Pharmaceuticals are not a ...

Pharmaceuticals are not a growing pollution matter in the USA as suggested by Mr Donnelly's comment. Pharmaceutical Industry Effluent Guidelines have been in effect for many years.Pharmaceuticals  have attracted some attention when reports of detections in wastewaters or drinking waters occur. It is clear that there are negligible human health concerns at the trace levels that are sometimes detected in surface drinking water supplies. Both World Health Organization and others have concluded that pharmaceuticals in drinking water are generally a negligible concern. Studies have shown that even in treated effluents (which are not consumed by people),  the Margin of Exposure compared to lowest therapeutic doses are frequently on the order of 1,000,000 or greater, and including additional margins of safety. However, it is clear that there can be aquatic biota effects in receiving water especially near sewage outfalls before significant dilution can occur. It is also generally agreed that the pharmaceuticals of greatest interest in those outfalls are the natural and synthetic human hormones that are shed by the community, rather than common synthetic  drugs. Measurements of stable non toxic  indicator chemicals like sucralose and caffein which is not as stable are good indicators of sewage input. The concentrations detected are commonly on the order of 1,000,000th of the amount consumed in a cup of coffee.