Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/C513218/1
Can chemotherapy drugs enter water courses and pose a risk to aquatic fauna early life stage development, and to humans following water recycling?
Grant Award
- Principal Investigator:
- Professor A Johnson, NERC CEH (Up to 30.11.2019), NERC CEH - Wallingford
- Grant held at:
- NERC CEH (Up to 30.11.2019), NERC CEH - Wallingford
- Science Area:
- Freshwater
- Overall Classification:
- Freshwater
- ENRIs:
- Pollution and Waste
- Environmental Risks and Hazards
- Science Topics:
- Water Quality
- Ecotoxicology
- Environment & Health
- Hydrological Processes
- Abstract:
- Drugs entering receiving waters from sewage effluent will be at a concentration well below a therapeutic dose. However, cytotoxic drugs, which target rapidly dividing cells found in tumours but also in developing embryos, may still cause damage even at very low levels. At least some are both persistent and highly mobile, making their removal in sewage treatment and water purification difficult. Does their discharge from hospitals and population centres (via sewage works) pose a risk to fauna in receiving waters and pregnant women? This is a particularly relevant question for Southern UK where high, and increasing, population densities, limited river dilution and water recycling is common. We propose to make a preliminary assessment of the issue through a workshop of medical experts, chemists, hydrologists, biologists, water engineers, drug manufacturers and regulators.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/C513218/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Connect A Pre FEC
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Connect A
This grant award has a total value of £3,440
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - T&S | Total - Other Costs |
|---|---|
| £3,240 | £200 |
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