Spatially explicit prioritization of human antibiotics and antineoplastics in Europe

Rik Oldenkamp; Mark A.J. Huijbregts; Anne Hollander; Ann Versporten; Herman Goossens; Ad M.J. Ragas

Environment International (Jan 2013)

Spatially explicit prioritization of human antibiotics and antineoplastics in Europe

Rik Oldenkamp,
Mark A.J. Huijbregts,
Anne Hollander,
Ann Versporten,
Herman Goossens,
Ad M.J. Ragas

Affiliations

Rik Oldenkamp: Department of Environmental Science, Institute for Wetland and Water Research, Radboud University Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9010, 6500 GL Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Corresponding author at: Department of Environmental Science, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9010, 6500 GL Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Tel.: +31 24 3652725; fax: +31 24 355 34 50.
Mark A.J. Huijbregts: Department of Environmental Science, Institute for Wetland and Water Research, Radboud University Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9010, 6500 GL Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Anne Hollander: Department of Environmental Science, Institute for Wetland and Water Research, Radboud University Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9010, 6500 GL Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department of Ecological Risk Assessment, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, P.O. Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands
Ann Versporten: Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
Herman Goossens: Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
Ad M.J. Ragas: Department of Environmental Science, Institute for Wetland and Water Research, Radboud University Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9010, 6500 GL Nijmegen, The Netherlands; School of Science, Open Universiteit, P.O. Box 2960 6401 DL Heerlen, The Netherlands

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 51
pp. 13 – 26

Abstract

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This paper presents a screening tool for the location-specific prioritization of human pharmaceutical emissions in Europe, based on risk quotients for the aquatic environment and human health. The tool provides direction towards either monitoring activities or additional research. Its application is illustrated for a set of 11 human antibiotics and 7 antineoplastics. Risk quotients for the aquatic environment were highest for levofloxacin, doxycycline and ciprofloxacin, located in Northern Italy (Milan region; particularly levofloxacin) and other densely populated areas in Europe (e.g. London, Krakow and the Ruhr area). Risk quotients for human health not only depend on pharmaceutical and location, but also on behavioral characteristics, such as consumption patterns. Infants in eastern Spain that consume locally produced food and conventionally treated drinking water were predicted to run the highest risks. A limited comparison with measured concentrations in surface water showed that predicted and measured concentrations are approximately within one order of magnitude. Keywords: Pharmaceuticals, Prioritization, Risk assessment, Environment, Human health, Spatial variation

Published in Environment International

ISSN: 0160-4120 (Print)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Geography. Anthropology. Recreation: Environmental sciences
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/environment-international

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