PHARMACEUTICALS AND PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS
AKEETA HARRIS
ABIGAIL DeBOFSKY
SIMON CHRISTENSEN
PPCP OVERVIEW
Prescription and OTC drugs Veterinary drugs Fragrances Lotions Cosmetics
SCIENTIFIC CONCERN
PPCPs Enter Environment After Use
WWTP not equipped for PPCPs removal
Dr. Klaper: “Pharmaceuticals and personal care products found in the Great Lakes above concentrations of environmental concern”
SCIENTIFIC CONCERN
Human Health Effects Environmental Impacts Endocrine Disruption Resistance Uncertain Risks Increasing number of PPCPs Pathways
FATE AND TRANSPORT
Biological waste from medicines not completely metabolized Directly flushing down the toilet Untreated wastewater Improper disposal Contaminated biosolids Veterinary application Domestic Farm Aquaculture
AN ENDOCRINE DISRUPTOR?
BACKGROUND ON TRICLOSAN
Detected in surface water, sediment, biosolids, soils, aquatic species and humans
Half‐life of TCS in surface water is approximately 41 min Degrades mostly to 2,4‐dichlorophenol Readily degraded in aerobic conditions, not under anaerobic
conditions During the wastewater treatment process, triclosan
transformed into methyltriclosan, which is more lipophilic compound, and released
Other dioxin derivatives have also been documented resulting from phototransformation
TRICLOSAN IN THE AQUATIC ENVIRONMENT
Exposure to triclosan and degradation products Not removed during wastewater treatment, resulting in
continuous exposure Accumulates in algae and other invertebrates Also accumulates in muscle tissue in fish Has been detected in marine mammals
HUMAN IMPACT OF TRICLOSAN
Excreted primarily in urine Found in plasma as well In breast milk
Has even been seen in women who do not use products with triclosan
Significantly lower than what is found in plasma Not enough toxicological data to support that fetus is safe with this
level of exposure
RESULTS
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION
Also found increased HSI in fish exposed to high doses of triclosan Liver does become larger when producing vtg Also becomes larger when exposed to toxic substances (probably
this) No difference in GSI
Lower sperm counts not associated with smaller testis Not entirely conclusive on triclosan as an endocrine disruptor
Interspecies variation Unrealistic exposure setting