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Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Pharmaceuticals in the Aquatic Environment: A Review
Article first published online: 9 APR 2008
DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-8198.2008.00104.x
© 2008 The Authors. Journal Compilation © 2008 Blackwell Publishing Ltd
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How to Cite
Stamm, C., Alder, A. C., Fenner, K., Hollender, J., Krauss, M., McArdell, C. S., Ort, C. and Schneider, M. K. (2008), Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Pharmaceuticals in the Aquatic Environment: A Review. Geography Compass, 2: 920–955. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-8198.2008.00104.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 9 APR 2008
- Article first published online: 9 APR 2008
- Geography Compass 2/3 (2008): 920–955, 10.1111/j.1749-8198.2008.000104.x
- Abstract
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Abstract
In recent years, human and veterinary pharmaceuticals have received much attention as pollutants of water bodies or drinking water resources due to possible negative effects on humans or the ecosystem even at very low concentrations. Over the last 10 years, considerable progress has been made regarding the knowledge of the exposure of water bodies to those drugs. This review summarizes the present understanding in this broad and interdisciplinary field incorporating contributions ranging from trace analytics to spatially distributed modelling of point-source and diffuse pollution. It discusses the main factors and processes controlling the environmental fate of pharmaceuticals from their usage to their spatial and temporal occurrence in water bodies. The current research is still rather phenomenological and further advancement of the field requires more integrated, quantitative mass flux analyses. Such analyses should also consider the explicit incorporation of uncertainties that appropriately reflect the current limited understanding and data availability.