ABSTRACT
Pharmaceutical residues are very widespread in the aquatic environment. Several hundred compounds and metabolites are documented in wastewaters, fresh and marine waters, groundwaters, soils, and biota. The current perspective is that some pharmaceuticals are of concern to fish and aquatic life. Environmental concentrations need to be reduced in aquatic systems to protect aquatic life, particularly the highly active compounds (i.e., steroids). In Chapter 14, information on different categories of pharmaceuticals with a focus on human pharmaceuticals is compiled and critically reviewed. Specific drug categories are discussed in light of their environmental occurrence and fate in the aquatic environment, modes of actions, and acute and chronic effects on fish. Thereby, we focus on environmentally important classes and compounds. We answer the question: What is the exposure and what are the effects and risks for fish health?
