DFG - Subproject

Occurrence and Fate of Selected Pharmaceuticals and Disinfection Agents in the Aquatic Environment. - A Prototypic Approach of an Comprehensive Evaluation Based on Life Cycle Analysis.

Subproject: Occurence of Pharmaceuticals in the Aquatic Environment - Selection of Risk Assessment Relevant Substances (PHARMA I)

The presence of pharmaceutically used substances in the aquatic environment has raised increasing concern during the last years. Due to a high consumption and a poor degradability during wastewater treatment, pharmaceuticals reach the surface waters and have also been detected in groundwater. Even though this topic is being studied intensively, there is still a very limited knowledge on the behavior and fate of this substances in the aquatic system and especially in water treatment. The research project "Occurrence and fate of selected pharmaceuticals …" is supported by the German research council (DFG) and a cooperation between our institute and the Institute of Environmental Medicine and Hospital Epidemiology at the University Hospital Freiburg. The aim of our subproject is (1) the development of analytical methods for selected pharmaceuticals and disinfection agents, (2) to do screening analyses in water samples from model and real wastewater treatment plants for these substances, and (3) to study the adsorption of these substances onto activated carbon, synthetic polymers and iron oxides. The selection of the substances is based on amounts used, biodegradation, and structural properties. Among the selected substances are Fluorine containing compounds, Platinum and Gadolinium containing substances, and quaternary ammonium compounds. With this research we want collect data for a life cycle analysis of these substances and we want to elaborate a basis for a risk assessment of selected pharmaceuticals.