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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Pharmaceuticals (PhACs) are a class of emerging contaminants that have, in recent years, been associated with potential risks for the environment (Fent, Weston & Caminada, 2006). Pharmaceutical substances are often engineered for persistence, so they remain unaltered as they pass through the organism. This leads to the persistence of these substances when they are excreted, leading to potential environmental problems (European Environment Agency, 2010). Residues of pharmaceuticals have been detected at trace quantities in aquatic systems, with studies finding over 80 PhACs from various prescription classes in sewage, surface and groundwater, in several countries all over the world (Heberer, 2002). These facts make the evaluations of potential effects of pharmaceuticals on ecosystems relevant and necessary. Acute aquatic toxicity has been more extensively studied since aquatic organisms are more easily identifiable as important targets, as they might be exposed to wastewater over their whole life. However, only little is known about the ecotoxicological effects of pharmaceuticals on terrestrial organisms (Fent et al., 2006). Residues of PhACs may reach the terrestrial environment through several sources/routes (Heberer, 2002) but, since removal of PhACs in Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) is many times not efficient, contamination comes mostly from applying contaminated sludge in agriculture.
Description
Keywords
Pharmaceuticals Aquatic toxicity
Citation
Moreira, I., Silva, C., Barros, P., & Nunes, M. (2014). Toxicological assessment of ibuprofen, paracetamol and metformin in terrestrial ecosystems. ICEH14 /3rd International Congress of Environmental Health: Proceedings Book, 1, 248–250.
Publisher
Área Científica da Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde do Instituto Politécnico do Porto