Priority list of pharmaceutical active compounds in aquatic environments of Mexico considering their occurrence, environmental and human health risks

Abstract

Pharmaceutical active compounds (PhACs) are detected pollutants in aquatic environments worldwide at concentrations ranging from ng L-1 to µg L-1. Currently in Mexico, PhACs monitoring is poorly realized. In this study, a priority list of PhACs in Mexican aquatic environments has been proposed considering their occurrence, environmental and human health risks. Environmental risks were assessed as Risk Quotients (RQ) values using the PhACs concentrations detected in surface water, obtaining high risks (RQ > 1) against aquatic organisms, especially of naproxen, ibuprofen, diclofenac, acetaminophen, 17β-estradiol, carbamazepine, ketoprofen, caffeine, while potential human health risk (RQH) were assessed on the Mexican population using the concentrations quantified in groundwater, demonstrating potential risks (RQH > 0.2) on the population, particularly of DCF and CBZ. Thus, priority list of PhACs can be used as reference for environmental monitoring in Mexican water supplies as well as PhACs monitoring in countries of the Caribbean region and Central America.