Pharmaceuticals in the Environment (PIE)

Over the past 30 years analytical instrumentation and methodology have advanced to a point where we are able to detect very low levels of contaminants in the environment. Increases in detection limits and sensitivity have been driven principally by the development of hyphenated techniques, for example LC-MS-MS and extractive concentration methodology such as solid phase extraction, which has enabled detection and quantitation down to nanograms per litre (ng L^-1) levels and lower. 

With around 3000 pharmaceutical products in use worldwide (as well as veterinary products and illicit drugs), a large number of pharmaceutical residues have now been detected in a wide range of environmental matrices.[1] [2] [3] These residues, mainly unchanged APIs but also sometimes degradation products, are principally being detected in water and sludge, but have also been found to be present in organisms like fish and plants. [1] [2] [3]

The ability to detect and quantify levels of pharmaceuticals in the environment (PIE) has led to an explosion of interest and scrutiny, as evidenced by the marked increase in the number of publications in this area from 1980 to the present day as shown in Figure 1. Whilst a number of these publications will be on topics like the manufacture and sustainability of pharmaceuticals, the vast majority are focused on the subject of PIE.

PIE have also attracted the attention of a large cross-section of the stakeholders in the pharmaceutical industry ranging from producers, regulators, academics, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), pressure groups and healthcare providers. Whilst bearing in mind objectivity and scientific balance, it is important to be aware of how these issues can be perceived in the public sphere as this can impact upon the reputation of a company, causing knock-on effects.