Human-use pharmaceuticals are frequently present in many small streams, even those not receiving wastewater treatment plant discharges, reports a new study by the U.S. Geological Survey. In some streams, pharmaceuticals were detected at concentrations that could potentially be of concern for fish health.
USGS scientists analyzed three to four water samples from 444 small streams across four major regions of the U.S. as part of the USGS Regional Stream Quality Assessment. The number of compounds detected in a stream and the sum of pharmaceutical concentrations was higher in streams with more urban land use and in streams receiving wastewater treatment plant discharge.
Pharmaceuticals were commonly detected in these streams. (Those detected at 17–68% of sites) included metformin, a type-II diabetes medicine; lidocaine, acetaminophen, and tramadol, all painkillers; carbamazepine, an anti-seizure medication; and fexofenadine, an antihistamine. Nicotine was detected at 70% of sites. Two or more pharmaceuticals were detected at least once in 95% of the streams that have some urban land use in their watershed.
Because pharmaceuticals are designed to affect biological activity, their presence in streams is a potential concern for aquatic ecosystems. The potential risk to aquatic biota associated with exposure to pharmaceuticals in the streams was evaluated through comparison with concentrations at which a chemical causes different types of cellular activity, available through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Toxicity Forecaster [ToxCast™]. More than 60% of sites had at least one pharmaceutical compound at a concentration in at least one sample that might be of potential concern for fish.
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National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA)
Our surface water, groundwater, and aquatic ecosystems are priceless resources, used by people across the Nation for drinking, irrigation, industry, and recreation. The National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Project is a leading source of scientific data and knowledge for development of science-based policies and management strategies to improve and protect our water resources.Emerging Contaminants
Emerging contaminants, or contaminants of emerging concern , can refer to many different kinds of chemicals, including medicines, personal care or household cleaning products, lawn care and agricultural products, among others. These chemicals make it into our Nation's lakes and rivers and have a detrimental affect on fish and other aquatic species. That have also been shown to bioaccumulate up the...Regional Stream Quality Assessment (RSQA)
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The USGS is conducting source-to-receptor research on a broad range of chemical and microbial contaminants including pharmaceuticals, personal care products, pathogens, antibiotic resistant genes, and natural toxins that are not commonly considered in environmental research but have the potential to impact environmental health. - Publications
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