While information on the effects of long term low-dosage exposure of ECs and PPCPs on humans is still being collected, the effects on aquatic organisms and ecosystems has been observed, studied, and documented. A significant portion of these studies have focused on hormone disruption in aquatic organisms caused by exposure to trace organic compounds. An increase in the discovery of intersex organisms, i.e. fish having developed male and female reproductive organisms, has led scientists to question the environmental impact of low doses of hormones. The table below, taken from the Nov. 2008 AWWA Journal article “Emerging Compounds: A Concern for Water and Wastewater Utilities,” highlights some of the potential ecological effects of trace compounds found in wastewater effluent.
Class of Compound | Typical Concentration in Effluent | Potential Ecological or Human Health Effects | Examples |
Pharmaceuticals | Up to 1 µg/L | Endocrine disrupting | Antibiotics, painkillers, caffeine, birth-control pill, antiepileptics |
Personal care products | Up to 1 µg/L | Bioaccumulative, endocrine disrupting | Soaps, fragrances, triclosan |
Detergent metabolites | Up to 180 µg/L | Bioaccumulative, endocrine disrupting | Ocylphenol, nonylphenol |
Plasticizers | Up to 10 µg/L | Weakly endocrine disrupting | Phthalate esters, bisphenol A |
Perfluorooctane surfactants | Up to 1 µg/L | None at environmentally relevant concentrations | Stain-resistant coating for clothing and furnature |
Brominated flame retardants | Up to 30 µg/L | Bioaccumulative, suspended endocrine disruptors | Polybrominated diphenyl ethers |
Disinfection by-products | Up to 1 µg/L | Carcinogenic | N-nitrosodimethylamine |
Research on pharmaceuticals and personal care products explores interactions between chemicals and the environment, the impact of wastewater and drinking water treatment processes on PPCPs, exposure impacts on aquatic biota, landfill leachate concentrations of PPCPs, and much more. The research listed here provides a detailed picture of the PPCP research occurring in the New England and New York region. National studies of particular interest, or national studies that have taken data from a New England/New York site, are also listed. This list will be maintained and updated to help promote regional research coordination.
Environmental Protection Agency PPCP Research
Environmental Protection Agency Effluent Limitation Guidelines
Maine Department of Environmental Protection Surface Water Ambient Toxics Monitoring Program (SWAT)
Environmental Protection Agency Relevant PPCP Literature
NOAA Pharmaceuticals in the Environment, Information for Assessing Risk
Environmental Protection Agency ECOTOX
EPA National Water-Quality Assessment Program, Source Water-Quality Assessment
NEIWPCC’s 2011 Northeast Water Science Forum: Science to Inform Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Product Management, a two-day intensive technical conference, was held April 28 – 29, 2011 in Portland, Maine. Please visit the conference website to download the conference presentations.
NEIWPCC’s 2007 Northeast Water Science Forum – Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products: State of the Science, a two-day intensive technical conference, was held August 8 – 9, 2007. Please visit the conference website to download the conference presentations.
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services
New York Department of Environmental Conservation
Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Water Science)
U.S. Geological Survey (Toxic Substances Hydrology Program)
U.S. Geological Survey (Source Water-Quality Assessment Program)
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Drug Enforcement Administration
Maine Benzodiazepine Study Group
Environmental Council of the States (ECOS)
Northwest Product Stewardship Council (NPSC)
Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA)
Northeast Waste Management Officials’ Association (NEWMOA)
Product Stewardship Institute (PSI)
For more information on take-back and mail-in programs:
Go-to-Guide for Safe Drug Take-Back (PSI)
Safe Medicine Disposal for ME Program
Northeast Recycling Council (NERC)
NYS DEC’s “Proper Disposal of Household Prescriptions and Over-the-counter Drugs” website
California’s “No Drugs Down The Drain” campaign