2016 Volume 14 Issue 6 Pages 423-436
Investigating the ecological risk of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) using recent data of the occurrence and contributions of PPCPs with potential ecological risks to ecotoxicological effects of chemicals on aquatic organisms in water environments is required. In the present study, preliminary ecological risk assessments of 10 PPCPs were conducted in the middle stream of Tama River and its tributaries using the hazard quotient. An algal growth inhibition test of concentrated river water samples using Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata was also conducted to evaluate the toxicity of each sample and the contributions of PPCPs to toxicity of the water sample to the algal species. The result of preliminary ecological risk assessment showed that the hazard quotients of five PPCPs were over one at some sampling locations. The relatively weak toxicities on P. subcapitata were observed in all the concentrated water samples. The relatively large contribution to relatively weak toxicity of the concentrated water samples on the growth of P. subcapitata was found for three of five PPCPs that show potential ecological risks in the middle basin of Tama River.
