title: Derivation of water quality standards for carbamazepine, metoprolol, and metformin and comparison with monitoring data.
abstract: Environmental quality standards (EQSs) for 3 pharmaceuticals in surface water were derived: carbamazepine (epilepsy), metoprolol (heart failure), and metformin (diabetes). In recent years, these pharmaceuticals have been detected frequently in Dutch surface waters. The proposed standards are based on ecotoxicity data from national and European authorization dossiers and additional information obtained from open literature. The methods used are in accordance with the methodology of the Water Framework Directive and national frameworks for risk limit derivation. Only the exposure route regarding direct ecotoxic effects on ecosystems could be taken into account for deriving EQSs. The exposure route of secondary poisoning of fish-eating animals was not triggered, and not enough data were available or accessible to derive an EQS for the exposure of humans due to consumption of fish. Monitoring data for surface waters worldwide show that the proposed quality standards for carbamazepine may be exceeded. It could be expected that when carbamazepine use increases or effluents are diluted less during dry seasons, standards will be exceeded more often.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Caroline T A
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Moermond
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: C Els
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Smit
mesh_terms: D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D017753:Ecosystem; D054750:Ecotoxicology; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D008687:Metformin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D008790:Metoprolol / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D023382:Toxicity Tests, Acute; D036401:Toxicity Tests, Chronic; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D060753:Water Quality / Q000592:standards*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002220:Carbamazepine; D008687:Metformin; D008790:Metoprolol
keywords: Hazard/risk assessment; Monitoring; Pharmaceuticals; Water quality standards