Issue link: http://psai.uberflip.com/i/1187276
WEEKLY EDITION JULY 3, 2019 Pharmaceuticals in Wastewater: Implications for the Portable Sanitation Industry By Karleen Kos, PSAI Executive Director…Continued From Page 1 B ac kg r ou n d. Scientists and wastewater professionals have known for years that trace pharmaceuticals and personal care products are present in wastewater. In its January 1998 issue the scholarly journal Chemosphere published a review of information known at that time, summarizing it in the following abstract: [Pharmaceuticals] are a group of substances that until recently have been exposed to the environment with very little attention. The reason why they may be interesting as environmental micropollutants, is that medical substances are developed with the intention of performing a biological effect. Especially antibiotics used as growth promoters, [such] as feed additives in fish farms are anticipated to end up in the environment. Very little is known about the exposure routes of the medical substances to the environment. […] Further research would be necessary to assess the environmental risk involved in exposing medical substances and metabolites to the environment. An investigation conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey in 1999 to check the occurrence of drugs and personal care products including sterols, hormones, pharmaceuticals, and antibiotics in surface and ground water confirmed at least one substance was present at low levels in more than two thirds of the samples. Steroids, nonprescription drugs, and pesticides were the most frequently detected compounds. By February 2007 more research had been done and the Journal of Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry reported on the success of different wastewater treatment methods in removing trace pharmaceuticals from treated water. The study found that membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology was more effective than conventional activated sludge (CAS) methods for reducing pharmaceuticals in wastewater. The findings also stated: PAGE 9 CONTINUED ON PAGE 10