1. Pharmaceuticals in Drinking Water: What Needs to be Done
Will Pelland and Sam Navarro
ERHS 220
Abstract
Pharmaceuticals contain natural or synthetic active chemicals
that can provide a benefit to the user when used correctly. These
can be obtained over the counter, by prescription or illicitly.
Recently, pharmaceuticals have been detected at higher levels in
our drinking water which has warranted concern from communities
around the globe. Both human and veterinary drugs have leeched
their way from wastewater into the drinking water supply by the
path of excretion or incorrect disposal. Since these drugs are water
soluble, most water treatment plants are unequipped to remove
them effectively (See Figure 1).
Future Recommendations
The problem of pharmaceuticals in the water
supply has not warranted enough concern from the
scientific community to make rapid corrections in water
treatment facilities to remove these active chemicals.
More research must be done to conclude one way or
another that low levels of persisting pharmaceuticals in
the water supply is detrimental to human and
environmental health. Since cost is a motivating factor
for cities to upgrade facilities, the methods needed to
remove pharmaceuticals need to be more cost efficient.
In addition to fixing out of date water treatment facilities,
preventative measures need to be put in place to
educate the public on proper disposal of unused
pharmaceuticals.
In summary, pharmaceuticals leeching into the
water supply needs to be addressed by:
● More research on the effects of low dose exposure of
active pharmaceutical chemicals.
● Lower the cost of current advanced water treatment
methods.
● Educate the public on the effects of improper
disposal to avoid compounding the issue.
Types of Treatment
Conventional systems use coagulation, flocculation
and filtration to remove most compounds found in
municipal wastewater. However, due to their soluble
nature, pharmaceuticals are able to pass through these
mechanisms without being removed. More advanced
systems involve chlorine disinfection, Ozone ionization,
Ultraviolet light and hydrogen peroxide, and activated
carbon. These systems are proven to be effective at
removing 50-90% of active pharmaceutical
components.
Methods of Detection
There are several analytical methods to determine the active
components of pharmaceuticals in water. This includes gas
chromatography with mass spectrometry, tandem mass
spectrometry as well as liquid chromatography with mass
spectrometry. These methods are capable of detecting levels as low
as in the parts per billion level. Liquid chromatography is
appropriate when detecting polar solvents in water. Gas
chromatography is going to detect the more volatile compounds
present in the water supply.
Sources of Contamination
Lakes and rivers have wildlife that are exposed to large portions
of pharmaceuticals. This surface water exposure leads to exposure
of ground water aquifers which is the main source of drinking water.
Municipal wastewater is also a source of pharmaceutical
contamination due to the improper disposal of these active
chemicals by residents. It requires a very significant capital
investment to aquire the necessary equipment to remove these
soluble chemicals from the drinking water, and is not feasible for
most communities due to the upfront investment needed as well as
the energy demand required by these machines (see figure 1)
Effects on the Environment
Due to how recent the research has been on low level
exposures of pharmaceuticals in the water supply, the available
data is not conclusive enough to make these changes. Some
pharmaceuticals have been shown to persist in the environment for
extended periods of time, others have been shown to degrade
quickly. However, there has been a steady influx of these chemicals
into the water supply due to human and veterinary drugs. With
aquatic life being the primary exposed ecosystem, there are
concerns that the chemicals will bioaccumulate and persist into the
food supply. This would increase risk by increasing the dose
exposure to humans.
Sources:
1. "Pharmaceuticals in Drinking-water." World Health Organization. World Health Organization, 2012. Web.
<http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/44630/1/9789241502085_eng.pdf?ua=1>.
2. "Something in the Water." Something in the Water. Royal Society of Chemistry, n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2016.
<http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/Issues/2008/September/SomethingInTheWater.asp>.
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