Pharmaceuticals in Water Treatment
Author Information
Author(s): Burton Adrian, Mary Bedner, William MacCrehan, Nick Voulvoulis, Damià Barceló
Primary Institution: National Institute of Standards and Technology
Hypothesis
What happens to acetaminophen and its effects on ecosystems when it enters water supplies?
Conclusion
Acetaminophen can form toxic compounds when treated with chlorine, raising concerns about its impact on water supplies and ecosystems.
Supporting Evidence
- Acetaminophen is widely used, with 37,000 metric tons produced annually in the U.S.
- Reports of acetaminophen in European rivers have been noted since the 1990s.
- Only 22% of Britons and 1.4% of Americans return unwanted medicines to pharmacies.
- More than 35% of U.S. nonreturners flush unused drugs down the toilet.
- 11 new compounds were formed from acetaminophen within an hour of chlorination.
- Some of the new compounds are known to be toxic, including a mutagen and a hepatotoxicant.
Takeaway
When acetaminophen is treated with chlorine in water, it can turn into harmful substances. This is a problem because it can affect the water we drink and the environment.
Methodology
Researchers used reversed-phase liquid chromatography to study acetaminophen's interaction with hypochlorite under simulated treatment conditions.
Limitations
The long-term effects of the toxic compounds formed are unknown.
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