PHARMACEUTICALS AND PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS

AKEETA HARRIS

ABIGAIL DeBOFSKY

SIMON CHRISTENSEN

PPCP OVERVIEW

Prescription and OTC drugs Veterinary drugs Fragrances Lotions Cosmetics

SCIENTIFIC CONCERN

PPCPs Enter Environment After Use

WWTP not equipped for PPCPs removal

Dr. Klaper: “Pharmaceuticals and personal care products found in the Great Lakes above concentrations of environmental concern”

SCIENTIFIC CONCERN

Human Health Effects Environmental Impacts Endocrine Disruption Resistance Uncertain Risks Increasing number of PPCPs Pathways

FATE AND TRANSPORT

Biological waste from medicines not completely metabolized Directly flushing down the toilet Untreated wastewater Improper disposal Contaminated biosolids Veterinary application Domestic Farm Aquaculture

AN ENDOCRINE DISRUPTOR?

BACKGROUND ON TRICLOSAN

Detected in surface water, sediment, biosolids, soils, aquatic species and humans

 Half‐life of TCS in surface water is approximately 41 min Degrades mostly to 2,4‐dichlorophenol  Readily degraded in aerobic conditions, not under anaerobic

conditions During the wastewater treatment process, triclosan

transformed into methyltriclosan, which is more lipophilic compound, and released

Other dioxin derivatives have also been documented resulting from phototransformation

TRICLOSAN IN THE AQUATIC ENVIRONMENT

Exposure to triclosan and degradation products Not removed during wastewater treatment, resulting in

continuous exposure Accumulates in algae and other invertebrates Also accumulates in muscle tissue in fish Has been detected in marine mammals

HUMAN IMPACT OF TRICLOSAN

Excreted primarily in urine Found in plasma as well In breast milk

Has even been seen in women who do not use products with triclosan

Significantly lower than what is found in plasma Not enough toxicological data to support that fetus is safe with this

level of exposure

RESULTS

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

Also found increased HSI in fish exposed to high doses of triclosan Liver does become larger when producing vtg Also becomes larger when exposed to toxic substances (probably

this) No difference in GSI

Lower sperm counts not associated with smaller testis Not entirely conclusive on triclosan as an endocrine disruptor

Interspecies variation Unrealistic exposure setting