Pharmaceuticals in the Environment: Current knowledge and need assessment to reduce presence and impact
Abstract
This book puts together the current knowledge and emphasises questions that deserve attention such as:
- What is the spectrum of most relevant pharmaceutical products (PP's) for the aquatic environment? Which indicators for supporting environmental managers, health authorities?
- What is the efficiency of urban and industrial sewage treatment plants over a year? What is the fate and behaviour of PP's in sewage treatment plants? If receiving waters are used for potable water supplies, does the presence of these compounds represent a potential hazard to human health?
- Could we solve some problems by environmental or cleaner technologies?
- What regulatory approaches, incentives, prevention actions can be implemented in order to lower PP's concentration in the environment? Does a European practical guidance can be developed?
- Can the impacts of PPs on the environment be reduced through the use of eco-pharmaco-stewardship approaches including the use of clean synthesis, classification and labelling, and better communication of methods of ‘good practice’?
- How can we better monitor the environmental impact of a pharmaceutical once it has received a marketing authorisation?