Pharmaceutical pollution: A weakly regulated global environmental risk

The effects of pharmaceuticals in the environment (PiE) are well evidenced, yet from an environmental perspective, remain weakly regulated internationally. Pharmaceutical pollutants addressed under Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM), a global framework for management chemicals and wastes. We provide overview state knowledge on PiE identify international efforts targeting regulation PiE, as gaps how SAICM could address them. ‘Environmentally persistent pharmaceutical pollutants’ (EPPP) was adopted issue concern 6 years after ‘nanotechnologies manufactured nanomaterials’. Our analysis draws this field inform development policy approaches EPPP. While there is significant cooperation underway initiatives highly fragmented. post-2020 may help bridge gaps. Further should be informed by experiences nanomaterials, particularly with respect definitions, information gathering building more integrative approaches.