Emissions from Medical Care Units

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

Authors

After administration, pharmaceuticals are excreted and released into the aquatic environment via wastewater effluent. Unused drugs are sometimes disposed of down drains, and, unless they are biodegraded or eliminated during sewage treatment, traces may enter the aquatic environment and eventually reach drinking water. It is also hypothesised that antibiotics and disinfectants disturb the wastewater treatment process and the microbial ecology in surface waters. Furthermore, resistant bacteria may be selected in the aeration tanks of STPs by the antibiotic substances present.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationPharmaceuticals in the Environment : Sources, Fate, Effects and Risks
EditorsKlaus Kümmerer
Number of pages18
Place of PublicationBerlin
PublisherSpringer
Publication date2004
Edition2
Pages27-44
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, Benzalkonium Chloride, Cytostatic Agent, Hospital Effluent, Medical Care Unit