Sept. 9, 2015 -- To address the ongoing problem of various products, including pharmaceuticals, ending up in drinking water, researchers have recently developed a way to create drugs that break down into harmless compounds before they contaminate water resources.
A wide range of active ingredients originating from pesticides, shampoos, lotions, cosmetics, disinfectants, and drugs get washed into sewage systems or rivers and streams, ending up in tap water. Scientists are still unclear of what effects these substances have on wildlife and human health, but they are a major concern. Researchers have detected them in low levels in streams and rivers across the U.S. and other countries.
To address the specific problem of medications in the environment, Klaus Kümmere, professor of Sustainable Chemistry and Material Resources at the Leuphana University of Lüneburg in Germany, and colleagues made tweaks to pharmaceuticals so they degrade after they've passed through both the body and sewage treatment systems, which aren't capable of scrubbing wastewater of all contaminants.
The researchers chose to work with a commonly used drug called propranolol -- a beta blocker prescribed to treat high blood pressure and to prevent heart problems. It is very stable and has been found in sewage.
They made a small molecular change in its structure that didn't affect its beta-blocking activity but allowed it to break down more easily than the original form. Further studies are needed, but initial testing showed that the altered drug and its byproducts are likely not toxic. The researchers suggest that a similar approach could be used to redesign other classes of drugs and chemicals to make them more environmentally friendly, as well.
See also:
"Wastewater PPCPs can contaminate shallow groundwater following release to streams, finds study"
"Study examines wastewater treatment process to remove pharmaceuticals, phosphorus"
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