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, PhAC monitoring is poorly realized in Mexico. This study proposes a priority list of PhACs in Mexican aquatic environments, considering their occurrence and environmental and human health risks. Ecological risks were assessed as Risk Quotients (RQ) values using the PhAC concentrations detected in surface water, obtaining high risks (RQ > 1) against aquatic organisms, especially of naproxen, ibuprofen, diclofenac, acetaminophen, 17β-estradiol, carbamazepine, ketoprofen, caffeine. In contrast, potential human health risks (RQ_H) were assessed on the Mexican population using the concentrations quantified in groundwater, demonstrating potential risks (RQ_H > 0.2) on the population, particularly of DCF and CBZ. Thus, a priority list of PhACs can be used as a reference for environmental monitoring in Mexican water supplies as well as PhACs monitoring in countries of the Caribbean region and Central America.