Greta Jimenez
Pharmaceutical pollution is a complex environmental issue that has the potential to unbalance ecosystems. Pharmaceuticals are designed to be slow to degrade or non-degradable, which is problematic when they enter the environment. The release of pharmaceuticals into the environment can occur during drug manufacturing, via excretion from humans or animals after consumption, through the use of pharmaceuticals on plants, and via the improper disposal of unused drugs. This has led to pharmaceuticals being detected in drinking water, waste-water, sewage, and soils. To tackle this issue, there have been calls for improved wastewater treatment, the development of ''green' pharmaceuticals, and the implementation of consistent and evidence-based regulations for the management of medicinal product waste.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Pharmaceutical pollution solutions | Improving wastewater treatment |
| Bioremediation | |
| Green chemistry and benign-by-design pharmacology | |
| Upstream management options | |
| Source-directed and use-oriented measures | |
| Proper safeguards to avoid antibiotics in agricultural irrigation | |
| Water purification before irrigation | |
| Advanced treatment of reclaimed water | |
| Stormwater treatment | |
| Biofilters | |
| Global cooperation and information sharing | |
| Regulation of medicinal waste | |
| Monitoring of pharmaceuticals in sewage sludge and manure | |
| Research and development of new treatments |
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What You'll Learn
Improving wastewater treatment and sharing the financial costs
Improving wastewater treatment is a crucial step in addressing pharmaceutical pollution. Pharmaceuticals are designed to be biologically active at low concentrations, and even small amounts can have significant ecological impacts. Conventional wastewater treatment methods often fail to completely eliminate pharmaceutical residues, leading to their presence in surface water, groundwater, and drinking water. As a result, there is a growing interest in developing alternative treatments, such as biological transformation and bioremediation.
Bioremediation, for instance, offers several advantages over traditional methods. It requires less hazardous chemicals, energy, and time, and it is relatively inexpensive. Moreover, bioremediation chemically transforms the pollutants rather than merely shifting them from one environment to another. However, one criticism of bioremediation is that the remediation speed may not always meet the required treatment capacity. Nevertheless, ongoing research and development aim to optimize efficiency and reduce retention times.
Another approach to improving wastewater treatment is through the use of activated sludge, which employs bacterial consortia for remediation. While this method has been widely adopted, operational challenges related to sludge production have prompted the exploration of alternative bacterial consortia, including microalgae and bacterial-microalgae combinations. Additionally, fungi-based remediation techniques, such as those utilizing white-rot fungi, have shown exceptional capacity for degrading recalcitrant pollutants.
To effectively address pharmaceutical pollution, it is essential to allocate financial responsibility to the appropriate parties. EurEau, representing European national WWTP operators, advocates for the "polluter pays" principle, arguing that the primary responsibility for managing and bearing the costs of pharmaceutical pollution should fall on polluting actors, including pharmaceutical producers, regulators, healthcare providers, and patients, rather than WWTP operators. This approach not only assigns responsibility where it is due but also incentivizes upstream actors to reduce polluting behaviour and adopt more sustainable practices.
Implementing these improved wastewater treatment methods and ensuring financial accountability can be challenging and costly. To address these challenges, global cooperation and information sharing among governments and organizations are necessary. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), for instance, is working on a scoping and mapping exercise to gather information about environmentally persistent pharmaceutical pollutants, including their presence in wastewater and applicable legislation. This collective effort will help identify hotspots requiring immediate attention and inform research and action to address pharmaceutical pollution effectively.
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Regulating the emission of pharmaceuticals into the environment
The presence of pharmaceuticals in the environment is a growing concern, with a global review showing that over 600 different active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) have been detected, some at levels that pose a high risk to the environment. These APIs are released during human and veterinary consumption of drugs, with between 30 and 90% of an oral dose excreted in urine as an active substance. The environmental impact of pharmaceuticals is significant, with potential chronic exposure for water organisms and the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a major threat to human health.
To regulate the emission of pharmaceuticals into the environment, several measures can be implemented:
Legislation and Policy
There is a need for specific regulations and policies to manage medicinal product waste and monitor pharmaceuticals in sewage, manure, and the environment. This includes improving wastewater treatment and distributing associated financial costs, as well as implementing the "'polluter pays' principle," holding pharmaceutical producers, regulators, healthcare providers, and patients accountable.
International Cooperation and Research
Global cooperation and information sharing among stakeholders and policymakers are essential to understanding and mitigating pharmaceutical pollution. This includes research into the entire process, from production to consumption and disposal, as well as the development of alternative treatments and bioremediation techniques.
Pharmaceutical Design
The concept of "benign-by-design pharmacology" and green chemistry aims to create pharmaceuticals that are more biodegradable and environmentally friendly. This includes re-designing drugs for quicker aerobic biodegradation and developing "smart drugs" that target specific receptors, reducing the environmental impact of lower doses.
Water Treatment and Safeguards
Advanced treatment of reclaimed water used for irrigation, potable water, and bottled water is crucial to lowering pharmaceutical content below risk concentrations. Proper safeguards should be established to prevent the unintended entry of antibiotics into agriculture via irrigation by reclaimed wastewater.
Wastewater Initiatives and Infrastructure
Initiatives such as the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Initiative (PSCI) and the AMR Industry Alliance demonstrate the industry's commitment to tackling pharmaceutical pollution. Implementing green infrastructure practices and using biofilters can help remove nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater. However, more advanced technology is likely needed to effectively eliminate pharmaceuticals from stormwater and wastewater.
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Developing green chemistry and benign-by-design pharmacology
The pharmaceutical industry is highly innovative and competitive, with rapidly growing production and sales. However, the environmental impact of pharmaceutical production and consumption has become a significant concern. Pharmaceutical pollution has been detected in drinking water, wastewater, sewage sludge, and soils, with over 600 active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) found in the environment. The presence of pharmaceuticals, particularly antibiotics, in the environment contributes to the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), posing a severe threat to human health.
To address this issue, the concept of "green chemistry" or "benign-by-design pharmacology" offers a promising solution. Green chemistry aims to reduce or eliminate the use and production of harmful feedstocks, products, by-products, solvents, and reagents during the drug development process. This involves selecting materials with less environmental impact, minimizing waste, optimizing processes to reduce resource use, and adopting renewable and safer alternatives.
Pfizer, for example, has been at the forefront of implementing green chemistry principles. They prioritize the use of computational methods and high-throughput screening to select compounds, utilize greener solvents and reaction conditions, and implement innovative techniques like flow chemistry to minimize waste. Additionally, they focus on designing molecules with reduced toxicity and improved biodegradability, ensuring that their medicines have a lower environmental impact throughout their entire chemical lifecycle.
The adoption of green chemistry principles in drug discovery and development offers significant advantages. It enables the pharmaceutical industry to develop safer and more effective drugs while reducing their environmental footprint. This approach promotes sustainability, improves efficiency, enhances safety, and helps address societal equity concerns by reducing the use of precious metals mined in countries with exploitative labor practices.
By integrating green chemistry practices, the industry can minimize resource consumption, waste generation, and the use of hazardous chemicals. This not only benefits the environment but also aligns with the "'polluter pays' principle," where pharmaceutical producers, regulators, healthcare providers, and patients are held responsible for managing and bearing the costs associated with pharmaceutical pollution.
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Bioremediation and mycoremediation systems
Bioremediation is an effective solution to pharmaceutical pollution, which is a growing global concern due to the excessive use of medication. Conventional treatment plants are often ineffective in removing emerging contaminants (ECs) such as pharmaceuticals, which are considered ECs due to the lack of regulation for their disposal and unknown long-term effects.
Bioremediation offers a cost-effective, eco-friendly, and efficient approach to treating pharmaceutical pollution in wastewater. It chemically transforms the pollutant, preventing it from being transferred to another environment. This method also requires less input of hazardous chemicals, energy, and time compared to other technologies.
Mycoremediation, a type of bioremediation, utilizes the unique capabilities of fungi to degrade pollutants. White-rot fungi, in particular, possess ligninolytic and cytochrome P450 systems that enable them to break down diverse chemical structures of pharmaceuticals. Additionally, many fungal species are hyperaccumulators, capable of absorbing and bioaccumulating xenobiotics from their surroundings, as demonstrated by mushrooms.
The adaptability of fungi makes them more resilient to environmental changes than other bioremediation organisms. Mycoremediation has been shown to reduce the toxicity of wastewater, offering a promising solution to address the presence of pharmaceuticals in aquatic environments.
To address pharmaceutical pollution effectively, it is essential to implement coordinated approaches and consistent evidence-based actions. This includes improving wastewater treatment and distributing associated financial costs across water consumers or taxpayers.
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Global cooperation and information-sharing
Pharmaceutical pollution is a complex issue that has the potential to disrupt ecosystems and impact both human and environmental health. It is a global problem that requires a coordinated and collaborative approach involving various sectors of society.
One example of global cooperation is the United Nations Environment Programme's (UNEP) initiative on Environmentally Persistent Pharmaceutical Pollutants (EPPPs). UNEP is working with the Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC) to provide evidence-based assistance to governments and address the issue of EPPPs. As part of this initiative, a scoping and mapping exercise is being developed to collect and compile information on EPPPs, including their presence in wastewater, applicable legislation, and stakeholders involved. This information will help identify 'hotspots' and priority areas for action, enabling UNEP and other organizations to focus their efforts effectively.
In addition to UNEP and IOMC, other organizations such as the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Initiative (PSCI) and the AMR Industry Alliance are also committed to tackling pharmaceutical pollution. These initiatives provide a platform for sharing best practices and promoting sustainable practices within the pharmaceutical industry.
Furthermore, global cooperation can also facilitate the development and implementation of consistent regulations and standards for pharmaceutical production, use, and disposal. Currently, there is a lack of specific regulations for the management of medicinal product waste, and the responsibility for addressing pharmaceutical pollution is not always clear. By working together, countries can establish international agreements and frameworks that outline the responsibilities of pharmaceutical producers, regulators, healthcare providers, and patients in reducing pharmaceutical pollution.
Information-sharing among countries and organizations is also crucial in addressing pharmaceutical pollution. Sharing data, research findings, and technological advancements can help improve the understanding of the environmental impacts of pharmaceuticals and identify effective mitigation measures. For example, the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities, led by UNEP, includes a multi-stakeholder wastewater initiative that focuses on exchanging knowledge and best practices for wastewater treatment. By sharing information and expertise, countries and organizations can learn from each other and develop more effective strategies to reduce pharmaceutical pollution in the environment.
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