TY - JOUR
T1 - Pharmaceuticals released from senior residences
T2 - occurrence and risk evaluation
AU - Lacorte, Silvia
AU - Luis, Silvia
AU - Gómez-Canela, Cristian
AU - Sala-Comorera, Teresa
AU - Courtier, Audrey
AU - Roig, Benoit
AU - Oliveira-Brett, Ana Maria
AU - Joannis-Cassan, Claire
AU - Aragonés, Juan Ignacio
AU - Poggio, Lucia
AU - Noguer, Thierry
AU - Lima, Luisa
AU - Barata, Carlos
AU - Calas-Blanchard, Carole
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2017, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany.
PY - 2018/3/1
Y1 - 2018/3/1
N2 - One of the main pursuits, yet most difficult, in monitoring studies is to identify the sources of environmental pollution. In this study, we have identified health-care facilities from south European countries as an important source of pharmaceuticals in the environment. We have estimated that compounds consumed in by the elderly and released from effluents of senior residences can reach river waters at a concentration higher than 0.01 μg/L, which is the European Medicines Agency (EMA) threshold for risk evaluation of pharmaceuticals in surface waters. This study has been based on five health institutions in Portugal, Spain, and France, with 52 to 130 beds. We have compiled the pharmaceuticals dispensed on a daily base and calculated the consumption rates. From 54.9 to 1801 g of pharmaceuticals are consumed daily, with laxatives, analgesics, antiepileptics, antibiotics, and antidiabetic agents being the main drug families administered. According to excretion rates, dilution in the sewerage system, and elimination in wastewater treatment plants, macrogol, metformin, paracetamol, acetylcysteine, amoxicillin, and gabapentin, among others, are expected to reach river waters. Finally, we discuss the risk management actions related to the discharge of pharmaceuticals from senior residences to surface waters.
AB - One of the main pursuits, yet most difficult, in monitoring studies is to identify the sources of environmental pollution. In this study, we have identified health-care facilities from south European countries as an important source of pharmaceuticals in the environment. We have estimated that compounds consumed in by the elderly and released from effluents of senior residences can reach river waters at a concentration higher than 0.01 μg/L, which is the European Medicines Agency (EMA) threshold for risk evaluation of pharmaceuticals in surface waters. This study has been based on five health institutions in Portugal, Spain, and France, with 52 to 130 beds. We have compiled the pharmaceuticals dispensed on a daily base and calculated the consumption rates. From 54.9 to 1801 g of pharmaceuticals are consumed daily, with laxatives, analgesics, antiepileptics, antibiotics, and antidiabetic agents being the main drug families administered. According to excretion rates, dilution in the sewerage system, and elimination in wastewater treatment plants, macrogol, metformin, paracetamol, acetylcysteine, amoxicillin, and gabapentin, among others, are expected to reach river waters. Finally, we discuss the risk management actions related to the discharge of pharmaceuticals from senior residences to surface waters.
KW - Health care institutions
KW - Pharmaceuticals
KW - Predicted environmental concentrations
KW - Risk management
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85026909075&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=pure_univeritat_ramon_llull&SrcAuth=WosAPI&KeyUT=WOS:000426571000003&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=WOS_CPL
U2 - 10.1007/s11356-017-9755-1
DO - 10.1007/s11356-017-9755-1
M3 - Article
C2 - 28748440
AN - SCOPUS:85026909075
SN - 0944-1344
VL - 25
SP - 6095
EP - 6106
JO - Environmental Science and Pollution Research
JF - Environmental Science and Pollution Research
IS - 7
ER -