Eugene S. Takle
© 2003
Pharmaceuticals and antibiotics given to both humans and animals are passed into wastewater and end up in rivers, groundwater and soils. European studies summarized by Schiermeier (2003) find that these fugitive chemicals can adversely affect soil bacteria and aquatic plants but had little effect on crops, worms, insects or fish. If sewage were treated with ozone, 99% of these drugs would be broken down.
Reference
Schiermeier, Q, 2003: Studies assess risks of drugs in water cycle. Nature 424, 5.