T3 AM Ecological Risk Assessment (Part 2)
Tuesday, 15 November 2005: 8:00 AM - 11:40 AM in Ballroom 3

(COO-1117-653466) Preliminary Risk Assessment Database of Pharmaceuticals in Estuaries.

Cooper, E^{1, 2}, Siewicki, T¹, Reed, L¹, Phillips, K¹, ¹ NOAA, National Ocean Service, Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research, Charleston, SC, USA² Grice Marine Laboratory, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC

ABSTRACT- The potential for pharmaceutical compounds to contaminate the environment is gaining attention, in part, because they are continually emitted into the aquatic environment in quantities similar to those of more frequently studied agrochemicals. However, unlike agricultural chemicals that often enter the environment in pulsed storm events, pharmaceuticals typically enter the aquatic environment continuously. Sources include treated or untreated sewage, direct runoff of fecal material from pets and livestock, and use of treated wastewater for irrigation. The influx of antibiotics into estuarine environments is of particular concern because continuous low level exposure of virulent bacteria can lead to resistance. Residues of pharmaceuticals may have a significant effect on the estuarine environment comparable to or greater than agricultural chemicals. Chronic exposure of non-target aquatic organisms to pharmaceuticals may cause numerous subtle effects, in addition to lethal impacts, such as metabolic or reproductive changes. Despite the potential for significant ecological and human health consequences, both occurrence and impact data for pharmaceuticals in estuarine and marine waters is uncommon. Therefore, a preliminary risk assessment database was developed to assist evaluating pharmaceutical risk to estuarine organisms. The database contains available physiochemical (e.g., molecular and physical properties), environmental properties (e.g., Kow, pK, and persistence) and toxicological (e.g., to mammals, fish, plankton, mollusks, crustaceans and plants) information for active ingredients of over 350 drugs (including antibiotics, lipid regulating drugs and the 200 most commonly prescribed pharmaceuticals). This information, in addition to data on the concentrations of these chemicals measured in aquatic environments, can be used to estimate potential impacts of these drugs in estuaries. Based on this information, the pharmaceuticals will be ranked by their potential risk to estuarine organisms. This information is in a web accessible database that can help others to determine potential contaminants in estuaries.

Key words: Pharmaceuticals, Risk Assessment