Model-predicted occurrence of multiple pharmaceuticals in Swedish surface waters and their flushing to the Baltic Sea. (April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lindim, C.; van Gils, J.; Cousins, I.T.; Kühne, R.; Georgieva, D.; Kutsarova, S.; Mekenyan, O.
• Is Part Of: Environmental pollution. Volume 223(2017)
• Page Start: 595
• Page End: 604
• Publication Date: 2017-04
• Subjects: Pharmaceuticals contamination -- Baltic sea -- Swedish rivers -- Modelling -- STREAM-EU; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Effets physiologiques -- Périodiques; Pollution; Pollution -- Environmental aspects; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.73
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2017.01.062
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-7491

Abstract

Abstract: An exposure assessment for multiple pharmaceuticals in Swedish surface waters was made using the STREAM-EU model. Results indicate that Metformin (27 ton/y), Paracetamol (6.9 ton/y) and Ibuprofen (2.33 ton/y) were the drugs with higher amounts reaching the Baltic Sea in 2011. 35 of the studied substances had more than 1 kg/y of predicted flush to the sea. Exposure potential given by the ratio amount of the drug exported to the sea/amount emitted to the environment was higher than 50% for 7 drugs (Piperacillin, Lorazepam, Metformin, Hydroxycarbamide, Hydrochlorothiazide, Furosemide and Cetirizine), implying that a high proportion of them will reach the sea, and below 10% for 27 drugs, implying high catchment attenuation. Exposure potentials were found to be dependent of persistency and hydrophobicity of the drugs. Chemicals with Log D > 2 had exposure potentials <10% regardless of their persistence. Chemicals with Log D < −2 had exposure potentials >35% with higher ratios typically achieved for longer half-lives. For Stockholm urban area, 17 of the 54 pharmaceuticals studied had calculated concentrations higher than 10 ng/L. Model agreement with monitored values had an r 2 = 0.62 for predicted concentrations and an r 2 = 0.95 for predicted disposed amounts to sea. Graphical abstract: Highlights: An exposure assessment for pharmaceuticals in water was done with STREAM-EU model. 35 drugs had predicted flushes to the sea higher that 1 kg/y. In Stockholm 25 drugs had predicted concentrations >1 ng/L with 17 drugs >10 ng/L. Persistence + hydrophobicity determined long-range transport and exposure potential.