Clear waters from pharmaceuticals

Closed

Active pharmaceutical ingredients are active medicines, e.g. hormones, analgesics and antibiotics, that contaminate the water and marine life if disposed into the Baltic Sea. Following HELCOM’s status report on pharmaceuticals, partners from seven countries work on tools and recommendations for policy makers, authorities and municipalities to map sources and environmental concentrations of these ingredients and propose methods to reduce these harmful emissions. Active pharmaceutical ingredients: Contamination of water with residues of active pharmaceutical ingredient (APIs), such as hormones, analgesics and antibiotics, is an emerging environmental concern. CWPharma gives tools and recommendations to policy makers, authorities and municipalities on the best ways to reduce emissions of APIs in the Baltic Sea region. How to tackle emissions of APIs? The CWPharma project works on reducing information gaps regarding sources, emissions and environmental concentrations of APIs, identified in e.g. HELCOM status report on pharmaceuticals in the Baltic Sea. Based on data from the case studies and literature, the overall emissions of APIs and their impact on the environment in the Baltic Sea region are assessed. The project evaluates different API emission reduction measures, such as advanced wastewater treatment, improved take-back schemes and disposal for unused medicines, dissemination of environmental data on pharmaceutical products, and environmental permitting of pharmaceutical plants. The best existing practices of the partner countries shall be shared in order to promote the sustainable management of APIs in the Baltic Sea region.

Medium