Eco Investor October 2015

Features

Pharmaceuticals in the Environment

A less well known and under-researched aspect of the chemicals in the environment issue is pharmaceuticals and drugs in the environment, yet the problem is growing, especially in larger cities. In July the ABC reported that significant levels of strong painkillers and anti-depressants were found in tests on water samples from 30 sites around stormwater outlets in Sydney Harbour and the entire estuary.

It quoted scientist Gavin Birch from the University of Sydney saying it was the first time this kind of research had been done in Australia and that he was surprised at how widespread the drugs were in the samples. Paracetamol was found at all 30 sites and one type of artificial sweetener was at 27 sites. Other drugs found were Fluoxetine, Venlafaxine, Iopromide, Codeine, Propranolol, Tramadol and Carbamazepine. (In addition to the pharmaceuticals, seven different pesticides were also detected that likely had been applied to the environment and discharged via stormwater.)

The main source of pharmaceuticals into the environment is human excretion. Fortunately the pharmaceutical residues in the Sydney study were in low concentrations but it is unknown if they are harmful. Mr Birch said the likely source was sewage water leaking into the harbour and when this has happened in other areas "it certainly has had an impact on the fish and environment".

Sewage leaks are not the only contamination method. A recent report says wastewater treatment plants are not designed to remove pharmaceutical compounds and their solid and liquid outputs contain a mixture of pharmaceutical residues. The pharmaceuticals are spread through the discharge of treated wastewater into rivers, oceans and land; the use of sewage sludge and biosolids on land as fertilizer; and the use of recycled wastewater for irrigation.

It is a world wide problem. The report says "Over 200 different pharmaceutical agents, including antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), analgesics, lipid-lowering drugs, estrogens, and drugs from other therapeutic groups, have been detected in aquatic and terrestrial environments around the world, including areas as remote as the Antarctic."

The report, by the National Toxics Network and titled Pharmaceutical Pollution in the Environment: Issues for Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Island countries, says environmental contamination with pharmaceutical residues can also occur through the incorrect disposal of unwanted or expired pharmaceuticals through the sewage system or in solid waste for landfill, and from seepage from septic tank and pit latrines.

The report says pharmaceuticals are highly active and as they target specific biologic systems they can adversely impact the physiology and behaviour of a variety of organisms even at low concentrations. Furthermore, antibiotics in wastewater may promote antibiotic resistance in bacteria.

Solutions to this environmental problem include better public health, less and better use of medicines, and better wastewater treatment technologies. All of these can offer opportunities for environmental investors if the right companies and solutions should present themselves.

Lowering the chemical burden in the environment has always been a theme followed by Eco Investor and we have done this by identifying companies in the emerging green chemicals sector. These usually offer non-toxic or eco-friendly chemical replacements.

Among these in the medical area is Nanosonics, which has a harmless sterilization technology that replaces toxic chemicals currently in use. In the food area, Bellamy's Australia offers organic baby food. In plastics and packaging, SECOS Group is commercializing biodegradable and recyclable products based on corn instead of oil. And in industry Leaf Resources is commercializing a technology for producing green chemicals from waste biomass.

To this list, Eco Investor is adding natural health group, Blackmores.

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