiotics can become resistant. The environment then acts as a reservoir for these resistant organisms where they can develop and spread. The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) estimates that 33,000 people die in Europe each year as a direct result of antibiotic resistance.
Sustainable Solutions
Enhanced wastewater treatment technologies, like those tested at the Uppsala plant, are being developed and explored. These include additional filtration steps such as activated carbon filtration and ozonation, an advanced oxidation process using ozone, which can effectively remove most pharmaceutical compounds. At the European level, the European Commission has proposed that major wastewater treatment plants install a fourth cleaning step to target emerging pollutants such as antibiotics.
Tackling the problem at the root requires working on the entire life cycle of pharmaceuticals. This includes developing green pharmaceuticals, promoting eco-friendly prescriptions, improving wastewater treatment plants, and implementing proper collection and disposal methods. Responsible medication use, reduction of antibiotics in farming, safe practices in manure storage and usage, and patient education by healthcare professionals and pharmacists are also crucial in reducing the environmental impact of medicines.
Ultimately, addressing pharmaceutical pollution requires collaboration between healthcare providers, individuals, pharmaceutical companies, and regulatory bodies to promote responsible medication use, improve manufacturing practices, enhance wastewater treatment, and foster the development of eco-friendly pharmaceuticals.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
- SDG 14: Life Below Water
- SDG 15: Life on Land
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- SDG 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials.
- SDG 14.1: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, particularly from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution.
- SDG 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Indicator for SDG 6.3: Proportion of bodies of water with good ambient water quality
- Indicator for SDG 14.1: Marine pollution index
- Indicator for SDG 15.1: Proportion of important sites for terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity that are covered by protected areas
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation | 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials. | Proportion of bodies of water with good ambient water quality |
| SDG 14: Life Below Water | 14.1: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, particularly from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution. | Marine pollution index |
| SDG 15: Life on Land | 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services. | Proportion of important sites for terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity that are covered by protected areas |
4. Detailed Explanations:
The issues highlighted in the article are connected to SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), and SDG 15 (Life on Land).
Under SDG 6, the target identified is 6.3, which aims to improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping, and minimizing the release of hazardous chemicals and materials. The article discusses the pollution of water systems with pharmaceutical residues, which can have negative impacts on aquatic ecosystems and potentially human health.
For SDG 14, the target identified is 14.1, which focuses on preventing and significantly reducing marine pollution from land-based activities. The article highlights how pharmaceutical residues can enter water systems and contribute to marine pollution, affecting the normal functioning of organisms and disrupting ecosystems.
Under SDG 15, the target identified is 15.1, which aims to ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems. The article emphasizes the need to address pharmaceutical pollution to protect biodiversity and maintain the natural balance of ecosystems.
The indicators mentioned in the article that can be used to measure progress towards these targets include the proportion of bodies of water with good ambient water quality (indicator for SDG 6.3), the marine pollution index (indicator for SDG 14.1), and the proportion of important sites for terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity that are covered by protected areas (indicator for SDG 15.1).
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Source: euronews.com
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