Rising tide of drugs and medicines polluting EU waters
Back to Topic
Click to Print
Useful Websites
Glossary Term Selection
Europe’s freshwaters are increasingly filled with pharmaceutical residues and other micro-pollutants, which are potentially harmful to human health and the environment, according to Friedrich Barth from the European Water Partnership (EWP), an industry-backed group.
‘One of the big problems in Europe will be micro-pollution – from pharmaceuticals, but also from pesticides and nutrients,’ said Barth, whose organisation brings together water treatment industries, governments, researchers and NGOs.
Pollution from invisible emerging chemical pollutants like nanoparticles were highlighted as a growing concern at this year’s World Water Week in Stockholm.
The chemicals can range from pesticides to flame retardants, steroids and hormones from birth-control pills.
Residues from pharmaceuticals in particular are set to become a hot topic in the future, Barth predicted, noting that there is currently no EU legislation that addresses the issue.
‘This is an area that has to be addressed in a much be...
Want to see the rest of this article?
Would you like to see the rest of this article and all the other benefits that Issues Online can provide with?
- Useful related articles
- Video and multimedia references
- Statistical information and reference material
- Glossary of terms
- Key Facts and figures
- Related assignments
- Resource material and websites
