This programme has sought to identify active pharmaceutical ingredients in the aquatic environment that pose a significant risk to aquatic organisms or could promote bacterial resistance to antibiotics. It has also explored technologies to improve wastewater treatment, and developed strategies and indicators for early identification of drug substances with undesirable environmental effects.
A policy brief on how the environmental effects of drugs should be managed in the light of the programme’s research was handed to representatives of the Swedish Government.
New wastewater treatment technology to remove drug substances was piloted in the municipality of Knivsta.
The programe was completed during the year, with a final conference in October.