Conclusion

Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearchpeer-review

Authors

Drugs and medicines are characterised by their powerful effects and wide-ranging benefits in certain areas of application. However despite their beneficial therapeutic effects, some drugs affect organisms in the environment and ecosystems, and from the point of view of environmental hygiene, contamination of groundwater and drinking water is highly undesirable, even if the compounds involved have a low acute toxicity for humans. It is not clear whether the dynamics of bacterial population in the environment are influenced by the input of antibacterials and resistant bacteria. Our current knowledge shows that harmful effects for humans are not to be expected from the intake of pharmaceuticals with drinking water. As far as humans and organisms in the environment are concerned, the extent to which a comparison of a short-lived high dose (for diagnosis and treatment) and a long-term low dose (intake via drinking water) is permissible, is open to question, not least because of the polymorphic differences in sensitivity and the responsiveness of individual persons.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationPharmaceuticals in the Environment : Sources, Fate, Effects and Risks
EditorsKlaus Kümmerer
Number of pages5
Place of PublicationBerlin
PublisherSpringer
Publication date2004
Edition2
Pages499-503
ISBN (print)3-540-21342-2, 978-3-662-09261-3
ISBN (electronic)978-3-662-09259-0
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2004
Externally publishedYes

    Research areas

  • Chemistry - Sewage Sludge, Resistant Bacterium, Maximum Permissible Concentration, Safety Data Sheet, Environmental Hygiene