Author(s): Si Li; Chaomeng Dair

Linked Author(s):

Keywords: Pharmaceuticals; Human exposure; Health risk; Drinking water; Fish consumption

Abstract: Pharmaceuticals have gained widespread attention in the aquatic environment due to their potential adverse effects and bioaccumulation in biota. China is a significant producer and consumer of pharmaceuticals; however, the human health risk of these chemicals in China remains uncertain. In this study, we conducted a human health risk assessment by evaluating available exposure data for twenty pharmaceuticals in surface waters from five major river basins in China (the Yangtze, Haihe, Pearl, Songliao, and Yellow River Basins). We researched the source, cause, and control measures of these pharmaceuticals based on concentration and risk data. The twenty pharmaceuticals were found to be ubiquitous in China, with median concentrations ranging from 0.09 to 304 ng/L. We calculated the estimated daily intake of pharmaceuticals from drinking water and eating fish and found that the intake via drinking water was significantly lower than that via eating fish. The risk quotients via water intake and fish consumption ranged from 0 to 17.2, with estrogen and sulfapyridine showing the highest risks among the twenty pharmaceuticals. High risks of exposure were primarily observed in North China, including the Haihe and Songliao River Basins. This is the first analysis of major Chinese river basins to address the gaps in research on the human health risks of pharmaceuticals. The results provide basic information on pharmaceutical intake from drinking water and eating fish in China and offer insights into the risk management guidance of pharmaceuticals, which will facilitate the optimization of health advisories and policymaking.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3850/978-90-833476-1-5_iahr40wc-p1667-cd

Year: 2023