Environmental risk caused by drug waste in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during the SARS-Cov19 pandemic

Abstract The relationship between the distribution of medicines used in Pandemic by SARS-COV-19 municipality Rio de Janeiro and estimated level environmental risk caused their residues was evaluated. amount distributed primary health care (PHC) units 2019 2021 were collected. quotient (RQ) corresponded to ratio predictive concentration (PECest) obtained consumption excretion each drug its non-effective (PNEC). Between 2020, PECest azithromycin (AZI) ivermectin (IVE) increased with a decrease probably due shortages. Dexchlorpheniramine (DEX) fluoxetine (FLU) fell, returning growth 2021. While diazepam (DIA) over these 3 years, ethinylestradiol (EE2) decreased possibly prioritization PHC treatment COVID-19. largest QR from FLU, EE2 AZI. pattern drugs did not reflect because most consumed ones have low toxicity. It is worth noting that some data may be underestimated incentive given during pandemic certain groups drugs.