Psychoactive Pharmaceuticals in the Aquatic Environment

přednáška

angličtina

The concern of presence of pharmaceuticals in the environment is still current topic of number of studies. Pharmaceuticals in the wastewater are not completely removed in today's conventional WWTP. Although this problem was first highlighted in 1970s and the knowledge on environmental contamination significantly grew in mid-90s these is still no unambiguous solution. Psychoactive pharmaceuticals represent group of medicaments that presence in aquatic ecosystems could possibly bring about some serious environmental and health consequences. Increased consumption of antidepressants, anxiolytics and hypnotics leads to higher environmental exposure and risks. The connection between presence of certain group of antidepressants (selected serotonin reuptake inhibitors – SSRIs) in water and changes in Na/K-ATPase activity in brook trout nerve system has already been proven. Changes in fish behaviour after exposure of environmentally relevant concentrations of SSRIs were also observed. The very fact that these chemicals are designed to make changes in human nerve system and the way of thinking points to the possibility of highly negative effects on living organisms. The possible link of environmental contamination with SSRIs and development of autistic spectra disorders in children is alarming. The research focuses on AOPs (Advanced Oxidation Processes) removal with emphasis on the most prescribed psychoactive pharmaceuticals in the Czech Republic (representatives of anxiolytics, hypnotics and antidepressants). The interaction of these chemicals with activated sludge in municipal sewage treatment plant is also investigated. Screening tests show that AOPs could be considered as reasonable method to remove target substances from wastewater.

pharmaceuticals ; water ; aquatic environment ; AOPs

VENSKÁ, P.; VÁVROVÁ, M.; REPKOVÁ, M.

6. 12. 2018