Pharmaceuticals are a crucial element of modern medicine and confer significant benefits to society. About 4,000 active pharmaceutical ingredients are being administered worldwide in prescription medicines, over-the-counter therapeutic drugs, and veterinary drugs. Their active ingredients comprise a variety of synthetic chemicals produced by pharmaceutical companies in both the industrialized and the developing world at a rate of 100,000 tons per year. While pharmaceuticals are stringently regulated for efficacy and patient safety, the adverse side effects they may have in the natural environment have not yet been sufficiently studied and are not covered by an international agreement or arrangement.
![Cover Pharmaceuticals in the environment – the global perspective](https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/sites/default/files/styles/600w850h/public/medien/378/bilder/cover_pharmaceuticals_in_the_environment_0.png?itok=85ER5y1a)
Chemicals
Pharmaceuticals in the environment – the global perspective
Occurrence, effects, and potential cooperative action under SAICM
Series
brochure / flyer
Number of pages
12
Year of publication
Author(s)
Frank-Andreas Weber, Tim aus der Beek, Axel Bergmann, Alexander Carius, Gregor Grüttner, Silke Hickmann, Ina Ebert, Arne Hein, Anette Küster, Johanna Rose, Juliane Koch-Jugl, Hans-Christian Stolzenberg
Language
English
Other languages
Publisher
Umweltbundesamt
File size
585 KB
Price
0,00 €
Print version
not available
rated as helpful
139