ABSTRACT
Humans have been using plants and extracts from plants containing pharmaceutically active ingredients for thousands of years to treat different kinds of diseases and to improve medical conditions. But, it took some time until the first chemicals were isolated and identified (e.g., salicylic acid from the bark of the willow by J.A. Buchner in 1826) that are responsible for the pharmacological effect. At end of the 19th century, the first chemically synthesized pharmaceuticals, such as the analgesics and fever-reducing drugs phenacetin and aspirin, were introduced into the market and sold to the public. In the 20th century the discovery and production of some other compounds and very important compound classes such as antibiotics increased exponentially. Pharmaceuticals are extensively administered in human and veterinary medicine, also resulting in over-or misuse and undesired side effects, including antibiotic resistance. It was recognized that the application of pharmaceuticals to food-producing animals may also result in residues that remain in the tissues intended for human consumption. Maximum residue levels and suitable withdrawal times were set to avoid potential risks to human health. On the other hand, for many years residues of pharmaceuticals excreted by humans and animals and their potential threat to the
CONTENTS
2.1 Introduction .................................................................................................. 12 2.2 Discovery of Clofibric Acid in Ground and Drinking Water ................ 12 2.3 Are Residues of Pharmaceuticals a New Emerging Issue? ................... 15 2.4 Where Are We Today? ................................................................................. 16 References ............................................................................................................... 18
environment, wildlife, and humans were not even recognized. It took until the 1990s for this issue to be recognized by the public. And it was by chance that the first pharmaceutically active compound, clofibric acid, was detected in drinking water. This chapter tells the story of the detection of clofibric acid in the environment and in drinking water and how it initiated today’s extensive research activities on pharmaceuticals in the environment.
