Natural Resources
SerPIE: What’s In Your Soil and Water?
1 min read
Pollution of soil and water resources by pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) is a serious environmental issue.
Types of PPCPs
- Prescription drugs
- Over-the-counter drugs
- Therapeutic drugs
- Veterinary drugs
- Nutraceuticals (dietary supplements)
- Fragrances
- Cosmetics
- Sunscreen products
- Diagnostic agents
Source of PPCPs
- Agribusiness
- Human activity
- Residue from manufacturing pharmaceutical drugs
- Residue from hospitals
- Illicit drugs
- Veterinary drug use (i.e., antibiotics and steroids)
Impact of PPCPs
- Feminization and behavior changes in fish species
- Induced reproduction in shellfish
- Accumulation in crop roots, leaves and stems (i.e., soybeans)
- Alteration of the biological activity of human cells
- Impacts on insect physiology
- Antibacterial resistance in soil microbes
- An adverse population level response in not target wildlife (i.e., vultures)
For more information on PPCPs and how to help make an impact, proceed to What can I do to help?