• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.35 no.6
• /
• pp.433-446
• /
• 2009

Pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment are trace contaminants of growing importance in environmental health due to their physiologically active nature. Pharmaceuticals could affect non-target species and might eventually damage sustainability of susceptible populations in the ecosystem. Potentials for health consequences among susceptible human population cannot be ruled out since long-term exposure to cocktails of pharmaceuticals, which might be present in drinking water, is possible. Selection of antibiotic resistant microorganisms is of another concern. In order to understand, and if needed, to properly address the environmental health issues of pharmaceutical residues, knowledge gaps need to be filled. Knowledge gaps exist in many important areas such as prioritization of target pharmaceuticals for further risk studies, occurrence patterns in different environments, chronic toxicities, and toxicities of pharmaceutical mixtures. Appropriate treatment technologies for drinking water and wastewater could be developed when they are deemed necessary. One of the simplest, yet most efficient measures that could be undertaken is to implement a return program for unused or expired drugs. In addition, implementation of environmental risk assessment frameworks for pharmaceuticals would make it possible to efficiently manage potential environmental health problems associated with pharmaceutical residues in the environment.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.35 no.1
• /
• pp.45-52
• /
• 2009

In recent years, pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment have become a matter of increasing public concern. Environmental risk assessment (ERA), including an exposure assessment, is considered the best scientifically based approach for evaluating the potential effects of pharmaceuticals on ecosystems. Computerized exposure models constitute an important tool in predicting environmental exposures of pharmaceuticals. This paper presents the applicability of an exposure model by comparing measured data of selected pharmaceuticals with predicted environmental concentrations from an exposure model. $PhATE^{TM}$ (Pharmaceutical Assessment and Transport Evaluation) model developed by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) was adapted to run simulations for the Keum River. A set of 7 pharmaceuticals of high production in Korea was modeled. The PECs generated by the $PhATE^{TM}$ model that were then compared to the measured concentrations. The $PhATE^{TM}$ model predicted concentrations for 7 pharmaceuticals including acetaminophen, acetylsalicylic acid, erythromycin, ibuprofen, lincomycin, mefenamic acid, and naproxen were in good agreement with actual measured concentrations, which demonstrated the utility of $PhATE^{TM}$ as a predictive tool. In conclusion, $PhATE^{TM}$, although it does not intend to accurately represent reality, could be utilized for rapid predictions of the environmental concentrations of pharmaceuticals.

• Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.186-194
• /
• 2009

Understanding the environmental fate of human and animal pharmaceuticals and their risk assessment are of great importance due to their growing environmental concerns. Although there are many potential pathways for them to reach the environment, effluents from sewage treatment plants (STPs) are recognized as major point sources. In this study, the removal efficiencies of the 43 selected priority pharmaceuticals in a conventional STP were evaluated using two simple models: an equilibrium partitioning model (EPM) and STPWIN$^{TM}$ program developed by US EPA. It was expected that many pharmaceuticals are not likely to be removed by conventional activated sludge processes because of their relatively low sorption potential to suspended sludge and low biodegradability. Only a few pharmaceuticals were predicted to be easily removed by sorption or biodegradation, and hence a conventional STP may not protect the environment from the release of unwanted pharmaceuticals. However, the prediction made in this study strongly relies on sorption coefficient to suspended sludge and biodegradation half-lives, which may vary significantly depending on models. Removal efficiencies predicted using the EPM were typically higher than those predicted by STPWIN for many hydrophilic pharmaceuticals due to the difference in prediction method for sorption coefficients. Comparison with experimental organic carbon-water partition coefficients ($K_{ocs}) revealed that log KOW-based estimation used in STPWIN is likely to underestimate sorption coefficients, thus resulting low removal efficiency by sorption. Predicted values by the EPM were consistent with limited experimental data although this model does not include biodegradation processes, implying that this simple model can be very useful with reliable Koc values. Because there are not many experimental data available for priority pharmaceuticals to evaluate the model performance, it should be important to obtain reliable experimental data including sorption coefficients and biodegradation rate constants for the prediction of the fate of the selected pharmaceuticals.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.409-419
• /
• 2013

In this study, the analytical method for 27 residual pharmaceuticals in raw water was developed. Online sample preconcentration/extraction and analysis with high resolution Orbitrap mass spectrometry (LC-ESI/Orbitrap MS) were performed. The calibration curves showed good linearities (above $r^2$ = 0.998) in the range of 5 ~ 1,000 ng/L. The method detection limit and the limit of quantification were 1.1 ~ 10.0 ng/L and 3.4 ~ 31.7 ng/L, respectively. Recoveries of the target compounds were between 70.1% and 115.8% (except cefadroxil, cefradine, vancomycin, and iopromide (50.2 ~ 67.0%)). The optimized analytical method can be useful to determine the residual pharmaceuticals in raw water.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.56 no.5
• /
• pp.288-292
• /
• 2012

The aim of the paper is to ameliorate old research methods of Korean Pharmaceutical Codex to adjust the newest scientistic level which is necessary to maintain quality of medical supplies effectively. After reviewing result of Establishment of Dissolution Specifications for Generic Drugs in Korea Pharmaceutical Codex Monograph, there are two items chosen for the methods - Establishment of Dissolution Specifications for Generic Drugs in Korea Pharmaceutical Codex Monograph which KFDA researched in 2010, arranged new measuring standard by having an experiment to set measuring method after obtaining each item. According to the result, The experiment includes a measuring method of two items; Nafronyl Oxalate Capsules, and Ticlopidine Hydrochloride Tablets. The research is ameliorated by research methods through several experiments such as High Performance Liquid Chromatography validation, preparing items, implement of trial-experiment and authentic experiment, and experiment on measuring method of regulations of Korea Pharmaceutical Codex. The experiments are taken opinions of experts in KFDA into consideration and wrote out a report of the new measuring method on each last item. The report is combined as each two experiment sections of analyzing method to maintain the quality on the basis of the research in 2010 on setting of dissolution specifications for oral solid dosage forms. The result of measuring method of medical supplies through modernizing trial method of oral solid dosage forms is available to be accurate. In conclusion, this study could contribute to promotion of public health by organizing a basis for safe and high quality of medical supplies in domestic market.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.42 no.1
• /
• pp.53-60
• /
• 2016

Objectives: Preservatives are commonly used in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and other products to extend the expiration date and prevent the growth of microorganisms. Preservatives are generally effective in controlling mold and inhibiting yeast growth, and against a wide range of bacterial attacks as well. They also adversely affect the quality of sperm and cause precocious puberty in children. This study was performed to analyze seven preservatives used in pharmaceuticals and personal care products. Methods: Five kinds of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) were examined for analysis with a high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector. Each sample was homogenized and the targeted compounds were extracted with methanol. The suspended particulate was removed by syringe filter. Next, the sample was injected into an HPLC system. The separation of the seven preservatives was achieved with a C18 column and gradient mode. The accuracies were between 73% and 120% and precision was lower than 11.58% (RSD). Results: All of the calibration curves showed good linearity with a coefficient of determination ($r^2$) over 0.999. Among the PPCP samples, the detection rate of preservatives was 32.5% for pharmaceuticals, 44.8% for toothpaste, 76.9% for mouthwash, 40.0% for body lotion and 56.0% for wet tissues. The average concentrations of the preservatives in PPCPs were BA 1141.0 mg/kg, MP 709.8 mg/kg, EP 624.9 mg/kg, PP 216.9 mg/kg, BP 167.8 mg/kg, and TCS 538.2 mg/kg. The most frequently detected preservatives in pharmaceuticals and personal care products were BA, MP and PP. The concentrations of preservatives exceeded Korean regulatory standards in 11 samples of medicines, three of mouthwash and two of body lotion. Conclusion: We found that most of the PPCP samples contained various preservatives. It is necessary to identify which preservatives were used and to determine the level of preservatives in PPCPs and to assess the health risk to susceptible populations such as children.

• 한국환경농학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2008.10a
• /
• pp.51-67
• /
• 2008

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.31 no.5
• /
• pp.1192-1198
• /
• 2010

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) are emerging contaminants in the aquatic environment. Many pharmaceuticals are not completely removed during wastewater treatment, leading to their presence in wastewater treatment effluents, rivers, lakes, and ground water. Here, we developed analytical methods for monitoring ten pharmaceuticals from surface water by LC/ESI-MS/MS. For sample clean-up and extraction, MCX (mixed cation exchange) and HLB (hydrophilic-lipophilic balance) solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridges were used. The limits of detection (LOD) in distilled water and the blank surface water were in the range of 0.006 - 0.65 and 1.66 - 45.05 pg/mL, respectively. The limits of quantitation (LOQ) for the distilled water and the blank surface water were in the range of 0.02 - 2.17 and 5.52 - 150.15 pg/mL, respectively. The absolute recoveries for fortified water samples were between 62.1% and 125.4%. Intra-day precision and accuracy for the blank surface water were 2.9% - 24.1% (R.S.D.) and -16.3% - 16.3% (bias), respectively. In surface wastewater near rivers, chlortetracycline and acetylsalicylic acid were detected frequently in the range of 0.017 - 5.404 and 0.029 - 0.269 ng/mL, respectively. Surface water near rivers had higher levels than surface water of domestic treatment plants.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.46 no.1
• /
• pp.45-64
• /
• 2020

Objectives: Limited information is available on the presence and associated ecological risks of pharmaceutical residues in aquatic environments near pharmaceutical manufacturing areas in Korea. In this study, we investigated the current state of pharmaceutical contamination and its associated ecological risks in streams near a pharmaceutical manufacturing complex. Methods: Seven pharmaceuticals (acetaminophen, clarithromycin, diclofenac, diphenhydramine, ibuprofen, mefenamic acid and roxithromycin) were measured in water samples collected from the streams near a pharmaceutical manufacturing complex. A predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) was derived using either the assessment factor method or species sensitivity distribution method. In addition, a hazard quotient for each pharmaceutical was calculated by dividing its measured environmental concentration by its PNEC. Results: Samples collected downstream from the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) had higher concentrations of pharmaceuticals than those collected from the reference site (upstream). Moreover, pharmaceutical concentrations were greater in ambient water than in the final effluent from the WWTP, which suggested that non-point sources were contributing to the contamination of the ambient water environment. Some of the target pharmaceuticals exhibited a hazard quotient >1, indicating that their potential ecological effects on the aquatic environment near the pharmaceutical industrial area should not be ignored. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the pharmaceutical manufacturing area was contaminated with residual drugs, and that there was a possible non-point source near the WWTP effluent discharge area. The results of this study will aid in the development of management plans for pharmaceuticals, particularly in hotspots such as pharmaceutical industrial sites and their vicinities.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
• /
• 2005.12a
• /
• pp.54-57
• /
• 2005

Endocrine disrupting effects of several pharmaceutical products were evaluated with fish. The test pharmaceuticals(caffeine, ketoconazole, acetaminophen and diltiazem) have been often detected in aquatic environment of Korea(from on going study of this research team). We analyzed vitellogenin induction by qualitative (Western blot) and quantitative (ELISA) assay. $17{\beta}$ -estradiol was used as a positive control. Some pharmaceuticals could give effects to male Oryzias latipes. They could induced vitellogenin under exposure of chemicals at male Oryzias latipes.