title: Toxicological and ecotoxicological risk-based prioritization of pharmaceuticals in the natural environment.
abstract: Approximately 1500 active pharmaceutical ingredients are currently in use; however, the environmental occurrence and impacts of only a small proportion of these have been investigated. Recognizing that it would be impractical to monitor and assess all pharmaceuticals that are in use, several previous studies have proposed the use of prioritization approaches to identify substances of most concern so that resources can be focused on these. All of these previous approaches suffer from limitations. In the present study, the authors draw on experience from previous prioritization exercises and present a holistic approach for prioritizing pharmaceuticals in the environment in terms of risks to aquatic and soil organisms, avian and mammalian wildlife, and humans. The approach considers both apical ecotoxicological endpoints as well as potential nonapical effects related to the therapeutic mode of action. Application of the approach is illustrated for 146 active pharmaceuticals that are used either in the community or in hospital settings in the United Kingdom. Using the approach, 16 compounds were identified as a potential priority. These substances include compounds belonging to the antibiotic, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antiobesity, and estrogen classes as well as associated metabolites. In the future, the prioritization approach should be applied more broadly around the different regions of the world. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:1550-1559. © 2016 SETAC.
authors.affiliation: Environment Department, University of York, Heslington, York, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Jiahua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Fera Science, Sand Hutton, York, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Chris J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Sinclair
authors.affiliation: Environment Department, University of York, Heslington, York, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Selby
authors.affiliation: Environment Department, University of York, Heslington, York, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Alistair B A
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Boxall
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D003621:Daphnia / Q000187:drug effects; D054750:Ecotoxicology; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity; D005399:Fishes / Q000254:growth & development; D006801:Humans; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000378:metabolism*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations
keywords: Activated pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs); Ecotoxicity; Exposure; Hazard; Risk score