Environmental toxicity of effluents of different laboratories of a compounding pharmacy

There is a growing concern over so-called "emerging pollutants" in the production of pharmaceuticals. These pollutants reach the environment from household waste or from leftovers generated during production. In small concentrations of the order of micrograms per liter or less, or in concentrations ineffective at producing a biological response in humans in the short-term, chronic exposure can still have a great impact on the environment. This study evaluated the possible risk of contamination posed by the release of raw materials from small-scale drug production by compounding pharmacies, based on an ecotoxicity assessment conducted by biomonitoring Euglena gracilis algae. The study also investigated the impacts on behavior and the changes in the photosynthesis process of this algae. Samples of four laboratories with different demands were comparatively analyzed. Behavioral changes of the algae (ascent rate to the surface, r-value and speed of movement) were assessed by biomonitoring NG-TOX and photosynthetic parameters were measured by pulse-amplitude modulation fluorometer (PAM). The results showed that the effluent from hormone laboratory that had a low semestral production had little impact. On another hand, the effluent from the psychotropics laboratory, even with intermediate demand, had a significant impact on the behavior and photosynthetic activity of algae. The behavior differences observed between the different sectors of drugs shows that the impacts and potential environmental risks are different for each sector. The demand and the different substances manipulated can be crucial in risk classification and in the choice of decontamination methods.

药品生产领域中所谓的“新兴污染物”正日益受到广泛关注。此类污染物可经由家庭废弃物或药品生产过程中产生的生产残余物进入环境。即便其浓度仅为微克每升级别或更低，或是短期内在人体中未引发可观测生物响应的浓度，长期暴露仍会对环境造成显著影响。本研究以纤细裸藻（Euglena gracilis）的生物监测数据为基础开展生态毒性评估，旨在评估调剂药房小规模药品生产过程中原料释放所带来的潜在污染风险。本研究同时探究了该藻类的行为变化与光合过程的改变。研究对四家不同业务规模的配药实验室的样本开展了对比分析：通过生物监测系统NG-TOX评估藻类的行为变化（包括表面上浮速率、r值与运动速度），并采用脉冲振幅调制荧光仪（Pulse-amplitude modulation fluorometer, PAM）测定其光合参数。结果显示，半年度产量较低的激素类实验室所排放的废水几乎未产生明显影响；另一方面，即便业务规模处于中等水平的精神类药物实验室所排放的废水，也会对藻类的行为与光合活性造成显著影响。不同药物品类实验室间观测到的行为差异表明，各品类药物生产所带来的环境影响与潜在环境风险各不相同。生产业务规模与所处理的不同物质，对于污染风险分级以及去污方法的选择均至关重要。