Pharmaceuticals and personal care products and their sublethal and lethal effects in aquatic organisms

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) include over-the-counter prescription drugs, veterinary fragrances, cosmetics. PPCPs have been detected in aquatic environments at low concentrations are emerging as contaminants of concern. primarily released into via untreated sewage, wastewater treatment plants, landfill leachate can affect life through persistence, bioaccumulation, toxicity. However, there limited reviews lethal sublethal effects PPCP exposures on organisms. To understand toxicity organisms, a literature review was conducted that identified organisms known to be affected by PPCPs; reported producing organisms; research gaps Twelve were selected from three seminal studies for review, including bisphenol A, carbamazepine, erythromycin, fluoxetine, linear alkylbenzene sulfonate, metoprolol, naproxen, nonylphenol, ofloxacin, sertraline, sulfamethoxazole, triclosan. Many species exposures, environmentally relevant concentrations. Because seldom observed concentrations, many considered non-toxic. Few compared the same identical exposure parameters (time concentration), resulting wide variation levels with consensus academic literature. Consensus Daphnia magna 48 h A triclosan Vibrio fischeri 15 min carbamazepine. Environmentally higher than water quality guidelines developed Canada predicted no-effect derived globally. Species sensitivity distributions some show lethally More indirect long-term ecological along testing chronic recommended. These will help guide future determine extent magnitude inform management decisions reduce sources environment. Future requires effective monitoring strategies regarding use, disposal, occurrence, impacts different cycle stages