Do concentrations of ethinylestradiol, estradiol, and diclofenac in European rivers exceed proposed EU environmental quality standards?
This study used a geographic based water model to predict the environmental concentrations of three pharmaceuticals, 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2), 17β-estradiol (E2), and diclofenac throughout European rivers. The work was prompted by the proposal of the European Community (COM(2011)876) to consider these chemicals as candidates for future control via environmental quality standards (EQS). National drug consumption information, excretion, national water use, and sewage removal rates, were used to derive per capita sewage effluent values for the European countries . For E2, excretion rates of the natural hormone and national demographics were also included. Incorporating this information into the GWAVA model allowed water concentrations throughout Europe's rivers to be predicted. The mean concentration from the expected sewage discharge scenario indicated that 12% by length of Europe's rivers would reach concentrations greater than the proposed 0.035 ng/L EQS for EE2. For several countries, between a quarter and a third of their total river length would fail such an EE2 EQS. For E2, just over 1% by length of rivers would reach concentrations greater than the 0.4 ng/L proposed EQS, while just over 2% by length of rivers would reach concentrations greater than the proposed EQS of 100 ng/L for diclofenac.
Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, OX10 8BB, United Kingdom.
Andrew C
AC
Johnson
Egon
E
Dumont
Richard J
RJ
Williams
Rik
R
Oldenkamp
Iwona
I
Cisowska
John P
JP
Sumpter
D004008:Diclofenac / Q000032:analysis*; D004777:Environment; D004958:Estradiol / Q000032:analysis*; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000032:analysis*; D005060:Europe; D005062:European Union; D005843:Geography; D012015:Reference Standards; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry*; D012722:Sewage; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D012722:Sewage; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D004008:Diclofenac; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D004958:Estradiol