Relating Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products in Biosolids to Home Exposure. Issue 1 (23rd May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brown, Sally; Kennedy, Laura; Cullington, Mark; Mihle, Ashley; Lono‐Batura, Maile
• Is Part Of: Urban agriculture & regional food systems. Volume 4:Issue 1(2019)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 14
• Publication Date: 2019-05-23
• Subjects: Urban agriculture -- Periodicals; Agriculture -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Agriculture -- Economic aspects -- Periodicals; Agriculture -- Economic aspects; Agriculture -- Social aspects; Urban agriculture; Periodicals; 338.17
• DOI: 10.2134/urbanag2018.12.0005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2575-1220

Abstract

Abstract : Municipal biosolids and composts are used on agricultural soils and in urban areas. Greater visibility has resulted in increased concerns about the presence of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in these materials. Scientific studies have concluded minimal potential for human health risk. Effective communication tools can express these results to the general public. Exposure assessment modeling was used to develop non‐scientific risk communication for select PPCPs in biosolids. The equivalent of one therapeutic dose or 1 d home exposure was used. The exposure pathways included direct ingestion of biosolids, dermal absorption, drinking runoff from biosolids, and eating crops grown in biosolids. Values for biosolids‐PPCP concentrations were derived from peer‐reviewed literature and a voluntary sampling. In the highest exposure case, it would take 1.5 d for a child playing in biosolids compost to reach an equivalent to 1 d of home exposure to bisphenol A (BPA). However, concentrations of BPA were below detection (500 µg kg −1 ) in three of four biosolids composts sampled. For all other compounds modeled, it would take years (triclosan) to millennia (acetaminophen, fluoxetine, ibuprofen, azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, ofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole) of exposure to biosolids to reach the equivalent of one therapeutic dose or a 1 d home exposure.