Simple categorization of the risks of pharmaceutical contaminants in water

This dataset is a tool that categorizes different pharmaceutical compounds into a ratings matrix that describes the risks associated with each compound based on (i) the amount of the compound that is excreted and not metabolized, (ii) the toxic dose (overdose), (iii) toxicity in Daphnia magna (iv) toxicity in Pimephales promelas fish, (v) solubility in water, and (vi) half-life in the environment. The 30 compounds displayed in the ratings matrix were selected from previous studies carried out in Colombia which looked at hospital wastewater [1, 2], urban wastewater [3], tributaries and effluents from wastewater treatment plants [2, 4], and European directives denoting hazardous substances in drinking water [5, 6]. Additionally, comparisons were carried out using toxicity data for the bioindicator organism Daphnia magna [7], considering the LC50 of the compounds applied to D. magna over a 48-h period (LC50/48 h) [8, 9], and Pimephales promelas, considering the LC50 of the compound applied to P. promelas for a time of 96 h. (LC50/96 h) [10, 11]. The scores associated with each item were normalized to 100 points. The highest score was assigned to the toxicity in aquatic organisms, followed by the solubility in water and the behavior of each of the compounds in the environment (half-life in the environment), bearing in mind that water sources are ultimately where products like medicines end up [12]. The rating ranges and parameters of each compound were selected considering the information available in the NCCOS (Pharmaceuticals in the Environment) [13], DrugBanK [14] and NormanDatabase databases, and the information presented on the website of the Online Medicine Information Center (Centro de Información Online de Medicamentos) of the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (Agencia española de Medicamentos y Productos Sanitarios - CIMA-AEMPS) [15].