Pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment

Abstract

Pharmaceutical residues are found as contaminants in sewage, surface, ground and drinking water. Drug residues originating from therapeutical use in human medical care are discharged into the aquatic system from municipal sewage treatment plants which act as point sources for surface water contaminations. Wherever contaminated surface water is used for groundwater recharge in drinking water production, the drug contaminants can also cause problems to drinking water supplies. Until now, the environmental assessment for this new class of contaminants is not clear or even regulated.