English resumeHuman Pharmaceuticals in the water cycle
The objective of this ‘Human pharmaceuticals in the water cycle: state-of-the-scienceæ document is to provide, in a single report, a brief and concise summary of existing knowledge on the presence and the effects of pharmaceuticals in the water cycle, and on possible technical measures to reduce them. It is important to realise that directing attention to STOWA 2013-23 KWR 2013-062 Human pharmaceuticals in the water cycle pharmaceuticals in water touches on two concerns: having surface water of good quality, which is an ecological concern, and having clean sources for the production of drinking water, which is a public health concern.
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2013-23 |
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Thema |
Waterkwaliteit, Nieuwe stoffen |
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The focus is limited to human pharmaceuticals, including X-ray contrast media. We have chosen not to address veterinary pharmaceuticals: the path of these substances to the water environment, via manure application, leaching and runoff, is indirect and thus offers fewer means for reducing emissions (Montforts 2006; Kools 2008).1 But this does not mean that veterinary pharmaceuticals (in another framework) would not merit attention. Pharmaceuticals that target the hormone system, such as ethinyloestradiol, the active ingredient in the contraceptive pill, are also part of the study. However, the subject of hormone disruption is not dealt with explicitly: it is such a vast subject that it requires a separate study.