Pharmaceuticals and personal care products in the environment: What are the big questions?

Alistair B.A. Boxall, Murray A. Rudd, Bryan W. Brooks, Daniel J. Caldwell, Kyungho Choi, Silke Hickmann, Elizabeth Innes, Kim Ostapyk, Jane P. Staveley, Tim Verslycke, Gerald T. Ankley, Karen F. Beazley, Scott E. Belanger, Jason P. Berninger, Pedro Carriquiriborde, Anja Coors, Paul C. DeLeo, Scott D. Dyer, Jon F. Ericson, François GagnéJohn P. Giesy, Todd Gouin, Lars Hallstrom, Maja V. Karlsson, D. G. Joakim Larsson, James M. Lazorchak, Frank Mastrocco, Alison McLaughlin, Mark E. McMaster, Roger D. Meyerhoff, Roberta Moore, Joanne L. Parrott, Jason R. Snape, Richard Murray-Smith, Mark R. Servos, Paul K. Sibley, Jürg Oliver Straub, Nora D. Szabo, Edward Topp, Gerald R. Tetreault, Vance L. Trudeau, Glen Van Der Kraak

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Abstract

Background: Over the past 10-15 years, a substantial amount of work has been done by the scientific, regulatory, and business communities to elucidate the effects and risks of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in the environment. Objective: This review was undertaken to identify key outstanding issues regarding the effects of PPCPs on human and ecological health in order to ensure that future resources will be focused on the most important areas. Data sources: To better understand and manage the risks of PPCPs in the environment, we used the "key question" approach to identify the principle issues that need to be addressed. Initially, questions were solicited from academic, government, and business communities around the world. A list of 101 questions was then discussed at an international expert workshop, and a top-20 list was developed. Following the workshop, workshop attendees ranked the 20 questions by importance. Data synthesis: The top 20 priority questions fell into seven categories: a) prioritization of substances for assessment, b) pathways of exposure, c) bioavailability and uptake, d) effects characterization, e) risk and relative risk, f) antibiotic resistance, and g) risk management. Conclusions: A large body of information is now available on PPCPs in the environment. This exercise prioritized the most critical questions to aid in development of future research programs on the topic.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1221-1229
Number of pages9
JournalEnvironmental health perspectives
Volume120
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2012

Keywords

  • Antibiotic resistance
  • Ecotoxicity
  • Exposure assessment
  • Health effects
  • Personal care products
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Prioritization
  • Risk assessment
  • Risk management

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