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(54-03) The fate and effects of antibacterial compounds in the environment. Boxall, A.*,1, Blackwell, P.1, Boleas, S.2, Sorensen, B.3, Kay, P.1, Montforts, M.4, Schmitt, H.4,5, Tarazona, J.2, Tolls, J.5, 1 Cranfield Centre for EcoChemistry, Shardlow, United Kingdom2 INIA, Madrid, Spain3 Royal Danish School of Pharmacy, Copenhagen, Denmark4 RIVM, Bilthoven, Netherlands5 IRAS, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands ABSTRACT- Veterinary medicines are widely used to treat disease and protect the health of animals. Whilst a number of groups of veterinary medicines (i.e. the sheep dip chemicals, fish farm medicines and anthelmintics) have been well studied, limited information is currently available in the public domain on the environmental fate and effects of other veterinary medicines. This study, which is focusing on one of the major groups (i.e. the antibacterial substances) is being performed to gain a better understanding of those factors and processes affecting the fate and effects of veterinary medicines released to soil. A series of field, semi-field, laboratory and modelling studies have been performed to investigate the sorption beahviour, persistence, transport and effects of 3 veterinary medicines, namely oxytetracycline, sulfachloropyridazine and tylosin. Results to date demonstrate that the sorption coefficients for the sulfonamide in the study soils range from 2.2 to 1.2 l kg-1. The abiotic and biotic degradation of the study compounds have been studied and a range of degradation products have been identified. After application to soils, the sulfonamide was rapidly transported to surface waters, whilst the tetracycline was transported more slowly. Concentrations leaching to groundwater were below or close to analytical detection limits. Data have been obtained on the effects of the study compounds on plants, earthworms, soil microbes, daphnia and algae. Comparison of ecotoxicity data with monitoring data indicates that effects on the soil and aquatic organisms investigated are unlikley under normal treatment regimes. In the future, the results of these studies will feed into the development of improved tools for use in the risk assessment process for veterinary medicines. Key words: veterinary medicine, antibacterial compounds |
