(HQ ¼ 28), and naproxen (HQ ¼ 14.8) present in the river could present a high risk
of toxicity to the aquatic ecosystem. The authors suggest the need to continue
monitoring this type of compounds to adopt appropriate measures focused on
safeguarding the ecosystem and, finally, human health (Rivera-Jaimes et al. [28]).
In Biel-Maeso et al. [29]’s study, the presence and distribution of 78 pharmaceutical products in different aquatic marine environments of the Gulf of Cádiz (Spain),
including acetaminophen, diclofenac, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, naproxen, and salicylic
acid, was evaluated for the first time. The results obtained revealed that pharmaceutical products were present in seawater at concentrations ranging from 16 to
2,133 ng L
À1 . Critical points of potential marine pollution were observed in closed
and semi-enclosed bodies of water (Bahía de Cádiz), which show concentrations that
were one or two orders of magnitude higher than in the open ocean. The presence of
these compounds in local wastewater treatment plants, one of the main sources of
contamination, was also evaluated. The pharmaceutical products with the highest
frequencies and detection concentrations in the sampling region were nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs in the case of the Bay of Cadiz samples. The potential
environmental risk for the target pharmaceutical products was evaluated based on
the “wors-case scenario” according to the Technical Guidance Document on the
European Union’s risk assessment [30]. The risk quotients (RQ) for aquatic organisms were calculated from the measurable environmental concentrations (MEC) and
the predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) of each individual chemical considering the most sensitive species among those for which there was ecotoxicological
information available. Most species are freshwater, and only two species Artemia
(an invertebrate crustacean) and Synechococcus leopoliensis (unicellular
cyanobacteria) are marine. This approach is limited but is often used due to the
limited data on toxicity tests in marine aquatic species, especially for emerging
pollutants. The maximum concentrations of acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen,
and salicylic acid measured in influential residual water samples were higher than
their PNEC, obtaining RQ values of 3.74, 6.86, 1.12, and 28.20, respectively.
However, after the wastewater treatment, all these compounds reduced their risk
levels by showing RQ 0.1 in the effluent of the treatment plant. Finally, for the Bay
water samples, ibuprofen and salicylic acid presented RQ ¼ 0.30 and 0.48, respectively. The authors of this study encourage further research, since the distribution of
pharmaceutical products and other emerging pollutants in marine environments is
still relatively unknown, as well as the long-term synergistic effects of mixtures of
these compounds toward marine biota. Performing specific toxicity tests with marine
species would lead to an improvement in the environmental risk assessment of these
compounds in the ocean.
Na et al. [31] examined the distribution of pharmaceutical products in the
Yeongsan River (Republic of Korea) and in specific sources in the associated
water system, conducting a risk assessment based on the findings. The samples
included effluents collected from 3 wastewater treatment plants and 2 industrial
complexes, as well as surface waters collected from 7 main streams and 11 river
tributaries. Among the pharmaceutical products studied were acetylsalicylic acid and
naproxen, which showed surface water concentrations of 44.7 and 51.6 ng L
À1 ,
330
J. D. Cardoso-Vera et al.
of toxicity to the aquatic ecosystem. The authors suggest the need to continue
monitoring this type of compounds to adopt appropriate measures focused on
safeguarding the ecosystem and, finally, human health (Rivera-Jaimes et al. [28]).
In Biel-Maeso et al. [29]’s study, the presence and distribution of 78 pharmaceutical products in different aquatic marine environments of the Gulf of Cádiz (Spain),
including acetaminophen, diclofenac, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, naproxen, and salicylic
acid, was evaluated for the first time. The results obtained revealed that pharmaceutical products were present in seawater at concentrations ranging from 16 to
2,133 ng L
À1 . Critical points of potential marine pollution were observed in closed
and semi-enclosed bodies of water (Bahía de Cádiz), which show concentrations that
were one or two orders of magnitude higher than in the open ocean. The presence of
these compounds in local wastewater treatment plants, one of the main sources of
contamination, was also evaluated. The pharmaceutical products with the highest
frequencies and detection concentrations in the sampling region were nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs in the case of the Bay of Cadiz samples. The potential
environmental risk for the target pharmaceutical products was evaluated based on
the “wors-case scenario” according to the Technical Guidance Document on the
European Union’s risk assessment [30]. The risk quotients (RQ) for aquatic organisms were calculated from the measurable environmental concentrations (MEC) and
the predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) of each individual chemical considering the most sensitive species among those for which there was ecotoxicological
information available. Most species are freshwater, and only two species Artemia
(an invertebrate crustacean) and Synechococcus leopoliensis (unicellular
cyanobacteria) are marine. This approach is limited but is often used due to the
limited data on toxicity tests in marine aquatic species, especially for emerging
pollutants. The maximum concentrations of acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen,
and salicylic acid measured in influential residual water samples were higher than
their PNEC, obtaining RQ values of 3.74, 6.86, 1.12, and 28.20, respectively.
However, after the wastewater treatment, all these compounds reduced their risk
levels by showing RQ 0.1 in the effluent of the treatment plant. Finally, for the Bay
water samples, ibuprofen and salicylic acid presented RQ ¼ 0.30 and 0.48, respectively. The authors of this study encourage further research, since the distribution of
pharmaceutical products and other emerging pollutants in marine environments is
still relatively unknown, as well as the long-term synergistic effects of mixtures of
these compounds toward marine biota. Performing specific toxicity tests with marine
species would lead to an improvement in the environmental risk assessment of these
compounds in the ocean.
Na et al. [31] examined the distribution of pharmaceutical products in the
Yeongsan River (Republic of Korea) and in specific sources in the associated
water system, conducting a risk assessment based on the findings. The samples
included effluents collected from 3 wastewater treatment plants and 2 industrial
complexes, as well as surface waters collected from 7 main streams and 11 river
tributaries. Among the pharmaceutical products studied were acetylsalicylic acid and
naproxen, which showed surface water concentrations of 44.7 and 51.6 ng L
À1 ,
330
J. D. Cardoso-Vera et al.