Evaluation of Environmental Risks Posed by Pharmaceutically Active Compounds in the Great Bačka Canal

The risk assessment of pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) in aquatic environments has become a significant concern due to their potential impact on ecosystems and human health. The Great Bačka Canal, a significant waterway in the region, may be impacted by the discharge of various PhACs originating from agricultural runoff, wastewater effluents, and industrial activities. This study aims to assess the risks associated with the presence of PhACs in the Great Bačka Canal through a systematic evaluation of their concentration levels, environmental fate, and potential ecotoxicological effects. Monitoring data from forty surface water samples were collected along the Great Bačka Canal and analyzed for a range of commonly used pharmaceuticals, including antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, antidepressants, beta blockers, anti-epileptics, and lipid regulators. The study employs a multi-step risk assessment framework that integrates exposure assessment, hazard characterization, and effect assessment to evaluate the likelihood of adverse ecological and human health outcomes. The ecological risk evaluation of detected PhACs was estimated based on the technical guidance document on risk assessment released by the European Commission. According to the mentioned document, the RQ risk model was assessed by the maximum environmental concentration (MEC) of individual pharmaceuticals measured in the surface water of the Great Bačka Canal divided by the predicted no-effect concentrations of pharmaceuticals (PNEC). The risk posed to aquatic organisms was categorized into three levels: RQ < 0.1, low risk; 0.1 ≤ RQ < 1, moderate risk; RQ ≥ 1, high risk. The findings indicate varying levels of pharmaceutical contamination, with some compounds exceeding threshold concentrations known to cause ecological risk. The results underscore the need for improved wastewater treatment practices and the establishment of more stringent regulations to mitigate the impact of PhACs on the aquatic environment of the Great Bačka Canal. Furthermore, this research enhances the understanding of the environmental risks posed by pharmaceutical pollutants in freshwater systems, especially those used for crop irrigation.

Acknowledgement - This research was supported by the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia, #GRANT No. 7335, Sustainable environmental monitoring and prediction of pollutants spread – EnviLife.