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Derivation of water quality standards for carbamazepine, metoprolol, and metformin and comparison with monitoring data
Author(s) -
Moermond Caroline T.A.,
Smit C. Els
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1002/etc.3178
Subject(s) - carbamazepine , environmental science , ecotoxicity , surface water , water framework directive , water quality , european union , environmental health , epilepsy , medicine , business , environmental engineering , biology , toxicity , ecology , psychiatry , economic policy
Environmental quality standards (EQSs) for 3 pharmaceuticals in surface water were derived: carbamazepine (epilepsy), metoprolol (heart failure), and metformin (diabetes). In recent years, these pharmaceuticals have been detected frequently in Dutch surface waters. The proposed standards are based on ecotoxicity data from national and European authorization dossiers and additional information obtained from open literature. The methods used are in accordance with the methodology of the Water Framework Directive and national frameworks for risk limit derivation. Only the exposure route regarding direct ecotoxic effects on ecosystems could be taken into account for deriving EQSs. The exposure route of secondary poisoning of fish‐eating animals was not triggered, and not enough data were available or accessible to derive an EQS for the exposure of humans due to consumption of fish. Monitoring data for surface waters worldwide show that the proposed quality standards for carbamazepine may be exceeded. It could be expected that when carbamazepine use increases or effluents are diluted less during dry seasons, standards will be exceeded more often. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:882–888. © 2015 SETAC