Predicted No-Effect Concentration and Risk Assessment for 17-[Beta]-Estradiol in Waters of China

Veterinary pharmaceuticals may cause unexpected adverse effects on non-target aquatic species. While these pharmaceuticals were previously identified as priority compounds in ambient water, their ecological risks are relatively unknown. In this study, a series of chronic toxicity tests were conducted for these pharmaceuticals using algae, two cladocerans, and a fish. After a 21-d exposure to amoxicillin, enrofloxacin, and neomycin, no observed effect concentration (NOEC) for the reproduction of Daphnia magna was detected at 27.2, 3.3, and 0.15 mg/L, respectively. For the survival of juvenile Oryzias latipes following the 40-d exposure, NOEC was found at 21.8, 3.2, and 0.87 mg/L, respectively. Based on the results of the chronic toxicity tests and those reported in the literature, predicted no-effect concentrations (PNECs) were determined at 0.078, 4.9, and 3.0 µg/L for amoxicillin, enrofloxacin, and neomycin, respectively. Their hazard quotients (HQs) were less than 1 at their average levels of occurrence in ambient freshwater. However, HQs based on the maximum detected levels of amoxicillin and enrofloxacin were determined at 21.2 and 6.1, respectively, suggesting potential ecological risks. As the potential ecological risks of these veterinary pharmaceuticals at heavily contaminated sites cannot be ignored, hotspot delineation and its management are required.

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Pharmaceuticals and personal care products as emerging micropollutants in Brazilian surface waters: a preliminary snapshot on environmental contamination and risks

Eclética Química Journal ◽

10.26850/1678-4618eqj.v43.1si.2018.p22-34 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 43 (1SI) ◽

pp. 22 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Fernando Fabriz Sodré ◽

Priscila Mendonça Dutra ◽

Viviane Portela Dos Santos

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

Risk Assessment ◽

Surface Waters ◽

Potential Risk ◽

Personal Care Products ◽

Quality Standards ◽

Personal Care ◽

Water Quality Standards ◽

Aquatic Life ◽

Effect Concentration

The present work intended to present a preliminary snapshot on the contamination of Brazilian surface waters by pharmaceuticals and personal care products. Data were collected elsewhere for Measured Environmental Concentrations (MEC) in surface waters and Predicted No-Effect Concentration (PNEC). Prioritization was based on risk assessment, where MEC/PNEC ratios higher than 1.0 indicate a positive risk, values below 0.1 indicate absence of risk and intermediate values, potential risk. Results revealed that hormones, antibiotics drugs and triclosan should be prioritized to subsidize the generation of water quality standards to protect aquatic life.

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A Novel Approach to Derive the Predicted No-Effect Concentration (PNEC) of Benzophenone-3 (BP-3) Using the Species Sensitivity Distribution (SSD) Method: Suggestion of a New PNEC Value for BP-3

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18073650 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (7) ◽

pp. 3650

Author(s):

Jae-Woong Jung ◽

Jae Soon Kang ◽

Jinsoo Choi ◽

June-Woo Park

Keyword(s):

Risk Assessment ◽

Ecological Risk ◽

Ecological Risk Assessment ◽

Initial Step ◽

Species Sensitivity Distribution ◽

Species Sensitivity ◽

Environmental Concentration ◽

Sensitivity Distribution ◽

Detection Frequency ◽

Effect Concentration

The necessity for the aquatic ecological risk assessment for benzophenone-3 (BP-3) is increasing due to its high toxic potential and high detection frequency in freshwater. The initial step in the ecological risk assessment is to determine predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC). This study derived PNEC of BP-3 in freshwater using a species sensitivity distribution (SSD) approach, whilst existing PNECs are derived using assessment factor (AF) approaches. A total of eight chronic toxicity values, obtained by toxicity testing and a literature survey, covering four taxonomic classes (fish, crustaceans, algae, and cyanobacteria) were used for PNEC derivation. Therefore, the quantity and quality of the toxicity data met the minimum requirements for PNEC derivation using an SSD approach. The PNEC derived in this study (73.3 μg/L) was far higher than the environmental concentration detected in freshwater (up to 10.4 μg/L) as well as existing PNECs (0.67~1.8 μg/L), mainly due to the difference in the PNEC derivation methodology (i.e., AF vs. SSD approach). Since the SSD approach is regarded as more reliable than the AF approach, we recommend applying the PNEC value derived in this study for the aquatic ecological risk assessment of BP-3, as the use of the existing PNEC values seems to unnecessarily overestimate the potential ecological risk of BP-3 in freshwater.

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