Do pharmaceutically active compounds have an ecological impact?

Pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) are used in human and animal medicine as therapeutics and in agriculture as growth-enhancing agents. They are discharged directly to the environment following animal excretion, or indirectly via wastewater treatment plants following human use. This thesis evaluates the current theory and practice of environmental impact assessment of PhACs: specifically, the process and methods to assess bioaccumulation, environmental persistence and risk management strategies, and the value of acute and chronic toxicity tests. PhACs impact the environment to a degree determined not only by their actual concentration., but also by the ways we define and characterize impact, risk assessment and environment. In turn, these definitions evolve according to socially constructed values. By acknowledging the inherent uncertainty and value-laden nature of risk assessrr~ent, I assert that the precautionary principle and the integrated risk assessment approaches should direct further research and policy development.