title: Emerging contaminants in Belgian marine waters: single toxicant and mixture risks of pharmaceuticals.
abstract: Knowledge on the effects of pharmaceuticals on aquatic marine ecosystems is limited. The aim of this study was therefore to establish the effect thresholds of pharmaceutical compounds occurring in the Belgian marine environment for the marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum, and subsequently perform an environmental risk assessment for these substances. Additionally, a screening-level risk assessment was performed for the pharmaceutical mixtures. No immediate risk for acute toxic effects of these compounds on P. tricornutum were apparent at the concentrations observed in the Belgian marine environment. In two Belgian coastal harbours however, a potential chronic risk was observed for the β-blocker propranolol. No additional risks arising from the exposure to mixtures of pharmaceuticals present in the sampling area could be detected. However, as risk characterization ratios for mixtures of up to 0.5 were observed, mixture effects could emerge should more compounds be taken into account.
authors: Ghent University, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, J. Plateaustraat 22, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium. michiel.claessens@dupont.com
authors: Michiel
authors: M
authors: Claessens
authors: Lynn
authors: L
authors: Vanhaecke
authors: Klaas
authors: K
authors: Wille
authors: Colin R
authors: CR
authors: Janssen
mesh_terms: D001530:Belgium; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000032:analysis*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical