The Effects of Pharmaceutical Pollution
“In some cases, 50 to 90 percent of an administered drug may be excreted from the body in its original, or biologically active, form” (Raloff, 2005, ¶ 5).
“Pharmaceuticals are now easily found in drinking water supplies of almost every major city in the world, however science is just beginning to understand the damage this is doing to the environment” (Bound & Voulvoulis, 2004, p. 1143).
In leaching tests conducted, Thomas (2004) found that “acidic pharmaceuticals (ibuprofen, naproxen, ketoprofen, mefenamic acid, and diclofenac), caffeine and the antibacterial triclosan were abundant in soil tests“ (p. 1969).
Unfortunately, the risks associated with occurrence of pharmaceuticals in the environment are mostly unknown. The long-term effects of subtle and chronic changes, additive or synergistic effects and effects on other endpoints (e.g. reproduction, behavior, metabolism, bacterial resistance, etc.) are still uncertain (Sanderson, Johnson, Wilson, Brain, and Solomon, 2003, p. 384). However, research studies seem to agree that aquatic life is measurably affected by pharmaceuticals (Ferrari et al., 2004).
The effects of pharmaceutical pollution are not at all new to the world of science. Chemists, biologists and environmentalists have been studying this phenomenon for some time. Indeed, scientists have made great strides in protecting the environment by advocating for policy changes in commercial farming. For some reason, however, little information has been communicated between health care and science, even though health care waste is a substantial contributor to environmental pollution.
The effect this chemical soup has on the environment depends on the type of pharmaceutical pollution and the extent of its accumulation. However, it cannot be argued that drugs tailored towards treating humans are now inadvertently treating other organisms such as plankton, invertebrates, fish, birds, and mammals. At this time, the most pressing concerns include:
- Antibiotics and antibiotic resistance.
- Because of the vast quantities of antibiotics being prescribed, there is a chronic, low-level antibiotic treatment of the environment.
- The concern is that this practice is creating general antibiotic resistance, and encouraging "superbugs" such as virulent strains of salmonella that can be deadly to humans and difficult to treat.
- Those superbugs typically are spread to consumers through contaminated meat, but people who drink from private wells also are vulnerable. (Raloff, 1998).
· Hormone replacement therapy.
o In heavily populated
o Until recently, it was thought that the estrogens in birth control pills were rendered inactive by the body because the kidneys tack on an extra sugar molecule before they are excreted, but now scientists have learned bacteria in sewage treatment plants chew off that sugar molecule.
o William Owens, a toxicologist who researched estrogen patches for Procter & Gamble, has found male fish that were producing eggs. After he found the compound estradiol in the fish tissue, he concluded estrogens from birth control pills were part of the problem.
o Other documented concerns: asexual invertebrates and hermaphroditic marine animals. (Boxall, 2004).
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The Effects of Mercury Pollution
It is estimated that 98 % of the mercury in the atmosphere is emitted via human activities, contaminated soil and water, and natural sources (i.e. granite and other geological deposits) (Environment Canada, 2004). The amount of mercury released into the atmosphere has increased thanks to the manufacturing of mercury-containing products by humans. Consequently, the increase of atmospheric mercury has led to higher levels of mercury in our land, water, and many living species.
Once released into the atmosphere, mercury enters the global mercury cycle and is eventually wet (rainfall) or dry deposited in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. It is then converted to a more toxic form, known as methylmercury, by bacterial action in lakes, rivers, and wetlands (Environment Canada). Methylmercury bioaccumulates in fish and shellfish and increases in concentration as it travels up the food chain eventually reaching humans (Environment Canada). Methylmercury is easily absorbed by living organisms and has a number of serious health consequences.
The Effects of Dioxin Pollution
According to Environment Canada (2005) major sources of dioxin pollution in
- Municipal solid waste
- Hazardous or medical waste
- Industrial incinerators
- Utility boilers
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